Eighteen staff - including five on-air presenters - at Brisbane station 4BC have been axed, the merged Fairfax/Macquarie radio network has confirmed.

Ian Skippen, Loretta Ryan, Patrick Condren, Walter Williams and Murray Shoring will no longer be heard on the talkback station, with other redundancies coming from other areas including sales, IT and production.

Chief Operating Officer Adam Lang arrived in Brisbane on Thursday afternoon to begin talking with individual staff members about their future.

He issued a statement on Friday afternoon confirming the 18 job losses.

"4BC on-air presenters, including Breakfast team Ian Skippen and Loretta Ryan, Mornings presenter Patrick Condren, Evening presenter Walter Williams and Weekend Breakfast announcer Murray Shoring will finish their roles with the station today," Mr Lang said.

"Magic 882 Evening presenter Jo Henderson has also left the station.

"I would like to acknowledge the incredible contribution and dedication these presenters have made to our stations and our Brisbane audience."

Mr Lang's statement hinted local breakfast, morning and evening programs would be replaced with networked content from Sydney station 2GB, such as Alan Jones and Ray Hadley.

"We will be announcing our new station line-ups shortly and look forward to bringing the very best of our newly expanded Macquarie Radio Network programs to our Brisbane audience," the statement read.

Ian Skippen left 4BC late Friday morning wearing a Groucho Marx disguise in an effort to make light of the situation.

Skippen was previously sacked from Triple M in 2011.

Former Channel 7 political journalist Patrick Condren was a high-profile recruit to 4BC when he began in the mornings slot at the start of 2014.

He signed off on Friday, telling listeners "I've enjoyed myself. It's time to go."

thoughts are with friends and colleagues doing it tough today. — Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) April 10, 2015

Later outside the station Condren told waiting TV reporters he joked that other opportunities were on the way.

"I can hear that other door opening and I think it's the Story Bridge Hotel, so you'll excuse me," he said.

Sports Today presenter Kieran Marsh has also lost his role. Production, IT and sales staff are also believed to have been made redundant.

My biggest regret is I didn't get to say goodnight and goodbye to my listeners, friends & co workers...Queensland You stay classy & safe — walter williams (@waltdevoice) April 10, 2015

4BC was one of the first radio stations in Brisbane, founded by electrical store baron John Beals Chandler in 1930.

Opening his Friday drive show, announcer Ben Davis pointed out it was the same year Richie Benaud was born.

Davis read Mr Lang's statement on air, then gave his own thoughts on the turmoil.

"A group of extremely talented, gifted, hard-working – and you wouldn't believe how hard-working – people, my mates, no longer have a job," he said.

"Right now it's not about numbers, it's about people. People who have feelings, people who have talent. People who've worked their guts out for you, the people of Brisbane.

"As for what now, that will be determined over the coming days. I don't know, I can't assume, it would only make me look foolish if I knew and speculated about what might be happening in the future.

"But what I do know is that we will continue to make great radio, continue to be the voice of Brisbane, continue to entertain, to inform and to make you smile – because that's what Brisbane is all about."

Full statement by Adam Lang on 4BC/Magic 882

As we continue the business integration between Fairfax Radio Network and Macquarie Radio Network, there are staff changes under way at 4BC and Magic 882 in Brisbane. These conversations with our team will conclude by the end of next week.

A total of 18 roles will be leaving our business with the aim of redeploying some staff within the network.

"4BC on-air presenters, including Breakfast team Ian Skippen and Loretta Ryan, Mornings presenter Patrick Condren, Evening presenter Walter Williams and Weekend Breakfast announcer Murray Shoring will finish their roles with the station today. Magic 882 Evening presenter Jo Henderson has also left the station.

I would like to acknowledge the incredible contribution and dedication these presenters have made to our stations and our Brisbane audience. We will be announcing our new station line-ups shortly and look forward to bringing the very best of our newly expanded Macquarie Radio Network programs to our Brisbane audience.

This is a very challenging time for everyone in our company and we would like to thank our staff for their patience, understanding and terrific support during this process.

Disclaimer: Fairfax Media is the publisher of Brisbane Times