Melbourne's radio market has experienced an unexpected shift, with KIIS FM recording a modest yet notable rise in breakfast listeners after the dramatic exit of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson. In the second survey period of 2026, spanning from February 8 to April 4, KIIS FM increased its audience share to 5.4 percent in the breakfast slot, up from 5.1 percent previously.
Post-Controversy Recovery
This small gain represents a significant signal for a station that struggled to attract Melbourne listeners during the controversial tenure of the high-profile duo, whose syndicated show from Sydney failed to resonate locally from April 2024. The rebound follows a turbulent period marked by Sandilands being dismissed and Henderson stepping away after an explosive on-air argument in February, effectively ending their run in the market.
Interim Hosts and Future Plans
The network has temporarily filled the breakfast slot with fill-in presenters Mike Etheridge and Georgie Tunny co-hosting this week, as KIIS FM searches for a long-term replacement for The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Georgie Tunny, known as a regular co-host on Channel Ten's The Project, joined Mike Etheridge and newsreader Brooklyn Ross, who have been holding the fort since the show was pulled in March.
While Tunny's role is currently a one-week guest stint, industry insiders suggest she could be auditioning for a more permanent position. After ARN's legal battle with Sandilands and Henderson concludes, the network may look to assemble a permanent breakfast team for its Sydney and Melbourne markets, with Tunny being a potential candidate due to her existing association with ARN through the Two Good Sports podcast.
Competitive Landscape in Melbourne
Elsewhere in Melbourne, commercial heavyweights continue to dominate the breakfast radio scene. Christian O'Connell retained the top spot on GOLD FM with a strong 10.5 percent share, while Nova's team of Lauren Phillips, Jase Hawkins, and Clint Stanaway followed closely with 10.3 percent.
FOX FM's Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola, and Nick Cody were among the biggest improvers, climbing to 9.6 percent, and Triple M's lineup featuring Mick Molloy and Nick Riewoldt grew to 7.5 percent. Despite this competitive environment, the key takeaway is that KIIS FM is showing early signs of recovery in Melbourne without its former polarising stars.
Contrast with Sydney and Legal Developments
Interestingly, the absence of Sandilands and Henderson had minimal impact in Sydney, where the breakfast slot fell just one percent to 11.7. Meanwhile, Sandilands is reportedly in talks with ARN to return to his breakfast show as his $100 million lawsuit moves toward a settlement, potentially reclaiming his throne without Henderson.
The split began with Henderson's sensational on-air exit in February, after which ARN announced she could not continue working with Sandilands. This led to ARN terminating Sandilands' contract two weeks later, marking the end of one of Australia's most enduring radio partnerships.
