Regular listeners of 's 3AW are set for a major shake-up, with news bulletins now to be sourced from its Sydney sister station, 2GB.
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Melbourne 3AW Listeners Stuck with Sydney News
Regular listeners of Melbourne's 3AW are set for a major shake-up, with news bulletins now to be sourced from its Sydney sister station, 2GB.The programming ove...
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The programming overhaul will see familiar voices move timeslots, with presenters Brian Wilson and Karalee Katsambanis both handed new roles as part of the transition.
Media veteran Katsambanis, who joined the station in 2024, has until now been the trusted voice of Sunday evening news but is among those affected by the sweeping changes.
Wilson, a ten-year veteran of 3AW, will surrender his weekend afternoon newsreader slot to the 2GB news team.
The shake-up follows Nine’s surprise decision to offload its radio assets - including 2GB and 3AW - to a consortium , a move that has sent ripples across the industry.
Further changes are also on the way, with 3AW set to take on a broader role by delivering national news coverage on Saturday nights for the entire network, now rebranded as Tapt Media.
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The overhaul marks the beginning of a new era for the stations, as the network looks to streamline operations and expand its national footprint, according to the Herald Sun.
Regular listeners of Melbourne's 3AW are set for a major shake-up, with news bulletins now to be sourced from its Sydney sister station, 2GB. The programming overhaul will see familiar voices move timeslots, with presenters Brian Wilson (right) and Karalee Katsambanis (left) both handed new roles as part of the transition
Tom Malone, CEO of Tapt Media, told the publication that the network shake-up was about creating an 'agile news team that can broadcast to any market'.
The move also appears to be a cost-saving measure.
Malone said there were no bulletins on the weekend due to 3AW's AFL coverage.
'Should we be employing people to sit there not to do the news? That’s not smart business,’ he said.
's 2GB news team features presenters Andy Park and Madelaine McNeill.
It comes after Nine confirmed their radio network .
'Nine has today finalised an agreement to sell Nine's broadcast radio assets - 2GB, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR, 2UE, Magic1278 and 4BH - to the Laundy Family Office on a cash and debt-free enterprise value of $56m,' Nine said in a statement to the ASX.
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The announcement continued, 'The sale is expected to be completed prior to 30 June 2026.'
Nine chief executive Matt Stanton revealed back in September that the network had received a 'number of unsolicited inquiries about our radio business'.
The changes come in the wake of Nine's decision to sell its radio assets, which include 2GB and 3AW, to a consortium led by billionaire pub baron Arthur Laundy. (Pictured, left)
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However, Laundy - who had largely flown under the radar during negotiations - ultimately emerged as the successful buyer.
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Laundy is one of the country's richest men with a fortune estimated to be worth $1.75billion, made through his network of pubs and hospitality venues grown over decades from his father's first pub, the Sackville Hotel in Rozelle.
His son, Stu Laundy, runs a large part of the business and found fame after his appearance on season three of The Bachelorette.
In 2019, Nine Entertainment paid $113.9million to buy the remaining 45.5 per cent of the Macquarie Media radio network after securing a controlling stake through its takeover of Fairfax Media. At the time, the network was valued at $275.4million.
Five years on, those same radio assets have been sold for just $56million, a steep 79 per cent fall in valuation, marking a significant hit for Nine.
Despite the reduced price tag, the network retains considerable influence, particularly Sydney's 2GB breakfast program, where Ben Fordham regularly drives the national news agenda and puts political leaders under scrutiny.
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