2Day FM’s failed gamble: Behind the ‘millions’ spent on Hughesy, Ed and Erin’s high-profile breakfast show – only for it to sink in the ratings before shock axing

Listeners were shocked and saddened when it was announced on Wednesday that Hughesy’s breakfast show, Ed & Erin, was being axed. But for 2DayFM, it was not a cheap decision.

Millions of dollars were reportedly spent to save the long-running radio program, but nothing could be done to keep the show on the air.

According to radio insiders, the trio’s departure was ‘long overdue’ and the declining viewing figures were the ‘final nail in the coffin’.

‘SCA (Southern Cross Austereo) has spent millions to make this show a success, including moving Hughesy from Melbourne to more ‘connect’ with Sydney listeners by living there, but it is still struggling to find an audience,’ a radio source said. Yahoo Lifestyle.

‘Earlier this year they hired a new executive producer, who they poached from KIIS. But even that wasn’t enough and no one is surprised that the series has now been canceled.’

Hughesy, Ed & Erin’s morning show came to a sensational end due to declining ratings and “bonding issues.”

The show, hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan, only achieved a 3.6% market share in the latest ratings poll.

2Day FM announced the news on Wednesday evening, informing listeners that they have decided to discontinue the show and replace it with beloved night shift lads Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently present The Jimmy and Nath Show.

“We have loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, but due to some of our families living in other cities, we are unable to commit to 2025. It is with a heavy heart that we are stepping aside so that 2DayFM can find a team to help them continue with Breakfast,” Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.

“We are so grateful to Sydney for their support. We are incredibly proud of the fact that we have doubled our listenership in three years. We will miss every single one of them.”

Southern Cross Austereo thanked the radio presenters for their “passion and dedication” following the announcement.

“We are incredibly grateful to Hughesy, Ed and Erin for their tireless efforts in ensuring that the 2DayFM Breakfast show has been a fun way to wake up Sydney every morning since 2020. We wish them all the best as they continue their excellent careers,” said Dave Cameron, SCA’s Chief Content Officer.

‘As we look to 2025, we are preparing for a change to the 2DayFM Sydney Breakfast Show. We will make further announcements in due course.’

The Jimmy & Nath Show, currently airing during the national Hit evening service, will be temporarily moved to the Breakfast time slot.

The GfK Radio 360 Survey 4 found that Hughesy, Ed and Erin lost 1.4 points in market share to 3.6 earlier this year.

The announcement follows rumours that Hughes is teaming up with Kate Langbroek, 58, to revive their popular Hughesy and Kate show.

The duo last presented the popular program Hit FM in 2019, after which Langbroek took a step back to move to Italy.

In July, the Herald Sun reported that there were rumours in Melbourne that Langbroek and Hughes, 53, wanted to restart the program.

Hughes recently appeared on Triple M’s The Rush Hour in Melbourne, which was a huge hit with listeners.

Hughes and Langbroek first worked together in 2001 on Nova 100’s Melbourne morning program.

Langbroek currently presents the popular podcast The Buck Up together with Nath Valvo, after she quit her last commercial radio gig at KIIS FM, The Pick Up, two years ago.

Last year she already hinted at a possible radio reunion with Hughes.

“We are full of love for each other and nothing is impossible for us,” she told the Herald Sun last august.

“I love Hughesy. I don’t do radio at the moment, but I will always love radio because it’s such a natural medium for me.”

In March 2023, Langbroek apologized after publicly revealing a pay gap dispute between her and Hughes on The Project.

She claimed she earned 40 percent less than Hughesy during the period they hosted Hughesy & Kate on the Hit Network for almost two decades.

Langbroek said on Instagram that she had not explained the full context of the situation due to the “time constraints” of the Channel 10 show.

“I also didn’t explain that Hughesy was shocked when he found out and immediately tried to rectify the situation,” she admitted.

“I had already acquired an equivalent position, but his instincts were so honorable that he immediately offered to take a pay cut,” she added.

“He also promised that from that point on we would always negotiate together about the show we had built together, and we did, the following year, when we moved to SCA. Knowing that we could talk freely about our negotiations and that we were treated as true equals at our new radio network was the best.”

She admitted that Hughes was “hurt” by her comments on The Project and that she therefore felt the need to clarify them.

She also said she and Hughes were not “estranged” and that she was “ashamed” that she had led people to believe that.