Divisive commentator and radio and TV presenter Steve Price has been told his “time’s up”.
Price wrote in his column in the Herald Sun that his morning radio show won’t be back next year – but was quick to emphasis there is no scandal, and to distance himself from the antics of Chris Smith.
Price wrote, “It’s been a rollercoaster ride that’s lasted 35 years but ended on Friday – and not for any other reason than time’s up. No scandal here.”
His program was broadcast regionally through Triple M and was also available everywhere through Southern Cross Radio’s Listnr app. His program, Australia Today, will be replaced in some markets by Ray Hadley’s show while in others, music programming will take its place.
Australia Today newsreader Natarsha Belling will join Triple M’s Mick & MG in the Morning.
Price had launched Australia Today in April 2021. Before that, he had hosted shows on 2GB until 2019.
Price wrote of his exit, “Thirty-five years is a long time to have survived the cutthroat world of talkback radio and, mostly, I have enjoyed every minute of it. Mostly but not always.”
Price cited many highlights over his radio career, starting with working as a producer for Neil Mitchell only a few weeks before the 1987 Queen St massacre. He also mentioned a marathon 14-hour session over the 9/11 terror attacks, the Port Arthur massacre, Covid, Ukraine war and the Black Saturday bushfires.
He wrote that his “perhaps a little too in-your-face” style sometimes got him into trouble.
But that the “aggressive” radio scene in Melbourne was nothing compared to the “viper’s nest” of Sydney radio – “Working with Alan Jones, John Laws and Ray Hadley was on another level”.
Among his other highlights over the years was “Jeff Kennett once playfully slapped me across my face” and an “AFL chief executive so angrily shouting at me his spit was running down my face”.
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He also reminisced about the time Pauline Hanson sued after he had put her post-interview comments to air because she had forgotten to hang up the phone.
He described being demoted in 2003 from breakfast slot to drive on 2UE has been “floored”.
“Bruised ego doesn’t begin to describe it. That’s the dangerous world of radio ratings and station politics – and seriously, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Price noted that he will continue to write his Herald Sun column and be on TV – he is a regular panellist on The Project – even if radio “might be done with me”.
Price has been a controversial figure in the media, often attracting criticism for his views and opinions.
Earlier this year, he made the claim that he, as a white male, was in a “minority” and complained that he was being silenced, despite having at the time platforms on radio, TV and in a newspaper.
He once also claimed that the public had overreacted to Eddie Maguire’s “jokes” about drowning prominent sports journalist Caroline Wilson.
He also faced off against his The Project co-stars on a range of subjects, including the removal of statues and young people.
Earlier this year, he penned a column claiming women’s football was “substandard” and doesn’t deserve the funding and attention it gets from the AFL.
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