98fm’s newly signed mid-morning presenter Adrian Kennedy has told a newspaper that 2fm should sack Hector O’hEochágain if it wants to win audiences in Dublin.
Rumours around the industry recently suggest that Hector’s show could face the axe as part of a shake-up of the 2fm schedules in the New Year under new boss Dan Healy. But Healy has reportedly told Hector his future at the station is secure.
Adrian Kennedy, who left FM104’s phone-in show in September and will join Dublin rival 98fm in 2014 to do a morning talk show, told the Herald that if the RTE national station wants to increase its audience in the capital, it needs a new breakfast host. “The biggest star 2fm ever had was Gerry Ryan,” said Kennedy. “He was a Dub and the Gerry Ryan Show was huge in Dublin. The only DJ doing well in 2fm now is Colm Hayes, another Dub.”
He added: “Dan has to understand that Dublin people see life as them versus the rest of the country. With Hector’s accent he wouldn’t have a hope of getting listeners in Dublin. The Pale still exists – there are listeners in Dublin who have never been outside the M50, and are happy about that.”