Let the Games begin: Nine’s Greg Byrnes talks Paris, 3AW Breakfast and Kyle & Jackie O

“It is a very exciting time for us, I’m here to tell you,”

Nine Radio Head of Content Greg Byrnes is talking up the network’s multi-pronged Paris Olympics coverage across radio, TV, digital streaming, podcasts and publishing.

“No-one has been in a position to do it like we’ll deliver over the next couple of months,” Byrnes says in an interview with our sister publication RadioInfo in the wake of metro Survey 2.

The plan, Byrnes says, is to deliver old school theatre of the mind. Radio at its best.

Nine has set up an Olympics unit and an Olympic working group that’s coordinating content amongst the platforms, whilst the Olympic rings will soon start to appear on content around Nine’s apps.

“It’s gearing up to be a great time to be in radio,” says Byrnes.

The goal is to both attract and keep listeners who tune in for the Games.

“We’re confident we’ll build audience,” Byrnes says. “People who might not ordinarily listen to talk but are interested in the Olympics or a particular event will come over, sample us, hear the quality of the product we’re delivering, and ideally stick around post Games.”

Byrnes also discussed the impending launch of Kyle & Jackie O on Melbourne’s FM Breakfast airwaves.

“As far as we’re concerned, we’ve got a product at 3AW, particularly around breakfast, that is beyond peer. It is a remarkable show,” Byrnes says. “Two broadcasters that know their city (and) love their city.”

And Nine isn’t losing any sleep over what K & J may or may not do.

“What we can control is what we’re doing, and we’ve got a wonderful base to work from. Market leading program, a market leading station, and we will maintain that as our focus.”

3AW’s Breakfast team of Ross and Russ had a 1.5 drop in Survey 2, but still hold a sizeable lead over the pack 18.1.

2GB remains the top Sydney station, despite dropping 0.8 points for a share of 11.9%

In Breakfast, Ben Fordham slipped to second place as KIIS reclaimed top spot, posting a share of 14.9 – down 1.7 points.