What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 23, 2026
What's New November 12, 2025
Trading update from ARN
Reporter
ARN has reaffirmed its commitment to evolving into an entertainment business that connects audiences and advertisers through audio, video, social and live experiences.
Providing an update to the Australian Stock Exchange on its trading conditions and outlook, ARN Media Limited said the Australian advertising market experienced significant softness in the second half of FY 2025, as broader economic uncertainty and cautious client sentiment weigh on advertising spend across the industry.
“These market headwinds are impacting ARN’s revenue performance in the second half of FY 2025. October YTD Revenue has declined by ~10% and revenue for the second half of FY 2025 is expected to decline by low double digits compared to the prior year.”
“ARN’s transformation program has identified over $40m of cost out initiatives to be delivered over 3 years, of which $35M has already been actioned.”
“This program, offsetting the rising cost of business is also delivering savings, with the cost profile for H2 2025 is expected to improve ~8% compared to the prior year
Consequently, ARN expects full year EBITDA to be approximately 25%-27% below the prior year.”
ARN said it has shifted its strategy to better align with evolving market dynamics and is encouraged by the progress of its turnaround strategy, which is delivering operational improvements and positioning the business for long term sustainable growth.
“Actions taken in the year to date include: simplifying the operating model; $35m of $40m cost out actioned; improved leadership and digital capability; Commercial team reset; divestments of noncore assets are underway; significant iHeart product upgrades in October; new data and ad tech rollouts; and revitalised brand, network, content and commercial strategy.”
sinking ship……
Crikey. ARN are good at spending money, as the so called ‘upfronts’ showed us, but terrible at actually making it. What an absolute mess. Where’s next year’s $20,000,000 coming from to pay Kyle and Jackie-O? Literally, where?
A very soft, feel-good (dare I say, media release-driven?) intro for what is essentially a bad news story. “EBITDA down 25-27% on previous year” — or maybe “$5m in cuts still to come” — sounds like the headline to me.
I can’t even begin ……….. if EBITDA down 25% to 27% I can’t even imagine what underlying NPAT will be …….. that level of cost out initiatives isn’t even going to go close to making up shortfalls
Parting Gift from Ciaran Davis and now TV exec’s running the show …… what could possibly go wrong
What a load of Spin….how many more jobs to go for Boofhead and Jackie O
What’s a pathetic organisation, just sack another 200 , the golden children can do Brekky everywhere , as for news , close the news rooms down like SCA are doing
Utterly staggering that the people running this “business” have been given so long!
46 cents is the share price today!
The $200 million given to K and J will go down in history as the worst deal ever done in Australian media history.
Fair play them for the negotiations, but the people who thought it was a good idea are delusional. And departed or in the departure lounge. Rightly so
At what stage does this board step up and accept accountability for the worst deal ever made on behalf of their shareholders, plus continuing to oversee the cultural cesspit and non-compliance of their business?
This is the time The Chair and other Directors MUST now stand down for the dismal governance and direction of this company.
Shareholders must now revolt.
It’s time for someone to make a move on ARN, it’s a hopeless case. Nova should snap them up and snag 97.3, Mix 102.3 and 96fm to complete the Smooth network. Keep Hot Tomato and maybe flip it to Nova 102.9 (and put Smooth on DAB+ on the Gold Coast). Spin off KIIS and Sydney and Melbourne and watch it sink like a stone under the weight of the ridiculous K&J contract. Let ACE buy the Gold network and the regionals.