What's New
BY Jen Seyderhelm April 12, 2024
What's New February 17, 2020
Jase & PJ ink extended deal at KIIS 101.1 Breakfast
Now two years in their KIIS FM Breakfast gig, Australian Radio Network has just confirmed that Jase & PJ have signed on for another two years at the network.
The KIIS 101.1 Breakfast hosts were to be out of contract at the end of 2020, but will now continue to host their Breakfast show in Melbourne on an extended deal.
Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins & Polly ‘PJ’ Harding joined KIIS from ZM in New Zealand for the start of 2018, and feature in ARN’s latest marketing campaign alongside a new positioning statement; ‘They’re always up to something’.
Their new deal comes after ARN recently re-signed other high rating Breakfast shows including KIIS 106.5’s The Kyle & Jackie O Show and WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda in the Morning, GOLD104.3’s The Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show and 97.3FM’s Robin, Terry & Bob.
”ARN has secured our top talent right across the network until 2022 and beyond. Live and local content delivered by trusted on-air talent is more important now than ever and we’re delighted that Jase & PJ will continue in Melbourne as part of ARN’s strong offering in that market,” said ARN CEO Ciaran Davis.
“Jase & PJ create excellent, engaging content and they consistently execute innovative client campaigns that resonate with audiences across on-air, digital, and on-demand.
“In Defining Audio, ARN is committed to investing in and securing the very best talent in radio which continues to power the audio category and to continue to deliver local and innovative content across all broadcast and on-demand channels to offer our clients and audiences the most complete audio offering.”
As of the final GfK radio ratings of 2019, Jase & PJ rated a 6.4% share of listening among People 10+, up 1% on the previous survey.
“Jase & PJ have a genuine friendship and on-air chemistry that makes for great radio,” added ARN’s national content director.
“They have consistently delivered exceptional content and their loyal audiences love them and I’m excited to see them continue to build momentum in Breakfast this year and beyond. They’re a critical part of ARN’s plans for the future and are great examples of the strength of our talent across the network.”
Of the new deal, Jase said; “I’m so stoked to have the opportunity to continue this crazy adventure with a best mate and with everyone who listens to the show through 2020 and beyond. Every morning is mayhem and you never know what PJ is going to say next, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
PJ added; “Our listeners are awesome and I’m so excited Jase and I can keep doing the show we love in Melbourne. We’ve got heaps of fun stuff planned and can’t wait to share what’s coming next!”
I heard SCA wanted Jase and PJ for the Perth market, must be for 92 or 94 ?
Interesting CEO Ciaran Davis announces this. They seem to be contracting everyone. Network up for sale sounds like. Poor ARN staff is it is, more upheaval.
Well played ARN. Smart play.
They are fresh, doing things different, and as SCA continues in decline. Its strong and confident programming.
Bet they end up replacing W&W who so far haven’t got any traction except following K&J.
Despite disappointing recent ratings, they got re signed. Good on them, but surely this signals ARN is on the market, looking for a buyer.
Oh dear good drive show for New Zealand but has struggled in Melbourne.
They’ve hardly risen above a 6% share in the two years they’ve been on air. The trend for them has generally declined since they took over the shift. Interesting…….
Good news but Why ARN extended radio contract with KIIS 101.1’s Jase & PJ thats the million dollar question. Hope they got a million ( each )
Love how management say “great content” …. no point pleasing management if the listeners aren’t loving it. Never really rated well. I’m sure they did okay in NZ but not australia
Not sure how accurately some interpret the performance of Jase and PJ.
True KIIS 101.1 rates not much different to the average 6 per cent mark I’ve noticed them rating for a long-time now. While breakfast ratings slide up and down, more often than not below the station average.
Yet there’s been more recent times I’ve noticed ratings dip lower than expected at FOX while Nova rarely ever surges above the ratings point it seems fixed on.
The bigger ratings picture is that ratings now favour those formats skewed over-40. Think 3AW, Gold, Smooth, ABC Radio Melbourne.
While Fox is the strongest of the younger-skewed brands, I no longer consider the ratings challenges of Fox, Nova and KIIS to be as distinguishable between them as was once the case.
So it’s more futile than it used to be for KIIS 101.1, a station without a very strong breakfast ratings record, to impatiently keep turning over talent.
Jase and PJ are a very promising duo. Even if breakfast doesn’t work out they possibly deserve a second chance in national drive (perhaps where they should have gone from the start).
These two are clearly talented, whether they are best at what they do or not. Those that doubt that can’t be listening.
In the past I listed to their predecessors, Matt & Meshel, also Fifi & Dave (& Fev & Byron) and the Hot Breakfast. I switched to KIIS when they started and I’m glad I did.
I think they’re actually a refreshing change from the tired format of comedian, celebrity and ex-footballers. It means there’s very little AFL talk (and I’m a regular footy goer) and it’s not all about the one big name celeb on air. They have great chemistry together. Hope they don’t get moved to drive. I think they’re great at breakfast.
This is great news. Jase & PJ are a breath of fresh air in a stale and aging Australian radio market consisting of the typical dried up reality stars, b grade celebrities, comedians, an retired footy ball players. The content they produce are world’s apart from the rest. Can’t wait to see what the next 2 years of amazing radio this duo produces.