{"id":247343,"date":"2026-01-20T03:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T03:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/247343\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T03:13:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T03:13:13","slug":"kyle-and-jackie-o-hit-rock-bottom-in-worst-result-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/247343\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle and Jackie O hit rock bottom in worst result ever"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Calum<\/p>\n

Updated January 20, 2026 \u2014 12:14pm,first published January 20, 2026 \u2014 10:12am<\/p>\n

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Provocative radio duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie \u2018O\u2019 Henderson have sunk to their equal worst ratings result since launching their show in Melbourne two years ago, ending 2025 on a low.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s 5 per cent audience share for the eighth and final ratings survey of 2025, released on Tuesday morning, mirrors the show\u2019s result in the final survey of 2024, albeit with 1000 fewer cumulative listeners.<\/p>\n

\"20252025 was another year to forget in Melbourne for Kyle Sandilands and Jackie \u2018O\u2019 Henderson.<\/p>\n

It ends an already torrid year for the duo, who are on a pay deal worth $200 million over a decade, their network KIIS and parent company ARN Media.<\/p>\n

ARN has been forced to employ multiple censors to ensure Sandilands and Henderson do not breach radio broadcasting codes. The pair broke the rules supposed to ensure decency on air a dozen times in 2025 alone. <\/p>\n

As a result of the poor ratings combined with an extensive campaign from activist group Mad F—ing Witches, ARN\u2019s advertising share has plummeted over the two years since the show expanded to Melbourne in April 2024.<\/p>\n

The performance has also prompted a rethink of The Kyle and Jackie O Show\u2019s planned national rollout that helped justify the hosts\u2019 pay packets.<\/p>\n

In Brisbane, the network has brought back the previously dumped breakfast trio Robin, Kip & Corey for 2026, and it has former Nova and Triple J personalities Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton scheduled to start in Adelaide. Sandilands and Henderson are not broadcast in those markets.<\/p>\n

\"ChristianChristian O\u2019Connell\u2019s show on Gold ended the year on a high, delivering some respite for station owners ARN.Eddie Jim<\/p>\n

While KIIS\u2019 5.4 per cent total audience share in Melbourne is poor compared to the network\u2019s commercial rivals, ARN\u2019s other station, Gold, delivered a 13.3 per cent total audience share, making it the top FM station by some distance and only marginally behind perennial market leaders, AM talkback station 3AW, on 13.9 per cent.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"ARN<\/a><\/p>\n

SmoothFM ended the year as Sydney\u2019s top station with a 13 per cent share of the market, up 1.6 percentage points to beat 3AW\u2019s sister station, Nine-owned 2GB, which fell from 13.8 to 11.2 per cent.<\/p>\n

Nine (the owner of this masthead) fielded offers for its radio division in 2025 but has not yet reached a deal.<\/p>\n

The ABC also announced one of its senior journalists, Isabella Higgins will replace Sabra Lane as host of its morning current affairs audio program AM in 2026 on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

\" Isabella Higgins. <\/p>\n

\u201cI still recall my joy at getting my very first story on AM as a young reporter and can\u2019t quite believe I\u2019ll be taking on the role of host,\u201d said Higgins, a former national Indigenous affairs and Europe correspondent. \u201cSabra Lane and all the other past hosts leave enormous shoes to fill.\u201d<\/p>\n

ABC Radio Melbourne finished the year on a 6.5 per cent share, marginally up 0.2 percentage points on the previous survey, with breakfast duo Sharnelle Vella and Bob Murphy ending the year on a high of 7.8 per cent. <\/p>\n

The final survey period for 2025 was held between October 5 and December 13.<\/p>\n

The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"CalumCalum Jaspan<\/a> is a media writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Melbourne. Reach him securely on Signal @calumjaspan.10Connect via Twitter<\/a> or email<\/a>.From our partners