3AW’s Simon Owens to host new east coast show for Nine Radio

Melbourne AM radio favourite Simon Owens is to host a new east coast show on Nine Radio stations 3AW, 2GB and 4BC.

After five years of presenting The Simon Owens Show on 3AW during the AFL off-season, the night time program is making way for a new format.

Owens’ Brisbane/Sydney equivalent was Brent James, who hosted the same timeslot on both 2GB and 4BC.

James parted ways with the company in April this year.

In sharing the news, Owens posted to social media that, rather than replace James, there’ll instead be a new east coast show on 2GB, 3AW, and 4BC.

Owens says “I’m not going to lie.  I was very proud of my show and I poured my heart and soul into it, so I was very reluctant to accept the job. I felt that the network would be better off with a new host in the role.”

“But management have been very supportive and have offered me the chance to host the new show. For that I am very grateful.”

Owens – whose radio experience spans 25 years – is well liked within the industry, a reassuring and supportive on-air presence who has honed his craft alongside industry greats including Philip Brady (pictured above with Owens), with whom he has hosted Nightline and Remember When.

In a 2022 interview, Brady told Radio Today of his great admiration for Owens, rating him as one of the most influential people in his career.

Owens say that over the past five years, he’s been lucky enough to have an amazing cast supporting him both on and off air, with great segments from the likes of Troy Zantuck, Michael Veitch, Gavin Wood, Bianca Johnston, Bron Robinson, Donna Demaio, Lizzy Parisi, Kirsten Lim-How, Lucy Holmes, Mandy Turner, Megan Hustwaite, Sandy Kaye, Justin Coombes-Pearce, Jamie Duncan and Phil Johnson.

Popular segments included Compilation Conversations, Not Talking Football, Favourites, Simon’s Selection and News Free Zone. 

“I surrounded myself with people whom I truly admire and will miss working with them.”

An as yet unnamed new show will feature a quiz, a showbiz/music segment, listener calls and highlights from Nine’s suite of podcasts.

After 10pm, 2GB and 4BC will take the Ray Hadley Country Countdown.

Owens will continue until midnight on 3AW.