It’s a stunning fall from grace for one of radio’s most polarizing duos. Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson have hit rock bottom in Melbourne, with their show sinking to its lowest ratings since launching in the city two years ago. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite their massive $200 million pay deal, the pair’s provocative antics haven’t just alienated listeners—they’ve sparked a full-blown advertising crisis for their network, ARN Media.
The latest ratings survey, released on Tuesday, reveals their Melbourne show limped to a meager 5% audience share in 2025—matching their dismal 2024 performance but with 1,000 fewer listeners. This caps off a brutal year for the duo, whose on-air rule-breaking forced ARN to hire multiple censors to keep them in line. In 2025 alone, they breached broadcasting codes a dozen times, raising questions about whether their shock-jock style has finally backfired.
And this is the part most people miss: their poor performance isn’t just a ratings problem—it’s a financial one. Activist group Mad F---ing Witches has waged a relentless campaign against the show, driving advertisers away. Since expanding to Melbourne in April 2024, ARN’s ad revenue has plummeted, prompting a rethink of the duo’s planned national rollout. If they can’t succeed in Melbourne, can they really justify their massive salaries?
Meanwhile, ARN is hedging its bets. In Brisbane and Adelaide, the network is banking on former stars like Robin, Kip & Corey, and ex-Nova personalities Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton—not Kyle and Jackie O. It’s a clear sign of waning confidence in the duo’s ability to deliver.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for ARN. Their station Gold dominated Melbourne’s FM market with a 13.3% share, trailing only the AM powerhouse 3AW (13.9%). In Sydney, SmoothFM claimed the top spot with 13%, while Nine-owned 2GB saw a sharp drop to 11.2%. ABC Radio Melbourne held steady at 6.5%, with breakfast hosts Sharnelle Vella and Bob Murphy ending the year strong at 7.8%.
Here’s the million-dollar question: Is Kyle and Jackie O’s brand of radio past its prime, or can they turn things around? Their shock tactics have always divided audiences, but with ratings and revenue in freefall, even their biggest fans might start to wonder. Let us know what you think in the comments—is this the end of an era, or just a temporary stumble for radio’s most controversial duo?
