2UE Drive host Paul Murray will move to the morning shift next year on 2UE in the first of a range of changes to its lineup for 2013.
Murray’s new show will be broadcast from Fairfax Media’s Sydney Morning Herald building in a purpose built interactive studio.
In a significant change to the traditional morning show shift times, the show will begin at 8.30 and finish at 11.30 am. This brings it in line with ABC 702’s morning show start time and puts Murray up against both Alan Jones and Ray Hadley and is consistent with the start time of Fairfax’s Neil Mitchell timeslot on 3AW.
The change comes a day after the station confirmed that Clinton Maynard will be in the chair as acting PD, with the departure of Peter Brennan this week.
The multi award winning journalist and broadcaster will broadcast his show A Sydney Morning with Paul Murray live from the newsroom of The Sydney Morning Herald. A purpose built interactive studio has been fitted out on Level 4 of Fairfax Headquarters in Pyrmont especially for the show. The first show will air on Monday January 14, 2013.
Murray says he jumped at the chance to be part of the bold idea and is looking forward to broadcasting from the heart of The Sydney Morning Herald newsroom:
“People in the media often take for granted just how exciting being at the centre of a newsroom is. We’ll be there as news comes in, but more importantly we’ll be talking to the best reporters in the country.
“We have all seen people move time slots before, but this really is a new program with a new home at a new time with a new attitude.
“But it’s not just news; it’s not me thumping the desk all morning. We’re going to talk about everything that really matters to people. It’s about engaging with our entire city of Sydney from the big end of town to the back fence.
“I want to do a show that appeals to people across all shades of politics who don’t have their blinkers on. I want to talk to the Sydneysiders who are in the middle… Make no mistake, I’m no soft touch, but I won’t be one eyed.”
Fairfax Radio Network CEO Adam Lang says the new program will be a ‘watershed’ moment for Australian talk-back radio: “The Fairfax Media of the future involves every part of the business working together and we are proud to be bringing Paul Murray live to Sydney together with The Sydney Morning Herald on 2UE.”
An announcement about a permanent replacement in the 2UE 954 Drive shift will be made shortly.
While Paul Murray on Mornings is a great move, what is happening to Stuart Bocking? A consistent performer on 2UE, he's been replaced in programming reshuffles far too often.
Fully agree re Stuart Bocking - he is my preferred choice of all the 2UE presenters. Hope Murray avoids the 'easy out' by cutting off callers who don't agree with him. He does that a bit, as does the 2GB lot - guaranteed to get me changing the dial.