Well-placed sources have told Mediaweek that Nova is preparing a major national realignment of its on-air line-up this year, with plans in motion to move Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie out of Sydney Breakfast and into national Drive.
Under the proposed structure, Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell would 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.
If confirmed, the changes would represent one of Nova’s most significant programming moves in years, resetting its two most commercially important dayparts – Breakfast and Drive – across the network.
How the proposed line-up would change
The plan would effectively see Nova execute a straight national reshuffle of its two biggest shows.
• Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie would move from Sydney Breakfast to national Drive
• Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell would move from Drive into Breakfast
• Joel Creasey would relocate to Nova Perth in a full-time on-air role
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.
Brendan Taylor previously denied similar rumours
Nova Network Group Programming Director Brendan Taylor was asked about this exact scenario by Mediaweek in September last year, when speculation about Fitzy & Wippa moving to Drive and Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel shifting to Breakfast first emerged.
At the time, Taylor rejected the idea that major changes were imminent.
“Look, it’s that time of year. I obsess over our shows, and there’s no doubt I’m constantly thinking about what our long-term success is. There’s constant interest and talk about what will be next, but the numbers we’re delivering today show that all our teams are in a really strong position.
“When it comes to the rumours, I don’t buy into them. When there’s something to say, we’ll say it. But right now, I’ll just leave it at that – rumours,” he said.
Network-wide implications
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.
Mediaweek has reached out to Nova for comment.