The Hit Network has reformatted Gold Coast station 90.9SEA FM into Hit90.9.

The move is part of Hit’s efforts to put all satellite stations under a unified branding strategy.

To kick off the change, 90.9SEA FM/Hit90.9’s breakfast show will be relaunched on 29 July 2019, with Lise Carlaw and Sarah Wills, AKA Those Two Girls, joining incumbent hosts Dan Anstey and Ben Hannant in the booth.

Hit Network content chief Gemma Fordham explained that Carlaw and Wills’ breakfast gig was a product of their tandem becoming popular among Queenslander listeners. They have run a mid-dawn show for the past two years.

“The moment we put Lise, Sarah, Dan and Ben together we heard their immediate chemistry, quite simply it just popped. The combination of the four delivers a show that is very funny, engaging and has heart,” said Fordham.

Lovatts Media has introduced a new teen mindfulness magazine called KIT.

Written for children between eight to 14 years old, KIT aims to introduce them to newer experiences that can help them later in life. These include skills such as cooking and knitting, and building up physical health and wellness, especially with outdoor activities as well as games. 

KIT is also meant as a companion piece to another Lovatts publication, Teen Breathe, which focuses on calming activities for teens.

“Between the bombardment of materialism and the blurring of lines between virtual and real life, our digitally-inclined youth can find renewed inspiration to create their best lives now while chasing their dreams for the future. KIT presents an entertaining handbook to foster their adventurous spirit while encouraging them to develop their emotional intelligence and resilience,” said KIT editor Carly Sallard.

Karl Stefanovic is hitting the 2GB airwaves today, as a Monday guest on afternoon program The Steve Price Show.

The new assignment is part of Macquarie Radio’s plan to have Price interact with different regular hosts for the weekday airings.

Rita Panahi and Mieke Buchan are regulars, and Erin Molan, Deborah Knight, and Phil Gould are chiming in on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, respectively.

Stefanovic has kept himself out of the limelight since leaving Nine’s The Today Show last December.

Tune in to Stefanovic on Twitter @KarlStefanovic.

SKY News will have more people in its digital team, under current head of digital Tim Love, as reported on B and T.

The network announced that Jack Houghton will be onboard as digital editor. He will be in charge of content to be published over skynews.com.au and related portals, providing some of the content himself. He will also lead the production of SKY News political platform 2600, alongside newly-promoted senior producer Courtney Gould.

Houghton had previously guested on SKY News shows as a writer for the Daily Telegraph.

Current SKY News product manager Sarah Gaukroger is moving up as digital operations manager.

“These new roles are critical to the channel’s ongoing expansion and are a testament to the popularity of video content. Having launched the network’s video-first strategy 18 months ago, video views have increased by over 300 per cent,” said Love

“The increased investment sets us up for continued success during our next period of signif

Veteran reporter James Boyce has returned to 10, this time as the network’s new government and regulatory affairs boss, with 10 COO Annabelle Herd as his direct superior.

Herd said Boyce’s experience covering politics and policy issues in Canberra made him the best fit for the job.

Boyce previously worked at Ten from 2006 to 2011 covering the NSW and federal politics beat, including reassignment to Parliament House. He had spent the past eight years in corporate and government roles, the most prominent of which being Tony Abbott’s senior press secretary.

“I’m super excited to be re-joining the 10 family! Free-to-air TV plays such an important role in entertaining us, informing us and reflecting our Aussie culture. You just don’t get that on any other platform and I can’t wait to be its number one cheerleader around the halls of Canberra,” said Boyce.

Follow Boyce on LinkedIn.

Perth radio station 96FM has hired Russell Clark for its weekday afternoon show.

ARN confirmed that he was the last in the station’s hiring plan under managing director Gary Roberts – an act that saw Daniel Underhill come in as new content director and the welcoming of Botica’s Bunch on the brekky side.

Clark has been doing casual roles at 6IX after leaving Mix 94.5 last year.

“Russell’s wealth of knowledge and depth of experience will prove invaluable as we focus on audience growth and reclaiming 96FM’s heritage,” said 96FM managing director Gary Roberts.

Steve Price has been officially named as 2GB and 4BC’s weekday afternoon host.

Macquarie Media announced that Price had agreed to make the move from the nighttime slot to afternoon, with Rita Panahi as his co-host. Deb Knight and Erin Molan will also guest from time to time.

An earlier plan sought for Price to switch places with Chris Smith, but Smith sought to leave due to family issues.

Merrick Watts is being eyed for the nightly show.

“Afternoons will be a combination of opinion, talkback, breaking news and more – who doesn’t want to talk about their dream holiday or set of wheels, and trading blows with regular Rita Panahi is always great radio,” said Macquarie Media CEO Adam Lang.

“News doesn’t stop breaking when you break for lunch – and with Steve Price behind the microphone, neither do we.”