K & J on delay. Watch this space, Melbourne

As radio teams around the country return to the airwaves for 2024 – Melburnians who’d been hoping to check out the new, networked Kyle & Jackie O Show this morning will have to wait a while longer.

How much longer? At the moment, that’s anyone’s guess.

While the breakfast duo is back on air in Sydney this morning, K & J’s much-hyped arrival on Melbourne’s KIIS 101.1 has been delayed – with ARN telling listeners they’ll be ‘coming soon’ and to ‘watch this space.’

The question is, why?

One unsubstantiated rumour doing the rounds suggests they might not be on the Melbourne airwaves until the second quarter of this year.

Whilst Melbourne’s Herald Sun (subscription required) is saying he word from insiders is that March has been thrown around as the possible start date for the show.

For the time being, Byron Cooke will remain on KIIS 101.1 during the weekday mornings.

Cooke says “Think of KIIS 101.1 as a footy team and Kyle and Jackie O are our star players. I’m coming on as the emergency sub in that ridiculous yellow vest.”

“I’ll give it a red-hot crack and then the inevitable will happen – I’m sent back to the VFL.”

ARN says further details will be revealed in the near future, but for now, the 2024 KIIS 101.1 line up for Melbourne is:

6am-9am – Byron Cooke

9am – 3pm – 100% Hits from KIIStory to Now

3pm – 4pm – The Pick Up with Britt, Laura & Mitch

4pm-6pm – Will & Woody

7pm-10pm – The Night Show with Mitch Churi

10pm – 12am – Up Late with Zach & Dom

Meantime in Adelaide, MIX102.3 will unveil its newly named breakfast show this week.

Ali Clarke and Max Burford return in 2024 as ‘Max & Ali in the Morning.’

They’ll be back on air this Wednesday.

ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell says the name refresh builds on the partnership both hosts have formed over the past year:

“Max and Ali hosted a successful show together last year that reflects everything the people of Adelaide want in the morning, and we can’t wait to see the fresh focus on Max and Ali’s friendship resonate even more with our audience for 2024.”

Max says, “Sleeping in for the last six weeks has been torturous, so I’m eager to switch that alarm back on and get back into the studio. It’ll be great to build on the first year together with Ali and our extremely hard-working team.”

Ali says “Having Max join the team last year was a breath of fresh air and he quickly became an integral part of the breakfast show. We can’t wait to do it all again this year with the people of Adelaide who tune in … all are welcome!”