Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire will soon host a new radio program on ARN, announced amid the chaos and fallout of the Kyle and Jackie O chaos.
The duo, both with extensive experience in media, are set to team up for a new program on the GOLD network of stations, a interesting ‘in’ with the network as executives work out what to do with a messy breakfast slot drama.
The program, according to ARN, will be called The Long Weekend, but will air on a Friday between 12pm and 3pm.
Stefanovic, who has been at the centre of rumours of a potential Today Show exit for a breakfast radio move into Kyle Sandiland’s chair, said he had always dreamed of a role in radio.
“Since I was born, I’ve been a student of radio and announcers. The intimacy of the medium is powerful,” he said.
McGuire, who formally hosted Millionaire Hotseat before it was “rested” by Nine and then moved to Ten with a new host, Rebecca Gibney, said the new gig would be “a new chapter”.
“This is a wonderful new chapter,” he said.
“Karl and I have been talking about working together for years.”
The move for Nine to co-partner with ARN comes just months after the network dumped its radio arm, selling off Nine Radio to priorities out-of-home advertising assets.
For ARN, whether the move will bring any calm to increasingly concerned investors remains to be seen.
ARN has faced backlash as the Federal Court battles with Kyle Sanidlands and Jackie O Henderson continue to remain in the headlines and in the court room.
The two former breakfast hosts have launched individual legal action against ARN over their lucrative contracts, both seeking high sums now the Kyle & Jackie O show has been pulled from the airways.
Two weeks ago, ARN was forced to inform shareholders to company had lost $26 million in lost advertising revenue due to “brand safety” concerns.
In a train wreck AGM, ARN were asked to apologise to investors over the company’s performance, something that was not given.
After a vote, ARN’s chief executive Michael Stephenson’s pay pay packet has gone under review, happening at the same time ARN is in court over Sandiland and Henderson’s $200 million contract agreements.
On Tuesday, ARN’s share price sat at 0.25 cents, down from 0.53 cents one year ago.
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