Nova is preparing a major national realignment of its on-air lineup this year, with confirmed plans to move “Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie” out of Sydney Breakfast and into national Drive.
Under the new structure, the “Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell” show will take over Breakfast, replacing the current “Fitzy & Wippa and Kate Ritchie” team, while Joel Creasey is expected to shift into a full-time role at Nova Perth, leaving the Sydney show. His “exciting new project” will be revealed on-air today.
The changes represent one of Nova’s most significant programming moves in years, resetting its two most commercially important dayparts – Breakfast and Drive – across the network. The shift would see Ricki-Lee and Tim front the Breakfast program without Joel, while Fitzy, Wippa and Kate would become Nova’s key Drive offering nationally.
Nova Network Group Programming Director Brendan Taylor said: “Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel have been a consistent number one show in their timeslot, and now is the right moment for a new sound for Sydney. Ricki-Lee and Tim are perfectly positioned to bring something exciting to Sydney Breakfast. They’re two of the best in the business and will continue to build on the incredible legacy of previous Nova Sydney Breakfast lineups, while delivering an exciting new show for Sydneysiders that’s live and local, every day.”
On the new Drive show, he added: “Fitzy, Wippa and Kate are a powerhouse combination and their chemistry, humour and heart resonate deeply with audiences. They’ve delivered excellent results together and this move to Drive allows us to share their magic with all of Australia.”
Sources suggest that cost-cutting is behind the current plan, which is being considered as a network-wide national realignment, rather than a Sydney-only adjustment, with Nova reviewing how its biggest brands are deployed across key markets.
Nova Entertainment CEO, Peter Charlton, said: “A key ingredient of Nova’s success has been consistency, so we’ve made these changes with consideration and a long-term view. This evolution is all about continuing to give our incredible talent the perfect platforms to deliver great content, market-leading audiences and trusted environments for our advertising partners.”
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