Ben Fordham has signed a new five-year contract with Sydney radio station 2GB, extending his tenure as host of the breakfast show "Ben Fordham Live" into the next decade. The deal is reportedly worth multi-millions, with Fordham indicating it surpasses his previous annual salary of $1.5 million.
Fordham, 49, reached the agreement with the station's new owners, Arthur and Craig Laundy, who acquired 2GB from Nine Entertainment in January. Retaining Fordham was a stated priority for the new ownership. "I've got a very special relationship with Arthur," Fordham told The Daily Telegraph. "So naturally you don't want to let someone like that down. Looking into his eyes I could tell he didn't want me to go."
Fordham, who has been with 2GB for over 16 years, began in the drive shift in 2010 before moving to the breakfast slot in 2020. Under his leadership, 2GB's breakfast program has consistently led Sydney ratings, most recently securing a 14.8 percent market share.
"It would be out of character for me to take a pay cut," Fordham stated when discussing the new contract. He expressed his continued enthusiasm for the job, stating, "I knew that I would miss this job about five minutes after finishing it. Yes it's full on and it's unrelenting and it's all consuming, but I also bloody love it."
Fordham's extended contract comes at a time of flux in the radio industry. Earlier this year, ARN cancelled "The Kyle and Jackie O Show" and recently announced the departure of drive time duo Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw from its 2027 lineup. Fordham has maintained a significant presence in a challenging media landscape.
