ARN acquires 96FM to create KIIS FM national network as Fairfax and Macquarie Radio merge to create national talk network including 6PR

Australian Radio Network (ARN) has today announced the acquisition of Perth’s 96FM, which will be integrated into ARN’s newly formed KIIS network completing their five capital city offering.

It comes as a merger has been announced between 96FM’s parent Fairfax Radio and John Singleton’s Macquarie Radio to create a national talk radio network that includes Perth’s 6PR as well as top-rating 2GB in Sydney and 3AW in Melbourne.

Long time media analyst Steve Allen from Fusion Strategy has speculated it could also be the first step towards a potential merger between Fairfax and Nine Entertainment Co.

ARN chief executive Ciaran Davis (pictured) said: “We’re excited about the acquisition of 96FM as we know the business well and look forward to working even closer with the team, having represented its national sales for six years.

“96FM is a successful radio operator that targets 25-54 year olds. It has a strong, local heritage and its integration into the KIIS network provides the perfect foundation for ARN to offer a truly unique national offering across all five metro markets, sitting alongside our successful Pure Gold network. As agencies and advertisers attempt to cope with the ever increasing diversification, fragmentation and sophistication of media campaigns, the KIIS network proposition will provide the largest listener reach and easy to implement integrated solutions.”

ARN is one of the leading broadcasters in the country with ownership or investments in 12 radio stations nationwide. It has a very strong position in the commercially lucrative 25-54 demographic. Its brands KIIS, Pure Gold, iHeartRadio, and The Edge96.ONE  entertain and influence over four million listeners across Australia.

In 2014 KIIS 1065 was launched with Kyle & Jackie O in Sydney and immediately went to #1FM. In 2015 the KIIS network will be launched nationally with KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne with Matt Tilley & Jane Hall in Breakfast and Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes & Kate Langbroek in national Drive. The KIIS network will incorporate the Sydney and Melbourne stations, Adelaide’s #1FM Mix102.3, Brisbane’s #1FM 97.3FM and Perth’s 96FM.

 ARN also launched iHeartRadio to the Australian market in 2013 and the platform has had over 500,000 downloads. iHeartRadio is a free, all-in-one digital radio service and live events platform that lets audiences listen to their favourite live stations across Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Listeners can also create commercial-free custom stations, and find the best audio casts to create personalised daily custom talk stations.