Two more announcers leave 2HD after pay disputes with Caralis
25Feb09

Following the recent axing of Richard King’s 2HD drive program, there has been more upheaval at Newcastle’s oldest radio station with Mike Rabbitt and Pete Davis resigning.

Saturday morning sports talk presenter and NBN News sports announcer Mike Rabbitt has left 2HD following a pay dispute with owner Bill Caralis. Apparently Caralis objected to paying Rabbitt for the full 6 hours he was on air each Saturday morning. The dispute came to a head last week when Rabbitt told station management he wouldn’t go on air unless he was paid his outstanding account. Caralis wasn’t happy with that and so after 15 years of service Mike Rabbitt is gone.

Rabbitt had built a very loyal audience and consistently rated well for 2HD. His program was also a lucrative one for the station with an abundance of sponsorship opportunities. It is anticipated that most of Rabbitt’s sports audience will now switch to ABC 1233 to listen to Craig Hamilton.

Rabbitt will be replaced a by a networked gardening program hosted by Don Burke from Sydney between 6am and 8am. No announcements have been made regarding programming between 8am and midday, but its most likely going to be a return of Buy, Sell & Swap.

The same day the station lost another announcer when afternoon DJ Pete Davis resigned. Davis had been doing Monday to Friday from 1pm to 5pm, but was last week asked to extend that shift another hour by starting at midday. He was offered a pittance to do the extra 5 hours per week. Davis resigned the next day and will finish up on air within two weeks.

No announcement has been made yet as to who or what will replace Davis’s program but there is speculation that Caralis will seize the opportunity to extend his networked Talkin’ Sport program to begin at 3pm in Newcastle.

Word at the station is that morale is now very low and the next rating results could be poor for 2HD.

Update: 26 February 2009

The Herald in Newcastle is today carrying the story of Davis and Rabbitt resigning. The information verifies the details in my above post.

2HD plans to replace Rabbitt’s Sportsline with Don Burke doing Gardening, a new real estate program and Buy, Sell and Swap.

Rabbitt says he now fears for local radio sports coverage in the region and that “Replacing it with a gardening show just doesn’t make any sense.”

2HD/NEWFM station manager Guy Ashford claims that Rabbitt and Davis were talented operators but the new segments should appeal to a wider audience.

Related stories

Print This Post Print This Post Email This Post Email This Post
Posted under Radio

19 Responses to “Two more announcers leave 2HD after pay disputes with Caralis”

This blog entry would explain the ad I heard a couple of days ago for the Fairfax Network’s Don Burke’s Backyard radio show which will replace Saturday Sportsline from 6:30am, what is going on at 2HD is really starting to upset me but at least I can listen to Aaron Kearney on the ABC and The Continuous Call Team and Gary Harley on KOFM (The Herald was reporting that Michael Hagan will join KO’s footy team for some Knights home games)

Comment by Julie on February 25th, 2009

I know Pete from my days at Radio Newcastle – good bloke. I wish him all the best.

Comment by Kerryn on February 25th, 2009

Will 2HD also take 2UE’s George & Paul from 8:00am?

Comment by newtaste on February 25th, 2009

No it’ll be Supernetwork sport or talkback

Comment by Julie on February 25th, 2009

ATTN: “Keiran Johns” or whatever fake name you are using today. You’re right, I won’t be publishing your grubby comments. But I do offer this opportunity to talk to me for real rather than hide. Just email me and ask for a meeting. Happy to set the record straight with you, because you are clearly just going on 2nd hand and inaccurate stories. Seriously, I’d be happy to talk.

Comment by Craig Wilson on February 25th, 2009

All these people fighting over what happens at my stations.
Really, I don’t know why any of you are interested …
Dear god, the listeners clearly aren’t !
If they were they were they wouldn’t be switching off my stations in droves.
So why don’t you all take a chill pill … and just stop bothering me … and, and, and … stop listening … and mind your own business … and leave my stations alone.
You guys that are supporting me, don’t think you’re getting any overtime !
I won’t be stooged by any sucking up !

Comment by The Real Bill on February 25th, 2009

Would the Real Bill just drop off !
It’s obvious you’re an imposter.
I’m Spartacus !

Comment by Buffalo Bill on February 25th, 2009

Well done Bill Caralis – just when I thought you couldn’t go any lower, you managed to do it again.

Mike Rabbit had a huge following – he’s been number one for years on Saturday mornings. Half of Newcastle use to listen to him and Gary Harley every Saturday. Saturday Sportsline was a Newcastle institution – it seemed every newsagency, taxi and household in Newcastle had the show on.

That’s officially the end of 2HD. Luke Grant will be the next to go.

Craig – surely there must be a way that Caralis’ radio licence can be cancelled?

He has continually breached numerous laws regarding workplace safety and other conditions with an arrogant disregard for the welfare and safety of his workers.

I will never listen to HD again (I used to listen to Talkin Sport and Richard King).

The next HD survey will be a massacre. Expect a big rise from 1233 ABC.

Comment by Frank on February 25th, 2009

The Herald says that Saturday Sportline will be replaced by the Fairfax Network’s Don Burke’s Backyard and a local real estate show so there will be no LOCAL SPORT on 2HD.
Why do 2HD even bother broadcasting?

Comment by Julie on February 25th, 2009

Poor old 2hd what options do they have now Grant Goldman til 9am then Price then Luke Grant then Sports Today.

Option 2 Keep LG at breakfast and have Crouchy and Emma on in the afternoons.

Option 3 Richard King afternoons o hang on he doesnt rate!!!!!!!

Option 4 Bye Bye 2hd to quote LG you are an absolute JOKE!!!!!!!

Comment by radio nut on February 26th, 2009

Mike Rabbitt’s demise is another nail in the coffin for local radio and especially for local sport, I will also be switching to Craig Hamilton. Apparently 2HD is the “official radio station for the Newcastle Knights”…how can this be, they don’t even call the rugby league and now with Rabs gone the Knights will hardly even rate a mention..how embarassing for the Knights, perhaps they need to re-think their strategy. It’s also sad to see Pete Davis go and there’s no doubt that this Caralis man is not a fit person to run a radio station…You have to feel for Luke Grant as he’s the last man standing.

Comment by Peta on February 26th, 2009

I’ve heard a rumour that the breakfast show on 2HD might be in jeopardy too. Maybe Guy can jump back behind the mic.

Comment by J Preston on February 26th, 2009

BRING BACK THE UNION MOVEMENT. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.

PERHAPS IF THE RADIO INDUSTRY HAD A GOOD UNION EVERYONE IN THE INDUSTRY WOULD BE TREATED AND PAID FAIRLY.

Comment by BILLIE on February 27th, 2009

I would like to know is Blind Melon still at New FM, as i haven’t heard much of him lately.

Comment by maree on February 27th, 2009

Blind Melon (according to the NewFM website) is the producer of the breakfast show.

Comment by Peter on February 27th, 2009

It being good not hearing him in all the time anyway… An newfm has apparantly just sighned a couple of new jocks so wonder who’s jobs they will be taking???

Comment by Cess on March 4th, 2009

What a mess!! 2 staff, Pete Davis and Richard King out so who will be going next?How about some of the juvenile sounding news readers who have no credence at all? Leave us with people who speek well, we can understand and have some life experience..Surely we don’t need more daily sport? I am sure the age demographic Caralis is aiming at is the mid teens to mid thirties. Once again talkback with an older generation is being put to rest.
Tha local ABC radio station has regained my listening again!!
Good luck in your future lives Pete and Richard
Regards,Pat

Comment by Pat on March 31st, 2009

Love listening to Luke Grant, at least he has had, and can relate to ordinary life.
His biggest problem is graham gilbert on the night before. People change stations so they don’t have to listen to gilbert’s garbage and then leave the radio on the ABC in the morning.
Good luck Lukey boy.

Comment by Phantom on May 3rd, 2009

Drop all this talk radio,Bring back the days off local radio 24 hours days.
We are not Sydney radio/ 2 hd is and all ways be NEWCASTLE.
My line up would be
Luke Grant 5am to 9am
David Gubbay (Ross) 9am to 1pm
Richard King 1pm to 5pm
Arthur Shepherd 5pm to 10pm (I worked at 2nur FM for many years.
Bring some new people to the Air ways

Comment by Arthur E Shepherd on December 22nd, 2009

Leave a Comment