Veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley is open to returning to the airwaves after Nine sold its radio network including talkback stations 2GB in Sydney and 3AW in Melbourne to the billionaire pub and pokies Laundy family.
Hadley, who retired from his top-rating morning slot on 2GB in December 2024 after 43 years behind the mic, told this masthead that he had a decades-long association with the Laundy family, and would consider returning if the station’s new owners wanted him.
“If they wish to speak with me, I’d be more than happy,” Hadley said. “I like them, they’re good, decent people.”
Hadley, who picked up his first casual radio shifts while driving a cab in 1980, became a titan of talkback radio. As well as his own show, where he held influence over both state and federal politicians, Hadley was a top NRL and Olympic commentator.
By the time he left from 2GB, Hadley was reportedly taking home an annual salary north of $3 million.
But two sources close to Nine radio expressed scepticism the veteran broadcaster would reappear in the new Laundy-owned network, pointing to the fact his successor Mark Levy earns far less but delivers similar ratings.
Hadley, who now records a daily video for the Daily Telegraph, had previously hinted at a return if his old friend, advertising and racing entrepreneur John Singleton, purchased up the radio network.
Singleton was among a suite of bidders reported by other outlets to be initially interested in the radio network along with one led by Australian Digital Holdings, the conservative media streaming service chaired by former ABC chair Maurice Newman and previously associated with Alan Jones.
Multiple Nine sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential sale process, said those prospects were “never serious”.
Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Group had also made an offer, which was rejected in favour of the $56 million bid from the Laundy Family Office, which is led by patriarch Arthur Laundy. The deal was negotiated on the Laundy side by his son, Craig.
While numerous different potential buyers had been touted over the past months, 2GB’s top-paid star Ben Fordham said the fact the Laundy name wasn’t mentioned until this week was a testament to the family and to Nine.
“It’s a great story. In a city that can’t shut the f— up, they kept it quiet until the last second,” said Fordham, who hosts the station’s breakfast show.
Fordham told this masthead the deal was a “match made in heaven”, having known the Laundy family for two decades.
“It has inspired me a bit. I’ve been in two minds about what I want to do long term. Am I going to be a radio host forever? I am yet to work out what I’m going to do beyond this year, but I’ll sit down with Laundys next week,” he said. “I’m more inclined to stay. Maybe I’ll do the breakfast show a bit longer.”
Both Craig and Arthur Laundy were pictured with Fordham at one of the family’s pubs on Friday afternoon, while he was out celebrating with his team for lunch.
Other talent from the network remained optimistic about its new owners. Tom Elliott, host of 3AW’s high-rating Mornings program in the Melbourne market, said he looked forward to meeting with the Laundys next week.
“He [Arthur Laundy] sent us a very nice message. He loves talkback radio, and linked it to the sorts of conversations people have in his pubs. He thinks we do it well,” Elliott said.
In a message to Nine Radio staff on Friday morning, Arthur and Craig Laundy, a former Liberal MP, described themselves as “long-time listeners, first time owners”, and said the stations would be a natural fit with the family’s pub empire.
“We see strong similarities between hotels and talkback radio. In public bars, we chat with our customers about the issues of the day. A lot of the time, the thoughts in the minds of our
customers are shaped by the work you do in radio … and vice versa,” they said.
Nine Entertainment owns this masthead.
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