EXCLUSIVE

Talkback radio titan Ray Hadley is in secret talks to switch to a full-time television role with a rival network after he wraps up his impressive career at Nine next month.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the veteran broadcaster met with executives at Sky News Australia within hours of announcing his retirement from Nine’s flagship 2GB station live on-air last Thursday.

Sources said Hadley arrived at news channel’s Sydney HQ for the covert chat after most of the broadcaster’s staffers had already headed home for the day.

He then spent more than an hour in deep conversation with the News Corp-owned network’s chief executive, Paul Whittaker, and head of programs, Mark Calvert.

Hadley will sign-off from his top-rating morning show for the final time on December 13 despite having about two years left to run on his multimillion-dollar deal at Nine.

Sky News Australia insiders said the network was determined to lure the award-winning broadcaster – and his loyal audience – to the political news channel, with Whittaker personally rolling at the red carpet for the potential marquee signing.

Ray Hadley is winding up at Nine’s flagship Sydney talkback station 2GB on December 13 after hosting his top-rating morning show for more than two decades

The veteran broadcaster wants to spend more time with wife, Sophie

Although it is understood Hadley’s contract precludes him from appearing on a rival radio network, sources said he could be free to join Sky News Australia under the terms of the agreement as the television channel does not directly compete with Nine Radio.

Any deal between Hadley and the network would likely see him taking a break over the summer to spend time with his family before commencing on-air duties in the new year.

Sources said Hadley’s strong political views actually meant he had long been more in step with Sky News Australia’s sensibilities than those of Nine and would be a natural fit for the network.

On the day Hadley announced his retirement, he aired an extended conversation with Sky News reporter Peter Stefanovic about the US election ahead of a similar chat with his Nine colleague, and Stefanovic’s brother, Karl.

There are suggestions the potential deal could also see the rugby league commentating great continue calling football games for Fox Sports.

Speculation is already running rife within the corridors of Sky News Australia about where Hadley would fit within the broadcaster’s imposing political line-up.

Insiders suggest he is likely to have been offered his own prime-time program in a bid to woo him to the channel.

The network already boasts a strong stable of conservative stars, including Andrew Bolt, Peta Credlin, Paul Murray and Chris Kenny – who raised eyebrows last year after breaking with his colleagues and backing the failed Voice to Parliament.

Sky News boss Paul Whittaker – nicknamed Boris for his similarity to Wimbledon legend Boris Becker and his love of tennis – is determined to lure Hadley to the News Corp network

It would not be the first time Nine Radio has lost one of its popular presenters to Sky News Australia.

Former Sydney breakfast radio king Alan Jones also made the move from 2GB to Sky News when he signed off from his top-rating show four years ago.

Jones finished up with the Nine Radio station on May 29, 2020, after telling listeners he was struggling with serious health issues and had been warned by his doctors, ‘If you don’t stop, you’ll drop’.

A month later, Sky News Australia revealed it had signed Jones amid much fanfare to front his own four nights-a-week 8pm news and current affairs program.

However, Jones was unable to replicate his radio success on the television channel and his show was eventually dumped after little more than a year.

Sky News Australia sources said the network’s executives were confident Hadley had a far greater connection with his audience – and would prove a far greater success.

Hadley is also more than a decade younger than Jones, having turned 70 just six weeks ago, and is still at the top of his game – although a move to night-time television would be beneficial for family and lifestyle reasons.

Former 2GB breakfast host Alan Jones made the leap to Sky News Australia but proved a flop

The radio legend announced his shock decision to hang up his microphone on-air on Thursday, saying he wanted to spend more time with wife Sophie, his children and grandchildren after decades of 3.30am starts.

The tireless broadcaster told his listeners he had been contemplating retiring for some time and first raised the prospect with Nine Radio boss Tom Malone at a meeting in Paris while covering the Olympic Games.

‘I achieved far more than I have thought I would,’ Hadley told listeners.

‘My children, Dan, Laura, Emma and Sarah, have made many sacrifices over the years for me to realise my ambitions.

‘Seven years ago I had no grandchildren, now I have seven, and I want to spend more time in the company of Ava, Noah, Ella, Lola, Tommy, Remi and Millar along with their parents.

‘Over three years ago, I married the most amazing woman, Sophie. She is the most supportive, calming, loving wife anyone could ask for and she deserves a break.

‘If I cop it in a newspaper or other media, she gets more upset than me.

‘Back in September, I turned 70 and started to think how long have I got left on this earth and do I want to keep getting up at 3.30 in the morning.

Hadley has been a dominant force for 2GB since joining the network from rivals 2UE in 2002

‘I started my conversation with [Nine Radio] CEO Tom Malone about my future some time ago, and while I was in Paris, we caught up where I expressed that perhaps he might start looking for a replacement.

‘I again broached the subject with Tom last week.

‘He listened but I don’t think he thought I was serious but I was and because he’s known me for almost 40 yeas he came to the conclusion I was serious.

‘So December 13 this year, will be my last day broadcasting the Ray Hadley Morning Program.’

Although Nine’s executives lauded Hadley’s achievement after he announced his retirement, his unexpected exit has left them with the daunting task of replacing him in the critical morning timeslot.

The Ray Hadley Morning Show has reigned supreme in Sydney between 9am and 12pm for more than two decades for 2GB, recently winning its 160th consecutive ratings survey, and is also syndicated across more than 30 stations.

Hadley has been recognised with 35 Australian Commercial Radio Awards for his work in news, current affairs and sport – more than any other broadcaster – and he was inducted into the ACRA Hall of Fame in 2017.

The one-time taxi driver was also awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2002 for his services to rugby league and in recognition of his charity work along with an addition to the Sydney Cricket Ground’s Media Hall of Honour in 2021.

Ben Fordham is one of the favourites to take on Hadley’s role – even though it means Nine’s top brass would then have to find a replacement for him in the equally important breakfast slot

Sources within Nine said the network’s executives would be looking to an established radio star to replace Hadley in the highly competitive timeslot.

Ben Fordham has emerged as one of the early favourites to be given the task of winning over Hadley’s audience having successfully replaced Jones at the equally important breakfast show timeslot four years ago.

The only drawback is that the network would then have to find a replacement for the award-winning Fordham at breakfast.

Other key contenders include Mark Levy, who currently hosts the evening Wide World of Sports show six nights a week, former 2GB wunderkind Jason Morrison and former 60 Minutes-turned-Seven-Spotlight star Liam Bartlett.