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5 days ago
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Kate Ritchie looked anything but relaxed as she stepped out in Sydney on Thursday with her jaw clenched and teeth gritted.
And, as it turns out, she had good reason to be tense.
Just a day later, Nova announced that she and her Sydney breakfast co-hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli had been dropped from the lucrative spot and shifted to national drive.
The move - according to two senior radio sources Inside Mail spoke to on Friday - has come with a significant pay cut, but only for two out of the three hosts.
Now, before we go into details, it should be stated that taking a pay cut when you move to a less prominent time slot is not at all unusual in the radio business.
The fact that Jonesy and Amanda stayed on Sydney breakfast money to do Gold's national drive show is highly unusual - and a reflection of their unique value to ARN.
Kate Ritchie will stay on her $1million salary as her Nova breakfast show is punted to drive, sources tell Inside Mail
One insider said Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald (left) and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli (right) used to earn $1.5million each to host breakfast on Nova 96.9, but that has apparently been slashed by half
But it seems Nova had a little more bargaining power when it came to renegotiating money during its breakfast‑to‑drive reshuffle.
One insider said Fitzy and Wippa used to earn $1.5million each to host breakfast on Nova 96.9, but that has apparently been slashed by half to about $750,000.
It's still a good deal - especially for Fitzy, who has been allowed to broadcast remotely from his home in Adelaide for the last few years.
However, we've heard that Kate, who joined the show in March 2023, won't take the same hit to her hip pocket, remaining on her $1million salary.
That's apparently the same as her breakfast money, and what she was earning when she co‑hosted national drive until 2023.
Insiders also say that Sarah Harris, who left Network 10 after The Project was cancelled last year, is set to take on the role of Nova's breakfast newsreader.
It's undoubtedly a strong signing, as we expect various TV and radio networks have been jostling for her services lately.
Nova has yet to publicly confirm her appointment.
Kate Ritchie was seen walking her dog in Sydney on Thursday, a day before Nova confirmed the news about her show
Insiders also say that Sarah Harris (second from right), who left Network 10 after The Project was cancelled last year, is set to take on the role of Nova's breakfast newsreader
The Sydney station will have a new breakfast show this year hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell, formerly the hosts of Nova's drive show alongside comedian Joel Creasey.
While Creasey's immediate role has not been announced, the overhaul represents one of the most significant line-up changes Nova has enacted in years.
Fitzy, Wippa and Kate announced the news on Friday's breakfast show.
'After 15 years of doing this breakfast radio show, the Fitzy and Wippa, Kate Ritchie show, they have finally completed their apprenticeship, and they're going to be graduating to the national drive time position,' Wippa said.
'4-6pm around Australia on the country's best radio network, Nova. There it is, guys.'
Fitzy added: 'Now, I know there's probably a lot of people freaking out thinking that we were going to leave. We're not. This is not a goodbye at all.'
'This is the evolution of the show. We've been doing this for 15 years, and we have an amazing audience. We cannot do this without you, but we've been dropping you and the kids off at school every morning [and] now we're just going to be driving you home in the afternoon.'
In a press release, Kate said she was 'thrilled' about making the move.
The Sydney station will have a new breakfast show this year hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell, formerly the hosts of Nova's drive show alongside comedian Joel Creasey
Jonesy and Amanda stayed on Sydney breakfast money to do Gold's national drive show - but this is highly unusual in the radio business
'I've absolutely loved my time with the boys on Sydney breakfast and I'm thrilled we now get to share our show with all of Australia,' she said.
'My morning alarm is ready and waiting to be set for packing school lunch and doing drop-off again with the beauty of entertaining our loyal listeners on their drive home. It'll be an exciting evolution for all of us.'
The changes will take place on Monday, February 9.
News of Fitzy, Wippa and Kate leaving breakfast won't be a surprise to readers of Inside Mail, of course.
We reported the looming change - and Tim and Ricki-Lee's promotion from drive - in August last year.
Nova was contacted for comment about the hosts' salaries.
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