ARN extends contracts for Kiis 101.1 breakfast hosts Jase & PJ
ARN has extended its contracts with Kiis 101.1’s breakfasts hosts Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins and Polly ‘PJ’ Harding in Melbourne.
ARN CEO, Ciaran Davis, said that trusted on-air talent was more important now than ever.
Kiis 101.1 breakfast hosts Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins and Polly ‘PJ’ Harding have extended their contracts with ARN
“ARN has secured our top talent right across the network until 2022 and beyond. Live and local content delivered by trusted on-air talent is more important now than ever and we’re delighted that Jase and PJ will continue in Melbourne as part of ARN’s strong offering in that market,” Davis said.
“Jase and PJ create excellent, engaging content and they consistently execute innovative client campaigns that resonate with audiences across on-air, digital, and on-demand.
“In Defining Audio, ARN is committed to investing in and securing the very best talent in radio which continues to power the audio category and to continue to deliver local and innovative content across all broadcast and on-demand channels to offer our clients and audiences the most complete audio offering.”
Hawkins and Harding have spent two years on air at the station, with the show ‘Jase & PJ in the Morning’ launching at the start of 2018. They took over from Matt Tilley and Meshel Laurie.
ARN’s national content director, Duncan Campbell, said: “Jase and PJ have a genuine friendship and on-air chemistry that makes for great radio. They have consistently delivered exceptional content and their loyal audiences love them and I’m excited to see them continue to build momentum in Breakfast this year and beyond. They’re a critical part of ARN’s plans for the future and are great examples of the strength of our talent across the network.”
‘Jase & PJ in the Morning’ was previously marketed as ‘Always Awkward’, however the 2020 marketing push for the pair revealed a new positioning ‘They’re always up to something’.
Hawkins said: “I’m so stoked to have the opportunity to continue this crazy adventure with a best mate and with everyone who listens to the show through 2020 and beyond. Every morning is mayhem and you never know what PJ is going to say next, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Harding added: “Our listeners are awesome and I’m so excited Jase and I can keep doing the show we love in Melbourne. We’ve got heaps of fun stuff planned and can’t wait to share what’s coming next.”
In the last radio ratings survey of 2019, the show had a 6.4% share of the audience, up 1.0 points from the prior survey. This put the duo behind their commercial rivals, but much closer to Southern Cross Austereo’s Fox FM (which fell 2.0 points to 6.7%), and Nova’s Smooth 91.5 (which fell 0.9 points to 6.7%).
The signing of the pair follows the contract renewals for Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, who host breakfast on Kiis 106.5 in Sydney, Christian O’Connell on Gold FM breakfast in Melbourne, and Sydney WS FM breakfast hosts Amanda Keller and Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones.
In January it was also announced that Robin Bailey would be returning to ARN’s 97.3 FM breakfast show, reviving the Robin, Terry and Bob show which ended in 2016. Bailey and fellow host Terry Hansen’s return to the slot followed the departure of Bianca Dye and Mike Van Acker.
topics
ARN
Australian Radio Network
Ciaran Davis
Duncan Campbell
Jase & PJ
Jason Hawkins
KIIS 101.1
Polly Harding
radio
