I can not tell you how I found this out because I want to keep the identity of the source a secret, but it seems that Kyle and Jackie O might have been quietly given their marching orders.
Their radio show which once claimed a market share of 15.5% in Sydney, has been progressively on the slide as audiences have decided that sexual innuendo, repeated derogatory broadcasting relating to sex, religion, appearance, et cetera, are not particularly interesting. This was further confirmed on the last day of radio ratings for 2024 when they no longer held the top spot.
Advertisers increasingly found the show troubling; with companies such as Flight Centre, Australian Super, AMP, and Bendigo Bank, either throttling back their advertising on the KIIS network or withdrawing it altogether. Parent company ARN Media must have been looking at this as well as the abysmal tilt at the Melbourne radio market, which never netted more than 5% of market share.
If this is to be believed then "The Kyle and Jackie O Hour of Power" will not be returning in 2025; with some other lineup taking over the breakfast radio slot.
To be fair the program was already on the skids back in August when the executive producer Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola announced that he had resigned¹. Perhaps things got even worse for ARN Media management, when a Senate estimates hearing did what Australian Communications and Media Authority could not do, and put on public record what the show had said.
ACMA has repeatedly made ruling over the years, which have detailed sexism, racism, misogyny, and time and time again, radio and television presenters always avoid punishment from ACMA, because no matter how many breaches of the commercial radio codes of practice that someone makes, ACMA is not a toothless tiger which can not bite but a toothless tree which can not even jump. The problem is that even thought ACMA has received more than 60 complaints about the show since the beginning of the financial year, as there is a co-regulatory system in place, complaints are not dealt with by ACMA but the radio licence holder. ARN Media and its predecessors have been fine with whatever scandals the show might have had, as evidence by their total lack of action.
What makes this interesting is that as I work in Mosman, that this rumour of The Kyle And Jackie O Show being cancelled is not coming from within the talent inside the industry but the people who move money around. The rumour is made all the more compelling when you consider that this appears to be a commercial decision rather than anything coming from the regulatory authority who can actually do nothing.
Probably an announcement will be made in early January, because that's generally how the cycle of these things work but keen observers should watch the entrances to Coca-Cola Place at Mount St in North Sydney, because that's where the money is moved. If people who look like comedians, or other radio type people arrive, then it will be because the decision has been made.
No comments:
Post a Comment