peter helliar

Austereo Ditches Tony Martin’s Show In Favour Of The Comedy Gold That Is Strauchanie

8:57AM Jess McGuire | A surprising development in the world of radio today, with news Austereo has decided to give Tony Martin’s Triple M program the boot. Tony Martin’s nationally networked radio show has been axed, despite being one of the top rating programs on struggling station Triple M. The comedian’s Get This program has been a successful annoyance for the Austereo network, which shifted its timeslot three times in just over 18 months. In a pattern repeated across the country, figures jumped from about 5 per cent audience share to about 11 per cent during the two-hour program, when it aired from 11am. They fell back to near 6 per cent when the station returned to music. Given, as it says above, that the show is a ratings winner, it does seem an odd decision. Ratings are not everything, of course, but the program is also highly respected by those in “the industry”, with more than a few radio stars and producers declaring to Defamer Australia over the past few months that it is one of the best quality radio shows on air in the country. The general opinion amongst Martin’s radio peers this morning regarding Austereo’s axing of Get This seems to be a mix of “What the fuck?” and “IDIOTS!”. The Herald Sun’s Confidential column reported this morning – It’s believed that the signing of comedian Peter Helliar and Triple J’s Myf Warhurst as part of a national breakfast restructure has seen costs rocket, which has led to the station letting Martin go. Some sources said Helliar’s yearly salary could be as high as $1 million. They really are taking quite the punt on the Helliar/Warhurst combination, aren’t they? We suppose time will tell if this is as daft a move as it seems. What do we know? Kyle and Jackie O just won Best On-Air Team at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, and listening to them makes us want to stab our eyes out with broken pieces of Tamara Jaber’s Ooh Ahh CD single case, so we obviously don’t have our finger on the pulse of what makes good radio. More »

Thousands Worried Over Hep C Scare

3:12PM Jess McGuire | News Ltd reports that 2000 patients currently fear they could be at risk of Hepatitis C due to some dicey practices at a Sydney medical clinic. Almost 2000 people who visited a Sydney medical clinic could be at risk of hepatitis C infection because of inadequate controls at the practice, NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher said. At least three patients probably contracted hepatitis C because of inadequate infection control at Dr Daniel Hameiri’s Double Bay clinic, an investigation has found. Health Minister Reba Meagher said New South Wales Health had now notified almost 2000 patients who attended the clinic and who could be at risk of the blood-borne virus. They are being advised to be tested for hepatitis C as well as hepatitis B and HIV. The investigation found the spread of the highly infectious virus, detected in three patients in March, had probably occurred as a result of “inadequate infection control practices” at the clinic. Even more terrifying for those awaiting results? The rumour that Peter Helliar will inflict his stand up upon them in an effort to win back some hearts after his disastrous Hep C/Pamela Anderson comedy debacle on Sunday night earned him the ire of Hepatitis Australia. More »