getting a sydney guy to join the show…..
HMMMMMMMM is networking afoot…… 
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I don’t think they would have hired him just because he’s ‘from Sydney’, more that he industry experience and is somewhat a known quantity (if you watch the ‘Today’ show anyhow).
But then, most people wouldn’t know he’s from Sydney, or even, who he really is.
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correct. he talks about telling his boss at absolute he was leaving and the boss told him to “name his price” - absolute would have kept him, but him wanting a new challenge, combined with his panic attacks meant it would not happen
This article reports that Jonesy and Amanda will be on the move as Gold is keen to syndicate Christian O’Connell’s show into Sydney.
Head honchos at Gold are looking to put J&A into a national drive show, unless Triple M snap them up for breakfast.
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ARN not learned that what works in one city doesn’t particularly work in the other? Meanwhile they are willing to trash what is a successful breakfast show on 101.7?
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I bet they just can’t afford them and the national drive show is just a mythical suggestion.
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Possibly just more cost cutting to pay for “you know who”.
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Jesus, ARN are morons.
Why wouldn’t they test the waters with Christian in some regional markets or Cruise first?
They should have done the same with K&J. Put them into a few test markets or nationally on DAB first to gauge reaction.
They seem hell-bent on blowing up stations in the 2 biggest markets. Who is doing risk management at ARN? My guess is nobody.
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SCA are just saying this so that Beau & Woodsy don’t go anywhere until J&A arrive.
The SCA move mightn’t be certain. But given the Gold rebrand, and the fact the Gold CD is in Melbourne, it is 10000% clear that Gold101.7 will mainly be Melbourne-based at some point very soon.
ARN can’t afford mediocre-paid young talent on CADA96.1, let alone afford J&A’s salaries.
Also, didn’t we read only a few months ago John Kelly saying he would love to have Jonesy & Amanda at SCA/Triple M?
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Yeah the headline should probably be “attempts to shut down speculation…”
I get the feeling J&A are being offered a drive show or nothing with ARN
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That’s terrible if true. They’ve been with ARN through thick & thin.
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Dave Cameron is correct in saying it’s ’Categorically incorrect’ that J&A will join Triple M Sydney breakfast.
However, what he isn’t saying is what will happen in 2026.
6 months is a long time in radio, so anything can happen and J&A would definitely help to lift Triple M Sydney out of a ratings slide.
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I don’t think that would be worthwhile. For a national expansion of Christian’s show to work it has to resonate well in Sydney and not take too much of a hit in Melbourne. Testing the waters regionally or in Adelaide is going to largely be a waste of time because the main test isn’t “do listeners like the show”, it’s more specific - it’s “do WSFM (now Gold1017) and Jonesy and Amanda’s listeners like the show”.
Let the record show that I think this is a terrible idea because of the damage it will cause the their existing audience in Melbourne. It’s the local elements (which are left out of the national hours) which are the difference between it being a good and a great show. It’s not just about the idea that Melbourne audiences are different which everyone gets their knickers in a knot about - but it’s just a strong local show that it successful in part because of how it plays into the localism. Take that away and the show might still be good, but Christian and ARN will need to accept that they’ll forever be behind Fox and Nova at the very least, and will be handing some of their audience over to Smooth and Triple M.
The success of Christian in Sydney will largely come down to what happens with Jonesy and Amanda. If they retire, or move to drive and Christian comes in with their blessing, then maybe it can do OK, but there will still be audience movement. If J&A move to Triple M, the audience will move and Gold1017 will be starting from the bottom. It will almost be as big as K&J moving to KIIS and Gold/WS could even rate below 2Day.
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If WSFM/Gold goes down the 2Day route, what is actually left for ARN?
You have to wonder given they’ve just about blown up anything going well.
There’s going to be a point where they have to sell.
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I don’t think it’s as big as that, yes, some listeners will move, but probably just as many (if not more) will stay as Gold listeners are likely to be a bit more loyal to the station such is the nature of that demographic, whereas the younger demos are more fickle.
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I’m going to predict that in 2026, J&A will move to 2MMM Breakfast, with Christian on Gold Sydney.
Christian, unlike K&J, will do okay on Gold Sydney.
They’ve learnt from their mistakes. Christian has no smut. He’s funny, genuine, and I believe there’s room for a Christian show in Sydney.
But the majority will follow J&A to 2MMM. Rebranding WSFM was the 2nd last nail, with J&A being axed as the final nail in Gold Sydney’s coffin.
All I’m saying, is Christian won’t tank as much as K&J on KIIS Melbourne.
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When does J&A’s contracts end?
If they move to drive, it would purely be to run out their contracts. It would probably be favourable for Gold Sydney (but not ARN) to at least still have them on air for a period of time, instead of the hard hit of losing them altogether to an interstate show like KIIS Melbourne
There’s always Hope 
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I agree. I feel like they’re on that path already