Hot30 Countdown

Hot30 Countdown
Genre Contemporary hit radio
Running time 2.5 hours (7:30 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. AEST)
Country  Australia
Language(s) English
Home station 2Day FM
Syndicates Fox FM
B105 FM
SAFM
92.9
NXFM
104.7 FM
Ace Radio Network (Regional Victoria)
Hosted by Michael Christian (MC) (2012)
Mel Greig (2012)
Air dates 1999 to 2012
Audio format Stereo

The Hot30 Countdown was an Australian radio show hosted by Mike Christian (MC) and Mel Greig. It was broadcast on the Today Network from the studios of 2Day FM in Sydney, New South Wales to every state and the Australian Capital Territory following 'The Dirt'. It was cancelled on 10 December 2012, following the death of Jacintha Saldanha.

History

Established in 1994, the show was first hosted by Ugly Phil and Jackie O. Brisbane based announcer Kyle Sandilands was then moved in to host with Jackie O until 2003. Labrat and Alexis took over the Hot30 Countdown from 2004 after Kyle and Jackie O moved to the drive slot. Previously unknown announcer "Higgo" stepped in as Labrat took the morning shift on 2DayFM. Alexis and Higgo hosted the nightly show until 2005, when Craig "Lowie" Low came in to host the program until mid-2006. Lowie occasionally included Carla "Biggzy" Bignasca as co-host as she was the executive producer of the show from the middle of 2006.

Hot30 Countdown phased out the national promotion of the Black Thunders in early 2005, across the Today Network. Sam "Sam Mac" McMillan and Carla "Biggzy" Bignasca hosted the show from late 2006 until early 2007. From early 2007, Tim Lee was announced as the permanent replacement to host the show with Carla "Biggzy" Bignasca to this date. In February 2010, it was announced that Tim Lee and Carla "Biggzy" Bignasca would be leaving the Hot30 Countdown, with Tim relocating to Fox FM in Melbourne, Victoria presenting Mornings with Biggzy expected to focus on television opportunities. Lee and Bignasca presented their last show on Friday 12 March 2010.

Austereo announced on 10 March 2010 Charli Robinson and Chris Page would be the new Hot30 hosts and they commenced on Monday 15 March 2010, subsequently introducing a new show at 7pm called The Dirt. Page left the Hot30 Countdown at the end of 2010, moving to Triple M's Grill Team in Sydney, New South Wales and Robinson moving to become the first solo host of The Dirt nationally.

In February 2011, Austereo announced that Matty Acton and Maude Garrett would be the new hosts of the Hot30 Countdown. From 5 September 2011, it was announced by Southern Cross Austereo, the Hot30 Countdown would broadcast into syndicated channels as well as additional Today Network regional channels and with the merger Hot30 changed their Australian studio line to 13 10 60. Acton and Garrett also hosted a weekend music show on Southern Cross Ten which waslaunched as 'Hot30 Countdown TV', airing Saturdays from 10am to 12pm and Sundays at 9am to 12pm.[1]

On 31 January 2012, Maude Garrett revealed on the Hot30 Countdown that she was leaving the show on 10 February 2012 and it was announced on Friday 9 March 2012 that Mel Greig would be the permanent co-host for the Hot30 Countdown.[2] In November 2012, Matty Acton announced that he was leaving the show to work at Sea FM on the Gold Coast, Queensland with FOX FM mornings presenter Mike Christian (MC) replacing Acton in December.

Duchess of Cambridge prank call and cancellation

On 6 December 2012, the day after Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital for a severe case of morning sickness, Mel Greig and Michael Christian rang the hospital pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. The prank worked, with a nurse forwarding the call on to Catherine's private nurse, and Greig and Christian were able to obtain Catherine's medical details. The prank was condemned by a journalist writing in The Huffington Post, and the hospital announced they deeply regretted the incident and would be "reviewing [their] telephone protocols."[3]

Following the incident the nurse who put the prank call through to Catherine's private nurse was found dead in a suspected suicide.[4]

Following the death both Greig and Christian, took down their Twitter accounts. An executive producer for 2Day FM, told TMZ, "I advise you to stop trying to call them" as the hosts have been "ordered" not to speak to media. It was later announced that Greig and Christian would be stepping away from their duties. The company that owned the station released a statement reported by TMZ, which stated, "SCA and 2Day FM are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha from King Edward VII’s Hospital. [...] SCA and the hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy."[4]

At a Federal Court hearing it became known that Australian media watchdog Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had prepared a confidential, preliminary report saying that the Radio Royal hoax 'broke law'. 2Day FM acted illegally by airing the phone call without consent.[5]

On 10 December 2012, Southern Cross Austereo announced that the show would be cancelled effective immediately.[6]

Timeline of hosts and co-hosts

Hot30 Jelli

Main article: Choose The Hits

In November 2009, a Digital Radio offshoot of the Hot30 Countdown was launched.[7] A joint venture with Jelli, the station uses a playlist from current and previous Hot30 Countdown music, which is then voted on by listeners at the Hot30 Jelli website. The station has since been renamed Choose The Hits.

References

  1. ↑ Reid, Poppy (29 August 2011). "Hot30 Countdown launches broadcast additions". themusicnetwork.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Leo, Jessica (9 March 2012). "Mel Greig leaves for hot new job at 30". The Advertiser. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  3. ↑ Adams, Rebecca (5 December 2012). "Kate Middleton Hospital Prank: Nurse Fooled By Radio Show Into Divulging Duchess' Details". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  4. 1 2 Krupnick, Ellie; Misener, Jessica (7 December 2012). "Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead In London Days After Being Duped By Prank Callers". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Radio Royal hoax 'broke law' according to watchdog". BBC. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "Southern Cross Austereo Press Release" (PDF). 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Second DAB+ digital station for Austereo". campaignbrief.com. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
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