{"id":248313,"date":"2025-10-29T08:59:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T08:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/248313\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T08:59:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T08:59:12","slug":"arn-upfronts-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/248313\/","title":{"rendered":"ARN Upfronts 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When someone says, \u201cI\u2019ve changed,\u201d it usually means trouble\u2019s either just passed or just begun.<\/p>\n

So, when the Australian Radio Network\u2019s<\/a> (ARN) new Chief Operating Officer, Michael Stephenson, told those that the network has changed, advertisers could be forgiven for leaning in (or out).<\/p>\n

\u2018Stevo\u2019, the former TV executive now steering ARN\u2019s national operations, was on a mission to make one thing clear: this isn\u2019t just a radio network anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve really focused on the transition of our company from a radio business to an entertainment company. To do that, you must transform to become increasingly more digital,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our opportunity really to draw a line in the sand, between the old ARN<\/a> and what we hope to be the new ARN,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

That transformation, he added, runs straight through iHeart \u2013 the platform ARN says is now central to its strategy.<\/p>\n

And with that, ARN\u2019s leadership kicked off its 2026 Upfronts: a confident display of where audio, video, and data meet \u2013 and, yes, a few nods to that $200 million question hanging over the room.<\/p>\n

The event also comes as ARN prepares for a major leadership shift.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Ciaran Davis<\/a>, who has led ARN<\/a> Media for 16 years, announced he will step down as CEO.<\/p>\n

His successor? The very man now driving the network\u2019s reinvention. The transition marks a generational handover that symbolises ARN\u2019s broader transformation from broadcaster to entertainment powerhouse.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

iHeart at the centre of the transformation<\/p>\n

If ARN\u2019s new era has a beating heart, it\u2019s iHeart. The digital audio platform \u2013 licensed from iHeartMedia in the US \u2013 anchors ARN\u2019s vision to become the home of connected entertainment across radio, streaming, podcasts, video, and live experiences.<\/p>\n

Newly appointed Chief Digital and Technology Officer Ben Campbell<\/a> described the iHeart partnership as \u201ca global juggernaut,\u201d noting that it\u2019s \u201cthe largest free radio streaming, music streaming, and podcasting platform in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to their size and scale, they are leading the charge with audio consumption and habits around the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A new iHeart app: nostalgia meets next-gen<\/p>\n

The centrepiece of the 2026 Upfronts was the launch of the next-generation iHeartRadio app, its biggest update since its Australian debut.<\/p>\n

Inspired by the nostalgia of the car radio, the redesigned app merges the tactile simplicity of traditional radio with the convenience of modern streaming.<\/p>\n

Campbell said focus group participants \u201ckept coming back to the ease of presets and one-button access, and to scanning through stations to hear what\u2019s playing before you land on what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

New features include custom Presets (up to 15 stations, playlists, or podcasts), a Scan Button offering 15-second previews of live stations, and a Live Radio Dial for real-time browsing across Australia.<\/p>\n

Everything old is new again, right?<\/p>\n

The update also introduces Trending and Rankers, letting users see the most popular shows and artists, and an Australian-first Lyrics feature offering karaoke-style scrolling lyrics across playlists and live radio.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal,\u201d Campbell said, \u201cis to make iHeart the default, everyday audio app for Australians on the move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supercharging data, tech, and measurement<\/p>\n

For advertisers, the bigger story may be under the hood. ARN unveiled a rebuilt data and ad tech stack that brings precision, scale, and measurable results to its audio ecosystem.<\/p>\n

The company is launching a data lakehouse built on Azure Databricks and Microsoft Fabric to unify listener insights across podcasts, streaming, and broadcast.<\/p>\n

New partnerships with Westpac DataX and Experian add 800 audience segments, allowing ARN to enrich campaigns with transaction and credit data, while existing partnerships with Azira and Hyp continue to provide location and behavioural targeting.<\/p>\n

Campbell called 2026 \u201ca transformative shift in our first-party data strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n

ARN\u2019s \u201cscaled identity spine\u201d will increase addressability across its three million registered users and seven million monthly actives.<\/p>\n

Two new data cleanrooms, LiveRamp and InfoSum, enable advertisers to securely match their customer data with ARN\u2019s audience for campaign activation, ensuring privacy and precision at scale.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

From audio to video: iHeart evolves again<\/p>\n

Recognising that podcasting has become a hybrid medium, ARN will make a serious push into video in 2026. \u201cAround 77% of podcast consumers now alternate between audio and video formats,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

ARN will begin testing the hosting and distribution of video podcasts via RSS on Apple Podcasts, inserting audio ads over video artwork, and expanding distribution across YouTube with baked-in brand messaging.<\/p>\n

Premium partnerships: iHeart \u00d7 Are Media<\/p>\n

iHeart also announced a landmark partnership with Are Media<\/a>, bringing some of Australia\u2019s most trusted lifestyle brands into the iHeart ecosystem \u2013 including marie claire, WHO, The Australian Women\u2019s Weekly, and Home Beautiful.<\/p>\n

Corey Layton<\/a>, Head of Digital Audio, said the collaboration combines Are Media\u2019s storytelling credibility with iHeart\u2019s digital scale. \u201cCombining the storytelling power of Are Media\u2019s iconic brands with iHeart\u2019s digital scale unlocks unprecedented commercial and creative opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The partnership launches with marie claire\u2019s new podcast You\u2019re Gonna Want to Hear This, hosted by editor Georgie McCourt and featuring conversations with Jacinda Ardern, Grace Tame, Cindy Crawford, and Celeste Barber.<\/p>\n

Elevating women\u2019s sport with iHeart<\/p>\n

If inclusivity is the future of media, ARN is betting big on it.<\/p>\n

The company unveiled the iHeart Women\u2019s Sports Network, Australia\u2019s first all-audio platform dedicated to women\u2019s sport, created in partnership with Making The Call.<\/p>\n

The network will deliver daily bulletins led by Rana Hussain across metro and regional stations, spotlighting athletes and competitions from grassroots to elite levels.<\/p>\n

Its podcast slate includes No Dribble with Liz Ellis AO, The [Female] Athlete Project with Chloe Dalton, and The Scoop from Cricket Australia, alongside original iHeart productions Two Good Sports with Abbey Gelmi and Georgie Tunny, and new series hosted by Kirby Bentley and Brihony Dawson.<\/p>\n

HER WAY Sports Media, founded by teenage journalist Abbie, will also join the network to bring a Gen Z lens to sports storytelling. A percentage of every advertising dollar invested in the network will go toward funding Making The Call\u2019s development programs, ensuring more women enter sports media careers.<\/p>\n

Expanding the iHeart slate: new voices, new stories<\/p>\n

ARN also revealed a robust 2026 podcast slate that builds on the momentum of its local originals and international hits.<\/p>\n

Australian True Crime, hosted by Meshel Laurie, joins iHeart and expands into video and radio with True Crime Tonight on the KIIS Network.<\/p>\n

The Lazy CEO with Showpo\u2019s Jane Lu offers a lighter take on business innovation, while The Mums\u2019 Group from the Taeuber triplets (of Outspoken fame) dives into modern motherhood.<\/p>\n

Access Granted, hosted by Lowanna Grant, explores identity and resilience through interviews with leading voices across Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

The next major launch, Love Island: Officially Unpacked, premieres next week, created in partnership with ITV Studios Australia and Nine, giving fans a behind-the-scenes pass to the nation\u2019s most talked-about reality show.<\/p>\n

Returning favourites like She\u2019s On the Money, Outspoken, Two Doting Dads, The Nutrition Couch, and The Psychology of Your 20s remain core to iHeart\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ruby Australia: where brands meet storytelling<\/p>\n

In one of its most commercially significant announcements, ARN confirmed the arrival of Ruby, iHeartMedia\u2019s branded content studio, to Australia.<\/p>\n

Ruby\u2019s Vice President Ethan Frizzell said the studio\u2019s model flips the traditional ad equation: \u201cThe average ad might get three seconds \u2013 an Instagram or TikTok glance. What if we could get 20 to 30 minutes with a consumer?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ruby has produced over 50 branded podcasts for HBO, IBM, Salesforce, and Audible in the US, achieving an 85% client renewal rate. The Australian iteration offers full creative and production services, distribution, and measurement, all under a simple promise: brands buy the media, and Ruby covers production as added value.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

iHeartLIVE: ARN\u2019s entertainment vision hits the stage<\/p>\n

If Stephenson\u2019s mantra is \u201cwe\u2019re an entertainment company,\u201d then iHeartLIVE is ARN\u2019s proof of concept.<\/p>\n

In 2026, the live music platform will scale up nationally, staging 20 events across major cities and regional centres, reaching more than 10,000 fans in person and millions via radio and digital. Each event will feature exclusive brand integrations, live audio simulcasts, and on-demand video, amplified across iHeart\u2019s digital and social platforms.<\/p>\n

New experiential IRL slate<\/p>\n

The company is doubling down on audience connection with a fresh slate of experiential formats that take radio off the airwaves and into real life.<\/p>\n

The network\u2019s new lineup \u2013 Save Our Pub, Run Club Rave, Kiised at Sea and The Zone \u2013 will roll out across KIIS, GOLD, CADA, iHeart and ARN Regional, blending storytelling, live events and social-first content designed to bring listeners \u2013 and brands \u2013 along for the ride.<\/p>\n

Each concept is built around participation and storytelling: Save Our Pub focuses on restoring local venues through community nominations; Run Club Rave mixes wellness and live radio; Kiised at Sea turns dating into cruise-ship content; and The Zone brings endurance-based challenges to life across audio and video.<\/p>\n

Together, the formats are positioned to deliver new sponsorship opportunities in lifestyle, travel, fitness and retail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A national reset, minus the nation\u2019s biggest show<\/p>\n

The company has redrawn the metro map for 2026, confirming sweeping rebrands and breakfast line-up changes across its KIIS and GOLD networks \u2013 but leaving one major rumour unfulfilled: Kyle & Jackie O won\u2019t be going national.<\/p>\n

One wonders if this is what the dealmakers had in mind during the negotiation process of the pair\u2019s $200 million dollar 10-year deal.<\/p>\n

When asked \u2013 yet again \u2013 a timeline for plans to roll out the duo nationally, Stevo told Mediaweek: \u201cWhen we think the time is right.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for what factors will determine that timing, those are yet to be shared.<\/p>\n

Chief Content Officer Lauren Joyce also outlined a bold plan to align KIIS and GOLD under unified national identities while maintaining local flavour in key markets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been planning a networking strategy at ARN for a while,\u201d she said. \u201cAcross 2026 we\u2019ll align both of our brands to have a national metro network footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Christian<\/p>\n

Christian O\u2019Connell alongside ARN\u2019s Head of News and Information Fiona Ellis-Jones<\/p>\n

GOLD expands \u2013 Perth and Adelaide rebrand<\/p>\n

The GOLD network will become a true five-city brand next year, uniting Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth under one umbrella.<\/p>\n

Sydney\u2019s WSFM, rebranded earlier this year as GOLD101.7, and Melbourne\u2019s GOLD104.3 will remain the flagship stations.<\/p>\n

Perth\u2019s 96FM will rebrand to GOLD 96FM, while Adelaide\u2019s Cruise 1323 becomes GOLD 1323. DAB+ stations in Brisbane and Adelaide will round out the national footprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarlier this year we rebranded WSFM to GOLD and contemporised the brand,\u201d Joyce said. \u201cIt has performed really well, particularly in 25\u201354s, which was the goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the centre of the network will be Christian O\u2019Connell on breakfast and Jonesy & Amanda on drive, backed by local news, sport and weather in each city.<\/p>\n

Perth will keep its own breakfast show for now, with O\u2019Connell simulcast on GOLD 80s as the market transitions.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

KIIS grows \u2013 but sticks with local breakfast<\/p>\n

On the KIIS side, the story is one of expansion and replacement.<\/p>\n

The network will stretch across five metro cities, with Adelaide\u2019s Mix 102.3 rebranding to KIIS 102.3, Brisbane\u2019s KIIS 97.3 welcoming a new show led by Craig \u2018Lowie\u2019 Lowe, and Perth launching a new KIIS DAB+ station carrying Kyle & Jackie O for the first time.<\/p>\n

That Perth rollout is the only market getting the high-profile Sydney duo, despite industry chatter suggesting a wider national push.<\/p>\n

Joyce was clear: \u201cIn Perth, Kyle and Jackie O will launch in the market on the DAB+ station.\u201d Beyond that, ARN\u2019s strategy is to keep breakfast live and local in each city.<\/p>\n

In Adelaide, the shake-up follows the confirmed axing of Hayley Pearson and Max Burford, whose Mix 102.3 breakfast show will wrap December 12 2025. They\u2019ll be replaced by Ben & Liam, returning to their hometown for a younger-skewing reboot.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile in Brisbane, the long-running Robin, Kip & Corey Oates show will also end December 12 \u2013 making room for Lowie\u2019s LA-flavoured energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big move for us,\u201d said Joyce.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Adelaide, that takes the station younger and brings a younger music proposition. In Brisbane, Lowie will elevate the entertainment proposition and let us lean into music and feed national content into the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

National names return, local stations refreshed<\/p>\n

Across the network, familiar names will play bigger roles in 2026.<\/p>\n

Smallzy joins KIIS for dual time slots \u2013 early drive (3\u20134 pm) and nights (7\u20139 pm) \u2013 while Will & Woody remain at the centre of ARN\u2019s national drive lineup.<\/p>\n

Joyce called Smallzy\u2019s addition \u201cone of the biggest things we\u2019re looking forward to in 2026,\u201d noting his global access to talent will \u201celevate the network\u2019s overall entertainment proposition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sub-brands like KIIS Dance, KIIS Australia and new digital offshoot KIIS X will extend the network across streaming and DAB+, while purpose-built video sets will bring visual radio to social platforms.<\/p>\n

From networking to narrative<\/p>\n

For Joyce, ARN\u2019s new structure isn\u2019t just about rebranding \u2013 it\u2019s about reshaping how the company sells to advertisers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve made concerted efforts toward a national networking proposition, making it a lot easier for clients to buy into us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The 2026 strategy sets ARN up as a two-brand powerhouse: KIIS for youth and entertainment, GOLD for music and nostalgia.<\/p>\n

But the through-line is unmistakable \u2013 live, local, and scalable.<\/p>\n

And while Kyle & Jackie O\u2019s voices won\u2019t echo across every city just yet, ARN\u2019s Upfronts made one thing clear: the network\u2019s reinvention isn\u2019t about syndication.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about connection\u2026 and entertainment because that\u2019s showbiz, baby.<\/p>\n

Mediaweek breaks down ARN\u2019s Kyle and Jackie O strategy \u2013 and what went wrong \u2013 tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the\u00a0Mediaweek\u00a0Morning Report\u00a0\u2013 delivered for free every morning to your inbox.<\/a><\/p>\n

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