Ben Fordham Live will air in Brisbane from 2-5 pm (AEST), from today (Monday, 7 Oct).
Due to the difference in time zones during daylight saving months Drive will start and finish an hour earlier in Qld than in NSW.
After launching his media career at Sydney’s Radio 2UE and Sky News Australia, Fordham joined the Nine Network in 1999 and has enjoyed lengthy stints with A Current Affair and the Today Show, and more recently as co-host of the ratings blockbuster Ninja Warrior.
He also won the prestigious Walkley Award – Australia’s top award in journalism – for his coverage of the 1997 Thredbo landslide.
Ben Fordham said: “There’s some exciting stuff happening in Queensland and I’m really keen to get amongst it all. We’ll be talking about drought, population, mining, public transport, the justice system, sport and anything else that’s on your mind. I’ve been campaigning for some time to move an NRL grand final to Suncorp Stadium so that idea should find some strong support in Brisbane. We’ve also got to make sure this Olympic bid gets across the line for Queensland in 2032. The signs on that are super strong so you can bet the next decade is going to see some dramatic changes. My family has a lot of history in Brisbane, and my uncle David broadcast sport on Channel 7 and Channel 10 here for many years. It all starts on Monday so let’s get cracking.”
MML Chief Executive Officer Adam Lang said: “I am delighted to be announcing Ben Fordham Live will now be heard Monday to Friday on 4BC. Ben’s passion for live, engaging radio ensures Brisbane listeners will be receiving the latest news and traffic, as well as having the opportunity to discuss a whole range of Brisbane and national issues every day on the open line. Ben’s credibility with his audience and his ability to deliver a result for advertisers make him an excellent choice to join the line-up at 4BC.”
I am a listener to 2GB and enjoy Ben Fordham's program. Radio 4BC appears to be a relay of 2GB. Nothing wrong with 2GB's presenters, but Brisbane listeners will have a station that has little to do with Brisbane. Ben may well have a connection to Brisbane as his late uncle David Fordham was a TV broadcaster at the Seven and Nine Networks.
You may think it raises the issue of a radio station's local area requirements as was raised by the ABC's "Media Watch" in relation to the BOG's content on regional radio in 2010, https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/regional-dis-content/9974746. In that situation, regional stations belonging to the BOG such as Coffs Harbour's 2HC were broadcasting program content from 2SM Sydney attributing 2SM's breakfast host Mr Grant Goldman (I hope he's OK, reference https://radioinfo.com.au/news/listeners-unite-support-grant-goldman-he-battles-cancer) as 2HC's breakfast host.
The BOG situation in 2010 raised ACMA's concern about regional radio local content. Note the term "regional content".
Under the Broadcast Services Act (Cth) ('BSA (Cth)'), reference https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00060 , sections 43B and 43C refer to local presence and local content requirements of regional radio stations.
By definition a "metropolitan" broadcaster, under s61CA of the BSA (Cth) is a broadcaster in a capital city with a GPO. In contrast, a regional broadcaster is not a broadcaster in a capital city.
Thus 4BC is a metropolitan radio station and is not bound by the local content and presence issues required of regional radio stations.
Even though the owners of 4BC are not compelled by law to include local content and presence, it is one less voice in the Brisbane marketplace for issues relating to Brisbane, even though 2GB does a fine job covering Federal issues. But people listening to 4BC will have the opportunity to hear about trucks stuck in the Galston Gorge, Harbour Tunnel and M5 East Tunnel.
Humour aside, legally 4BC can be a relay from Sydney's 2GB but it does represent a one less local voice.
On the plus side, a concerned Brisbane listener has the opportunity to talk to the whole of Australia where 2GB's programs are relayed.
Thank you,
Anthony of a switched-on Belfield
Such a pity that a metropolitan city the size of Brisbane can not manage to provide commercial radio listeners with a comprehensive locally focussed talk format, such as is enjoyed by Adelaide listeners on 5AA.
The glee must abound at ABC's 612.