The Fall of Kyle and Jackie O: A Radio Drama Unveiled
In a shocking turn of events, the controversial radio duo, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, have hit an all-time low in Melbourne, ending 2025 on a disappointing note. Their show's audience share plummeted to a mere 5%, mirroring the previous year's results, but with an even smaller listener base.
But here's where it gets controversial... Despite their network, KIIS, and parent company ARN Media, shelling out a whopping $200 million over a decade for their services, the duo has consistently failed to deliver. ARN has had to employ multiple censors to reign in Sandilands and Henderson, who have broken radio broadcasting codes a dozen times in 2025 alone!
The poor ratings, coupled with a relentless campaign by the activist group Mad F---ing Witches, have dealt a severe blow to ARN's advertising share. As a result, the planned national rollout of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, which was meant to justify their lucrative pay packets, is now being reevaluated.
In Brisbane, KIIS has opted for a fresh start, bringing back the breakfast trio Robin, Kip & Corey, while Adelaide will welcome former Nova and Triple J personalities Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton. Notably, Sandilands and Henderson will not be part of these markets.
While KIIS struggles with a mere 5.4% audience share in Melbourne, their sister station, Gold, has soared to a remarkable 13.3% share, becoming the top FM station and closing in on the perennial market leaders, AM talkback station 3AW, at 13.9%.
SmoothFM, on the other hand, ended the year as Sydney's top station, with a 13% market share, surpassing 2GB, which dropped to 11.2%.
The ABC also announced a significant change, with senior journalist Isabella Higgins taking over as host of the morning current affairs program AM in 2026. Higgins, a former national Indigenous affairs and Europe correspondent, expressed her excitement and acknowledged the challenge of following in the footsteps of Sabra Lane and other past hosts.
ABC Radio Melbourne concluded the year with a modest 6.5% share, a slight improvement from the previous survey, with breakfast hosts Sharnelle Vella and Bob Murphy ending on a high note at 7.8%.
The final survey period for 2025 ran from October 5 to December 13, capturing the year's radio landscape in all its drama and intrigue.
And this is the part most people miss... What does this mean for the future of radio broadcasting? With changing listener preferences and increasing scrutiny, will controversial personalities like Sandilands and Henderson be able to adapt and thrive? Or will they be left behind in a rapidly evolving media landscape? The debate is open, and we invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below!
