The first day of 2018 produced the year’s first big sports media story: Gerard Whateley is departing ABC Grandstand for its commercial radio rival SEN.
The potential ramifications of this move are significant, but first we need to examine what has changed.
At the ABC, Whateley did plenty to go with his Monday to Thursday role as AFL 360 co-host on Fox Footy.
In the football season, he called and hosted Friday night and Saturday afternoon football, and presented the TV panel discussion show Offsiders on Sunday mornings.
Over the last three summers, he has also called live Test cricket and presented many more hours of discussion through rain delays and at stumps.
As well as these regular roles, Whateley also called the marquee races of the Spring Racing Carnival, travelled to Olympic Games to call the swimming and report on the ground, and provided analysis as a panellist for the ABC’s 2015 Asian Cup coverage.
Such is his versatility, the ABC will likely need to hire several people to fill his substantial shoes. This ability to cover so many sports at a consistently high standard and without an irritating ego makes him an outstanding gain for SEN.
At his new home, Whateley will become the chief AFL and horse racing caller and host the morning slot, Whateley, from 9 to midday. The format of this show is most curious and is somewhat unknown.
Whateley said in a statement that he couldn’t resist “the opportunity to create a program truly reflective of the way I believe Melbourne engages with sport from its fans to its participants.”
“My work and style is well revealed and that is what I’ll bring to SEN.”
This makes it seem too obvious that Whateley would follow the standard SEN format: a mixture of light discussion and analysis, mostly around AFL, mixed with listener talkback to engage more directly with the host and guests.
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Quite what Whateley may do differently I can only guess, but I will have to pay close attention online as I live in Queensland, well outside the AM and DAB range of SEN in Melbourne.
All I hope, as I stream SEN on my phone without soaking up too much data, is that Whateley provides the same level of intellect and in-depth analysis he brings to his other work, whether on ABC or Fox Footy.
SEN would not have hired him had they not expected more of the same, so I expect he will be given a good deal of creative freedom, which can only be a good thing for SEN and its listeners.
As for the ABC, this really is a crucial time for their future as a sports broadcaster. From my limited perspective, this has to be good news for Kelli Underwood.
Long serving as Whateley’s deputy on Offsiders, she is his logical replacement and would do a fine job starting from its early return this Sunday.
As for radio, you will hear no complaints from me if Underwood also replaces Whateley in his roles for Friday night and Saturday afternoon football coverage. She already hosts coverage on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons and this would be a simple jump.
As for racing and cricket, the ABC will have their work cut out finding replacements who perform to the same irrepressible standard as Whateley.
SEN have landed a seriously big fish and they should do everything possible to make full use of him. 2018 could well shape up as a pivotal year in Australian sports broadcasting, for better or for worse.
As for Gerard Whateley himself, he has earned the right to dictate the form of content he produces. Here’s hoping it proves to be something new and refreshing, as it would force all competitors to up their game, and we would all benefit from that.
Don Freo
Guest
I think we'll see Corbin Middlemas being transferred from Brisbane to Melbourne very quickly. Only in his early 20s he is as much a sports guru as were Whateley and, before him, Glenn Mitchell at the same age. Very versatile but an outstanding AFL caller.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Sorry I missed the party then. :)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Indeed.
Redb
Roar Guru
Yeah I was based on the 9 Melb teams only, but even then its conservative.
Tricky
Guest
I think 400k membership is on the lean side, last year North was the lowest membered at approx 40k. So if you have 10 clubs at that amount you'd get that figure however teams like Collingwood and Richmond in the 70's Ess, Dogs, Hawks in the 50's or 60's you could argue the figure is likely to be more than half a mill maybe even 600k
Aligee
Guest
@ Rick Off season! Happy to take my share of any blame, but it takes 2 to tango, sometimes 3 or 4
Alicesprings
Guest
Good call. A national sports radio platform in the making? Time will tell.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I feel somewhat bad taking the Trump bait, but, for once, I wasn't the worst of the off-topic posters. Also, I see you're back to just 'Rick Disnick'! Is that a United logo I spy?
Ryan Buckland
Expert
Not so much rumours as informed speculation. Crocmedia (Hutchison's company) is in the process of merging with Pacific Star Network (SEN's parent company). PSN is a publicly listed company, which will remain so, but with Crocmedia becoming the "bigger" part of the merger - essentially taking it over, but keeping the PSN legal structure and the like. Hutchison is going to be the CEO. That's my understanding of it at least; the less complicated version is Hutchison is taking over SEN and its related businesses. Given Crocmedia already produces content nationally, I would expect Hutchison's purchase is less about "SEN" as a brand and more about buying an existing distribution infrastructure that'll allow him to scale Crocmedia. Bringing in an enormous profile like Whateley (he's probably the highest profile general Australian sports journalist) adds weight to that speculation, for mine.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
Yep, I've flagged it as such. Hopefully it'll get tidied up soon. This place is no place for that discussion.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
WTF has happened on this thread?...
Alicesprings
Guest
Interesting point. Has there been an rumours of SEN going national? I often stream the station up here and know I'm not the only one.
Aransan
Guest
A rare good comment on topic. I am sure the large number of off topic comments here are a real turn off for many possible contributors to this forum.
Aligee
Guest
More so than you it appears, some commentators have big egos and some ex players don't, what's so controversial about that.
Pelican
Guest
Please moderate these political agitators out of this sports forum. Your right to free speach does not apply here. Its a sport forum. Go and pedal your crap to news limited they love it.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
To me, signing on Whateley suggests Hutchison has a desire to take SEN in a very different direction, and to take it national. His sports authority is broader than the nine Melbourne-based AFL clubs, and his salary would have been larger than those he has displaced. I'm intrigued, and in many ways excited. It's another media player wanting to take a punt on growth (much like this place and its owners), and for sports fans that can only be a good thing.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
What? Are you even paying attention to what you're writing or replying to? It seems like you've switched off critical thinking completely and gone fully into t.roll mode.
Mattyb
Guest
I'm enjoying the debate. Lol to the police who can't just ignore or scroll down discussion they don't approve of.
Aligee
Guest
Haven't run out of puff at all - not if puff is facts, all laid bare. It is interesting because IMO the fringe agitators were the ones here disputing facts, not myself who provided them.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm done anyway, Ali has completely run out of puff from the looks of things Again. It's January 3rd. If it was April 3rd I'd never have bothered getting into this argument. GAGF.