ARN boss claims massive Kyle & Jackie O deal has ‘no impact’ on SCA takeover bid
Kyle & Jackie O’s milestone 10-year deal with ARN is one of the biggest ever in Australian media, but the network’s CEO and managing director has told Mumbrella it doesn’t go further than that.
The new deal, announced on Wednesday, will see the breakfast duo stay on with KIIS until the end of 2034 and their contracts increase by $2-$3 million in January 2025.
The new contract will also see the breakfast show expand from Sydney’s KIIS 106.5 into Melbourne’s KIIS 101.1 in 2024, which comes amidst ARN’s takeover bid for SCA that would see the network create a “focused” metro radio network of 10 stations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth with each city featuring a KIIS and Triple M brand.
However, speaking to Mumbrella today, ARN head Ciaran Davis said the deal has no relevance to the proposal.
“This has had no impact on [the bid], to be honest,” Davis said.
When asked if the target date of December to get the deal done with SCA was looking more likely given the news – and the fact that Kyle & Jackie O were rumoured to be considering a move back to the network they departed in 2013 – Davis was again tightlipped.
“Those conversations are ongoing. That’s remaining confidential for now.”
Listen to Davis’ comments on the latest Mumbrellacast here.
The news comes after Seven West Media announced last week that it had acquired a 19.9% share in ARN. However, despite this, SWM said it had “no intention” of launching a takeover bid of ARN or SCA and is only interested in ARN’s “continued and long-term success”.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Mumbrellacast, Mumbrella publisher – and former national director of operations and general manager of 2DayFM and Triple M Sydney – Adam Lang, said SWM’s stake in the ARN/SCA media wars could have a huge impact on the takeover proposal.
“I think the pressure’s on to do the deal more quickly,” Lang said.
“So, Seven West Media have said, ‘we want to back our ARN’s plan’… coming in and backing ARN and not SCA means ARN’s desire to close this deal by December probably has greater likelihood now than it did before the weekend.”
