Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has confirmed that Merrick Watts will be returning to the Triple M network, heading up the drive show in 2015.
However Triple M Network head Mike Fitzpatrick dismissed rumours that Watts will reunite with former comedy partner Tim 'Rosso” Ross for the show, telling AdNews Watt won't be joined by another comedian and that the station has chosen someone with more of a “journalistic” background instead.
Watts left the drive slot on Triple M at the beginning of this year to take up the breakfast show on the SCA-owned Today Network, with Jules Lund, Mel B and Sophie Monk. The show nose-dived in the ratings, resulting in a reshuffle in the Today network.
Meanwhile, Rosso has been taking the drive timeslot on ARN's Kiis FM but has been replaced by Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek going into next year. He has not yet been named in a new position with the network.
Watt's replacements in the Triple M drive slot, The One Percenters, consisting of Matt Tilley and Joe Hildebrand have also failed to hit high marks on the ratings.
While Fitzpatrick remained tight-lipped on who would be named Watt's co-host next year, he said the station didn't want another drive show filled by a “comedy duo”.
“The show will continue in the same content vein as the One Percenters has with a smart, funny premise, with really carefully curated content for men. There won't be another comedian going joke-for-joke with Merrick," Fitzpatrick said.
“Merrick and Rosso was a brand that stood for a lot of things but I don't think it fits exactly into the same content mould as The One Percenters has. There are so many drive shows going around next year, all doing comedian-commedian [pairings]. We want to create something different. And The One Percenters has been unique.”
Fitzpatrick said while the format of The One Percenters show suited the network, he said that Hildebrand and Tilley didn't connect with its male audience.
He said since Watts left Triple M this year, listeners have been consistently asking for the network to bring him “back home.”
Watt's will return to the Triple M airwaves on January 19 next year.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day. Need a job? Visit adnewsjobs.com.au.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.