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Talkback host Martin Devlin has been pulled from his slot on the RadioLive breakfast show.
The Herald understands that poor ratings have led to the former Radio Sport frontman being axed from the 6am to 9am slot.
It is understood negotiations are under way between Devlin and his CanWest employers over the amount he will be paid out for his three-year contract, understood to be worth around $1 million.
Devlin has fronted the breakfast show since the station launched in April 2005, but concern over poor ratings has prompted the station, unhappy with audience share, to pull the plug.
A senior station source said negotiations had broken down between Devlin and CanWest, which also owns TV3, over the amount he would be paid.
RadioLive general manager Mitch Harris said Devlin was on annual leave until the end of the month.
He declined to discuss his work at the station, referring inquiries to CanWest chief executive Brent Impey.
Mr Impey denied there was any issue over Devlin's position as the station's breakfast host.
He said as far as he was aware Devlin was due to return to work on January 29. He has been on holiday since December 15.
A RadioLive staff member who would not be named said farewell drinks were held for him after his last show on the 15th and the event was attended by around a dozen staff.
Devlin, however, denied he was leaving the station.
He said he was in the middle of a three-year contract and nothing had changed.
The source said, however, that the denials were driven by concern at breaching what had become fractious exit negotiations.
It is understood Devlin, a regular on TV game show A Game of Two Halves who was headhunted by CanWest from rival radio company TRN's Radio Sport, is considering returning to a sports show.
Devlin joins a number of RadioLive hosts to have left in the past year.
Afternoon host Kerry Smith left in May, followed by Saturday morning host Brian Edwards who quit just three months after he started.
It was understood poor ratings were the catalyst for Smith's move, while Edwards said work commitments had prompted him to leave.
RadioLive has struggled to cut into the market share held by dominant talkback broadcaster Newstalk ZB.
