ARN confirms talks with Kyle and Jackie O

Australian Radio Network (ARN) has confirmed that it is in talks with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O, who last week announced they would not return to Southern Cross Austereo’s 2DAY FM in 2014.

ARN Chief Executive Ciaran Davis admitted on the weekend, “ARN has been going through a significant transformation over the past three years, and our results and ambition mean we are in a strong position to talk to Kyle and Jackie O about joining our network. Nothing is agreed but talks have commenced.”

However a report in Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph claimed that negotiations were, in fact, almost finalised and that the duo were set to join Mix 106.5 in a deal worth $1 million-a-year each.

It is not known if they will do the breakfast shift, currently hosted by Yumi Stynes and Sami Lukis.

Davis added, “The success of commercial radio was built around retaining and attracting the best talent. ARN has some of Australia’s strongest on-air talent across its network, particularly in Sydney breakfast with WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda who continue to perform exceptionally well and, earlier this year, helped to take the station to No. 1.”

Financially, the Kyle and Jackie O deal, according to the Telegraph, gives them less money. But their wage packets will grow as their audience does. The deal offers a career boost: a weekly show to air through 100 stations in the US, UK and the Middle East through ARN’s partner Clear Channel.