What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 27, 2026
What's New August 4, 2025
‘We’re going national’ – The Christian O’Connell Show to broadcast to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide
The Christian O’Connell Show will launch nationally on the GOLD Network from 2026, broadcasting across Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, as well as regional Australia in the evenings.
Christian said in the announcement on GOLD104.3 this morning:
“This is a big moment for me, and for ARN. When I moved here seven years ago, I dreamed of building a national show – one that could connect with people all over Australia. A show from our corner of the dial where people can feel united wherever they are, bringing people together through shared stories, laughter, and something real.”
Christian hosted the #1 national breakfast show in the UK for over a decade and is the only radio host in the world to have been No 1 in two different countries.
ARN’s Chief Audience & Content Officer Lauren Joyce said “Christian is a rare talent with an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences. He’s already built one of the most successful shows in Melbourne, and we believe that’s just the beginning. At a time when the world feels increasingly divided, The Christian O’Connell Show offers a place where all Australians feel welcome and a true sense of belonging. It’s a show that delivers connection like no other.”
The announcement has so far been greeted warmly. The implications of how the move impacts ARN stations like Cruise 1323 in Adelaide with Craig Huggins on breakfast, 96FM Perth which was No 1 in the city in the last two surveys and doesn’t (yet) fall under the GOLD umbrella and Brisbane where KIIS 97.3 is jointly owned with the Nova Network, remain to be seen.
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 26, 2026
I wonder the stations in brissy, Adelaide and Perth will rebrand to gold!
Does this mean they are going to rebrand KIIS Brisbane??
I’m hearing from people that it’s only going to be on DAB+ in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. That would be a massively wasted opportunity. People will barely notice if it’s DAB+ only.
If they’ve learned anything from the KIIS experience in Melbourne, they need to go all-in and put Christian on 97.3 in Brisbane, 102.3 in Adelaide and as an “early breakfast” on 96fm (followed by a local breakfast show). I’ve said all along that 97.3 should never have gone down the KIIS path – Brisbane doesn’t need 3x CHR stations. Gold 97.3 would absolutely dominate in Brisbane.
Maybe ARN are thinking of putting K&J into Adelaide on Mix and rebeanding it to KIIS? Sounds like their going to rebrand KISS Brisbane, Cruise Adelaide and 96FM to be GOLD branded stations nationally. They could buy Nine Radio in Brisbane and Perth but would have issues in Syd & Melb markets. Be interesting to watch what unfolds.
The only way for this to work is for KIIS in Brisbane and MIX in Adelaide to change to GOLD and for 96fm to change to Gold 96.1. I think this is a no brainer as Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth all have Nova and the hit network for the younger audience.
They can’t buy Nine Radio because ARN already owns 96FM and 50% of Nova 93.7, plus they hold River 94.9 and 97.3FM in Brisbane.
Just speculating, but I wonder if there’s something in the works for River 94.9. Worth remembering that Kyle & Jackie O were promised a national show, yet there’s only one ARN station each in Brisbane and Perth for them and Christian O’Connell to share.
You’ll find that Christian will be on DAB+ in Brisbane, not taking over from the KIIS breakfast show
@Anonymous they could sell off their Nova business interests. Change River to a KIIS aligned station. The reason they made a bid for SCA was to have a national foot print of like named stations eg MMM. If Christian OConnell is to broadcast live into Perth it has to a belated breakfast show, more of a morning show.
I am happy for Christian O’Connell as he is a very good radio broadcaster with a track record of doing quality radio shows back in his original home country of England before moving to Australia to challenge himself, develop his career further and eventually become the No.1 breakfast radio show in
However, I don’t know if O’Connell’s LIVE breakfast show will work in Perth due to the 2-hours (3 hours during daylight savings time in Eastern states) time difference ?
Perth radio audiences seem to prefer LIVE and local radio programmes for the most part (with the exception of LIVE sport broadcasts) over networked content from the Eastern states.
That being said, the show could work in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide ! I wish Christian O’Connell and his team best of luck with their national radio show for next year.
I really think they should rebrand 97.3 in Brisbane to Gold 97.3. It would absolutely dominate the market. Put KIIS on DAB-only. Brisbane doesn’t need 3x CHR (out of 4) stations on FM. Gold 97.3 would absolutely dominate the market. Same in Perth, rebrand 96fm to Gold 96fm and put KIIS on DAB-only. In Adelaide a least they’ve got 2 stations to play with.
Would have been great if ARN had of maintained 4KQ, not worried about gaining River949 and then when Laurier, Gary and Mark retired they could have just moved OC in. But, it’s all about the money. I am thinking that this is a better national approach than K&J.
@Insider – sounds like a more plausible strategy than admitting defeat and rebranding 97.3. A strongly promoted DAB+ Gold Brisbane would also tackle Nova’s DAB+ only Smooth Brisbane, and possibly take back some audience lost to 4BH after dumping 4KQ.
Surely ARN are not looking to do a full rebrand on 96FM either – way too much local capital and heritage in Perth for that brand to dump it.. maybe ‘Gold 96FM’ as a compromise? A live show in Perth would also mean it’s on air starting at 3 / 4am local time – in other words, an Early Breakfast show before Clairsy & Lisa? Huggy on Cruise 1323 still has his 96FM gig so would be ok too?
Have K&J said anything about this on their show? Surely Kyle is just a little bit pissed at ARN that Christian is going national before he has? Or is it a case of he’s still getting his $10M a year to go live on just two stations so doesn’t really care.