Veitch pulls new listeners to show

Tony Veitch. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Radio host Tony Veitch, who bashed his girlfriend and tried to buy her silence has defied critics by pulling in new listeners for his Radio Sport show.

The Research International ratings survey this week shows the Radio Network's decision to return him to his old station has gained the show more than 8000 listeners. Taking on the job at Christmas was Veitch's first major role since his career ground to a halt in 2008, after he admitted injuring former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell.

Dallas Gurney, the Radio Network's general manager of talk programming, said the results "reaffirmed our decision" to re-employ Veitch.

"I couldn't have wished for a better result for Tony," he added. "He has grown the number of people tuning into Radio Sport in his first result and has established a strong platform for further growth."

At The Edge radio station, staff productivity took a hit on the day they discovered they had more listeners - 458,900 - than any other station for the fourth year in a row.

Morning show host Jay-Jay Feeney said they popped the champagne corks to celebrate.

"The boss was so stoked he ran out to Glengarry and got champagne," she said. "By 9am the champagne was cracked and by 11am he was asleep in his office on the couch."

Newstalk's Paul Holmes had 15,700 more listeners than last year on his Saturday morning show - the biggest increase of his long career.

H was "chuffed" at the results and said it was because he was now so comfortable in his role.

"It's been quite an adaptation going from Breakfast to Saturday morning which is more lifestyle [focussed], Over the past year I've settled into the slot and I think our pace is good. The only time I feel pressure in the ratings is when I'm coming last," he said.

Radio Training School operations manager Jono Manks said the ratings were critical for attracting advertisers.