Respected football commentator Brad Hardie looks set to be given the boot from Radio 6PR after 23 years with the popular Sports Today show being taken over by one of the rising players in the Australian media landscape.
Crocmedia has teamed up with Macquarie Media - operator of 6PR in Perth – to call AFL games from 2017-2022 and as part of the deal will take the reins of the Sports Today program which ran from 6pm to 8pm during weekdays.
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Sports Today will be rebranded as SportsdayWA but without Hardie.
Hardie's co-host – former Eagles' hard nut Karl Langdon - will stay on and will be joined by ex-Dockers midfielder Paul Hasleby.
![Brad Hardie's days at Radio 6PR could be numbered.](/web/20161215134333im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/2/o/3/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gta9o2.png/1481609293357.jpg)
Before Crocmedia put out a release announcing its new line-up on Monday, it tweeted a picture of Langdon and Hasleby welcoming them to the SportstdayWA team, which caused confusion amongst loyal Radio 6PR listeners.
We are excited to announce Karl Langdon & Paul Hasleby will be joining the @SportsdayWA team in 2017. The boys will host 6-8pm weeknights. pic.twitter.com/79erEgyohb
— Crocmedia (@Crocmedia) December 12, 2016
Radio 6PR management was hoping to keep Hardie on at the broadcaster in some capacity, but wouldn't elaborate on what his new role would be.
Hardie didn't want to comment about any new deals, but the 1985 Brownlow Medallist who was a regular contributor to WAtoday, was hoping to "lock down" something in the coming days.
![Radio 6PR's rising star Ben Cameron time at the broadcaster could be up.](/web/20161215134333im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/a/9/u/x/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gta9o2.png/1481609293357.jpg)
The future of Radio 6PR's rising star Ben Cameron also looks in doubt with the Sports Today producer and AFL football commentator being told he may not have a job next year.
Radio 6PR management said it was looking at "moving" Cameron "somewhere" within Macquarie.
A spokesman for Crocmedia said the SportsdayWA show would kick off on January 16 next year and would include a local producer.
He wouldn't say if that producer would be Cameron.
"Karl Langdon will still call WA AFL games for 6PR in 2017," he said.
"I am unsure what arrangement the station has in place with Brad Hardie to continue in that role and since we don't have input on those negotiations, that would be a discussion best had with 6PR management."