Can KIIS1065 Recover Post Kyle & Jackie O?

KIIS1065 is facing one of its biggest challenges in recent radio history, with the Sydney station now tasked with rebuilding its breakfast audience following the sudden end of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Left: Chris, Amy & Jack | Right, Kyle & Jackie O

For over a decade, the pair were the backbone of the KIIS brand, establishing the station as a major player in Sydney radio. Following their departure in March this year, the question now is whether KIIS can rebuild its audience with a completely new breakfast team.

A brief look at the station’s breakfast ratings history, suggests that they know how to maintain an audience, with a good show.

The station was sitting around the 3% share mark in 2013, before climbing towards the 9–12% range during the KJ era.

Image: KIIS1065’s Breakfast Share

The station continued to build, with the breakfast share reaching new heights during the Kyle and Jackie O era. The highest ratings for The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS1065, was in Survey 3 2023, where the team recorded a 17.9 (+2.8), with a cume of 921,000.

However, a quick look at the most recent survey figures explains the impact of KJ’s departure.

KIIS1065's overall Sydney share has fallen sharply, with the station recording a breakfast low of 6.9% in GfK Survey 6 of 2026, down from 13.6% in the same survey last year.

ARN has now confirmed the next breakfast show for KIIS1065, announcing Chris Brown, Amy Gerard and Jack Charles as the trio set to take over the Sydney breakfast slot.

Brown, best known for his television work on Bondi Vet, Gerard, already familiar to KIIS listeners through her previous work with the station and Charles, formerly of Nova, also brings experience in commercial radio.

Instead of attempting to recreate what Kyle and Jackie O delivered, the new team will need to establish their own identity, build chemistry and give listeners a reason to make KIIS part of their morning routine.

Kyle and Jackie O had spent decades building their connection with audiences, and that sort of familiarity cannot be replicated overnight. The new team will need time to settle in and demonstrate what makes the show different from the competition.

But competition will also remain fierce. Smooth FM continues to perform strongly across Sydney, while 2GB remains a major force in breakfast radio. Nova 96.9 has also shown signs of momentum, with its new breakfast show reaching 9.9% in Survey 6.

Image: 2DayFM Breakfast Results

Meanwhile over at SCA, 2DayFM has had some positive signs of growth, reaching a 5.2% share in People 10+, in GFK Survey 6.

KIIS will need more than a recognisable name or a promotional campaign to turn its fortunes around. The station needs a breakfast show that audiences connect with and want to listen to every morning.

ARN has an opportunity to start a new chapter for the station, but it will need a clear direction and a team that can develop genuine chemistry on air.

For now, the numbers make one thing clear, KIIS1065 has a significant amount of ground to recover.