ARN reportedly making up to 50 redundancies after tough 2024
ARN is clawing back costs after its two highest-paid broadcasters have failed to put a dent in the Melbourne radio market, with reports the network will be cutting between 30 and 50 jobs.
The Age reports that between 30 and 50 staff from the content, sales and marketing divisions will be shed in a series of redundancies between now and February.
The publication cites “four sources with knowledge of the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity,” and claims that chief content officer, Duncan Campbell, will be moved into a consultancy role for the Kyle and Jackie O show.
Kyle & Jackie O
ARN confirmed that job losses have occurred, telling Mumbrella: “Like many local media companies, we have had to make some changes to select roles and teams to position ARN for success in 2025.
“These changes have already been implemented, and we are deeply grateful for the professionalism and dedication of everyone impacted.”
The network denies any executive movements, with a spokesperson telling The Age: “There have been no changes to ARN’s executive leadership team, and no members have been made redundant. Any claims suggesting otherwise are incorrect.”
Towards the end of 2023, ARN signed Kyle and Jackie O to a historic ten-year deal worth $200 million, with plans to launch the duo into the prized Melbourne breakfast radio market on KIIS 101.1.
Despite splashing out millions on a campaign, the pair have failed to find an audience, with a market share of just 5.1% – just one point above sports radio talk station SEN’s breakfast show.
In addition, the network’s failed takeover bid of SCA took a massive chunk out of ARN’s first-half profits, which dropped by 19%, year-on-year.
Last month, Duncan Campbell told Mumbrella that Sandilands has agreed to tone down the graphic content on the show in a bid to increase the show’s market share.
He agreed to do that, which was a real positive,” Campbell said.
“And, I mean, he wants to win in Melbourne. There’s no doubt about that.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Am I out of touch?
No, it is the listeners who are wrong
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I would have thought that The Age might dial down on reporting on redundancies when Nine cut 200+ people this year, I’m sure ruining the year for quite a few of them in the process.
Media companies could easily agree not to stick the boot in to each other on these matters but there’s a level of arrogance that apparently it’s more important to maintain.
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This reminds me of 3KZ paying $32M for an FM conversion. It lead to bankruptcy, whereas in the KIIS case it leads to job losses.
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Note this point for returning to in 12 months.
The deal ARN has done is one of epic ‘bankrupting’ proportion. Staff going is only the first step. Company liquidity is the actually the future concern.
This ARN board remain complicit in allowing this show to continue to broadcast pornographic, female-targeted-hate, misogynistic content on free to air. It has absolutely not changed recently. With their only response to date being “it’s not for everyone”. Does that mean sexist, racist, ableist content is then for some people ARN Board?
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Kyle and Jackie o stealing other peoples livelihoods congrats guys. Merry Christmas
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Perhaps get rid of Kyle and Jackie
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Nice people don’t wrestle with pigs ?
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Congrats Kyle and Jackie o for ruining peoples careers merry Christmas ?
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And get rid of duncan.
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I cannot imagine how any business can be so out of touch with the public by continuing to push the Kyle and Jackie O show. Crassness is the absolute gutter of Australian humour. ARN are streaming it as if it’s some sort of quality thing. I hope Melbourne continues to eschew them and I’m deeply sorry for everyone who finds themselves jobless right before the Christmas season. It’s the absolute worst time to go job hunting due to the long January hols. I hope everyone in this receives what they so richly deserve.
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One of the great media train wrecks of our time.
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Are Kyle and Jackie O out of touch? No, it’s the listeners who are wrong
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Reeks of profit before people. I recall k&J ripping the heart out of 2day when they defected. Interesting to see if the shoe is on the other foot soon.
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It always astonishes me just how very different the tastes of folk in Sydney are to those of Melbourne.
Clearly demonstrated this time, by these utter grubs. Or heros… depending on what city you reside in!
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