DMG courts Red Symons

774 ABC breakfast presenter, Red Symons, has reportedly held talks with key DMG Radio executives, who are responsible for their yet to be launched station in Melbourne.

The Age’s radio writer, Nicole Brady, reports that if Symons does resign, ABC Victorian bosses might have to find three new announcers next year.

Lynne Haultain finishes up this Friday on afternoons, and drive presenter, Virginia Trioli, is shortlisted to replace David Marr as the new host of ‘Media Watch’.

DMG, which already has Nova 100 in Melbourne, is yet to reveal the name, start date and format of the new station, but the paper says interest in Symons will fuel rumours the station will target over 40s with a mix of current affairs, talk and classic rock – a first for FM radio in Australia.

3AW breakfast co-host, Ross Stevenson, has also reportedly been approached by DMG.

Fiona Cameron, General Manager of Nova 100 and the new Melbourne station, has refused to say who DMG has been talking to, but has told The Age that a lot of people have come to them.

“An awful lot of people have been spoken to. Anyone you might think of – we’ve talked to a lot of people.

“The station will start up somewhere within the next six to nine months, or it could be before.”

While not revealing the format, Cameron says the station will “complement, not compete” with Nova.

At 3AW, Stevenson and John Burns topped the ratings all year, finishing on 17.9%, while Symons ended 2004 in second place with 13.7% in Survey #8.