Ben Fordham re-signs with Tapt Media for five more years

Ben Fordham has committed to another five years at 2GB, as reported by The Daily Telegraph, signing a new deal with Tapt Media that keeps him behind the microphone on Sydney breakfast.

The multi-year agreement ends speculation about whether Fordham would remain in radio beyond his current contract, with reports in recent months suggesting he had considered stepping away from the daily breakfast grind and becoming more involved in his family’s talent management business.

READ MORE: Greg Byrnes on Tapt Media’s ratings and post-Nine push

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Arthur Laundy launches charm offensive across Nine Radio stations

Fordham stays with 2GB under new ownership

The new contract is one of the most significant talent commitments made since the Laundy Family Office took control of the former Nine Radio business and relaunched it as Tapt Media on 1 May.

The acquisition moved 2GB, Melbourne’s 3AW, Brisbane’s 4BC and Perth’s 6PR into private ownership under the Laundy family, with Tom Malone continuing to lead the business as Tapt Media chief executive.

Fordham has longstanding ties to new owners Arthur Laundy and Craig Laundy. When Nine announced the $56 million sale of its radio network in January, Fordham described the family positively on air and said they had been supporters of 2GB before becoming its owners.

Fordham has hosted Ben Fordham Live in breakfast since June 2020, when he succeeded Alan Jones after almost a decade presenting 2GB Drive.

Still number one at breakfast

Tapt Media is locking in Fordham while his program continues to lead Sydney breakfast.

GfK Radio 360 Survey 5, released on 1 September, gave Ben Fordham Live a 14.8 per cent total radio share, making it Sydney’s outright number one breakfast program.

Its commercial streaming share reached 46.9 per cent, up 2.5 points, while Tapt said the program added 32,000 streaming listeners from the previous survey.

The wider 2GB station recorded an 11.2 per cent total radio share and remained Sydney’s leading talk station.

Fordham’s new five-year agreement gives Tapt Media long-term certainty around one of its most important programs as the new owners build out their strategy across broadcast radio, streaming, podcasts and digital audio.