With all eyes on Melbourne, the biggest question in Australian radio has been answered: Kyle & Jackie O will be making their debut in the southern city on 29 April.
Byron Cooke has been holding down the breakfast show since Jase & Lauren were dumped from their KIIS 101.1 breakfast slot in order to make room for the Sydney radio juggernauts.
“It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard and what the newspaper or this person or some other radio station says, we’re not here to change your mind,” Sandilands told Cooke on-air this morning.
“We’re just going to give you a very different type of radio show. I’m not saying the other ones are the worst shows in the world because they’re not. They’ve been great, but we just offer something different.”
Henderson added: “We’re looking forward to finally broadcasting into Melbourne. We’re excited.”
See Also: Jase and Lauren Day 1 at Nova: First review – Lots of chat about KIIS sacking
Yesterday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by NSW Premier Chris Minns marked the opening of the brand new ARN studios, with Henderson saying: “It’s like NASA out there.”
Sandilands previously spoke about how the Melbourne launch would happen after the duo made the move from their North Ryde studios into new facilities in North Sydney. He has described the North Sydney building as “the greatest radio studio ever built.”
This was the show’s first week in the new studios, having signed off from their previous North Ryde home last week. In the coming weeks, WSFM’s breakfast hosts Jonesy & Amanda will move across to North Sydney, with the entire Sydney team expected to operate from the North Sydney premises by the end of April.
“Circling the wagons”
Ahead of the Kyle and Jackie O show’s launch, Sandilands dropped his harsh summary of the radio market in that city ahead of his arrival. Fiona Byrne detailed what unfolded on air last week.
“Melbourne, I can’t wait to go there. I can’t wait for the whole show to go completely national live,” Sandilands said.
“All the Melbourne stations, they are all circling the wagons.
“They keep telling everyone in the press, ‘Aw yeah, we are not worried.’ They are sh***ing themselves and I don’t blame them. I am not here to come second,” Sandilands told listeners.