ARN Media

ARN Media Ltd., formerly Here, There & Everywhere and APN News & Media, is an Australian media company. Divisions include broadcast radio and Out-of-home advertising.[1] The company previously had assets in New Zealand,[2] and previously owned Adshel, APN Outdoor and Gfinity eSports in Australia.[3][4] Its commercial radio stations include the Pure Gold, KIIS Network, CADA, ARN Regional and iHeartRadio brands.

ARN Media Ltd.
FormerlyAustralian Radio Network
Here, There & Everywhere
APN News & Media
Company typePublic
ASXA1N
IndustryOutdoor advertising
Radio
Broadcasting
Headquarters,
Number of locations
33 markets
Area served
Australia, Hong Kong
ServicesRadio:
KIIS Network
Pure Gold Network
ARN Regional
CADA
Digital media:
iHeartRadio
RevenueA$252.7m
A$54.6m
Websitewww.arn.com.au

The company operates the ARN News service in Australia, which uses international correspondents and source news stories from AAP in Australia, CNN from the United States and Sky News and Independent Radio News from the United Kingdom. ARN has newsrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Originally ARN was a joint venture of APN News & Media and iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel). On 19 February 2014, it was reported that APN News & Media had agreed to purchase Clear Channel's 50% stake in the ARN.[5] As a result, ARN is now fully owned by ARN Media. The company continues to operate the Australian version of iHeartRadio.[6]

Until 2014, ARN also included New Zealand radio networks Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits FM, ZM, Radio Sport, Radio Hauraki, Easy Mix, Flava and Coast under umbrella company The Radio Network. These are now part of the New Zealand Media and Entertainment.

In August 2021, the company removed the words 'Australian Radio Network' from its name, now being known as simply ARN.[7] Three months later, in November 2021, Here, There & Everywhere, ARN's parent company, purchased Grant Broadcasters, who intend to integrate it with its own business by January 2022.[8][9][10] The deal was finalised on 4 January 2022.[11]

Having already acquired a 15% stake in Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) earlier in the year, in October 2023 ARN launched a takeover offer for SCA in partnership with Anchorage Capital Partners. To satisfy Australian Communications & Media Authority regulations that allow one party to only own two radio stations in one market, in capital cities ARN would add the Triple M network to the KIIS Network, while Anchorage Capital Partners would control the Hit and Pure Gold networks.[12][13]

In 2015, HT&E's two largest shareholders were the Australian fund manager Allan Gray Australia and News Corp Australia.[14] Irish company Independent News & Media and Denis O'Brien's Baycliffe held an approximately 30% stake in the company before selling it in March 2015.[15]

History

Former Here, There & Everywhere logo
APN News & Media logo 1998–2017
ARN radio logo

Here, There & Everywhere had its origins in Provincial Newspapers (PN), a listed company that published regional newspapers in New South Wales and Queensland. The Herald & Weekly Times, which owned a significant proportion of PNQ, was taken over by News Limited in 1987. To comply with an order of the Trade Practices Commission, News Limited was required to sell its PN shares. The 48% stake in PN was acquired in 1988 by interests associated with the family of Tony O'Reilly, the principal shareholder of Independent Newspapers of Ireland.[16]

The company was renamed Australian Provincial Newspapers Holdings and listed again on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1992 following a public share issue, and in 1998 the name was changed to APN News & Media.[17]

In 2001, HT&E acquired 25% of Soprano Design. Later going on to acquire steaks in Conversant Media and Unbnd Group. These acquisitions have been listed every year in their financial reports. Soprano Design was valued at over A$500 million in November 2019, giving HT&E over A$125m in equity.[3] Following Soprano's acquisition of SilverStreet Intl in December 2020, Analysts have stated that Soprano Design could be worth upward of $1 billion.

In June 2016, the company completed the demerger of its New Zealand radio and publishing business, New Zealand Media and Entertainment.[18] However, the company maintained a presence in New Zealand via its outdoor advertising business, Adshel NZ.[19] Also in 2016, the company announced it would sell its regional newspaper division, Australian Regional Media, to News Corp Australia for $36.6 million.[20] The deal was reviewed but not opposed by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.[21] The sale of ARM, encompassing APN's remaining newspaper assets, was completed in December 2016.[22]

APN News & Media Limited changed its name to HT&E Limited in May 2017, changing its ASX Listing Code to HT1.[23]

In June 2018, oOh!media purchased street furniture business Adshel for A$570 million from HT&E, in a competitive bidding war against rival (and former HT&E subsidiary) APN Outdoor.[24][25]

In January 2023, the company sold its 25% stake in communications firm Soprano.[26] In May 2023, Here, There & Everywhere was renamed ARN Media.[27][28] In June 2023, ARN acquired a 15% shareholding in major competitor Southern Cross Austereo.[29] In October 2023, ARN launched a takeover offer for SCA in partnership with Anchorage Capital Partners. To satisfy Australian Communications & Media Authority regulations that allow one party to only own two radio stations in one market, in capital cities ARN would own the KIIS and Triple M networks, while Anchorage Capital Partners would control the Hit and Pure Gold networks.[29][30] The deal collapsed after Anchorage withdrew.[31]

Assets

KIIS 106.5, CADA and 101.7 WSFM studios in North Ryde

ARN operates 58 radio stations, targeting the 25-to-54-year-old demographic. These stations include

KIIS Network

A vibrant network alive with influential personalities who energise, engage and excite, immersing audiences in the best music their city has to offer.

CallsignFrequencyBrandingLocationFormatNotes
1CBR106.3 MHz FM
107.1 MHz FM (repeater)0
Mix 106.3Canberra, Australian Capital TerritoryAdult contemporaryJoint venture with Southern Cross Austereo
Formerly Kix 106
2WFM106.5 MHz FMKIIS 106.5Sydney, New South WalesTop 40 (CHR)Formerly 2UW and Mix 106.5
3TTT101.1 MHz FMKIIS 101.1Melbourne, VictoriaTop 40 (CHR)Formerly 3DB, 3TT, TTFM and Mix 101.1
4BFM097.3 MHz FMKIIS 97.3Brisbane, QueenslandAdult contemporaryJoint venture with Nova Entertainment
Formerly 97.3FM
5ADD102.3 MHz FM
096.7 MHz FM (repeater)
Mix 102.3Adelaide, South AustraliaAdult contemporaryFormerly 5DN, Radio 102FM and 5AD FM
6NOW096.1 MHz FM96FMPerth, Western AustraliaAdult contemporaryFormerly Triple M

Pure Gold Network

An iconic network making audiences feel young, positive and full of life, immersing listeners with the Pure Gold hits they know and love.

CallsignFrequencyBrandingLocationFormatNotes
2UUS101.7 MHz FM
088.3 MHz FM
099.1 MHz FM
101.7 WSFMSydney, New South WalesOldiesFormerly 2WS
3KKZ104.3 MHz FMGold 104.3Melbourne, VictoriaOldiesFormerly 3KZ and KZFM
5DN1323 kHz AMCruise 1323Adelaide, South AustraliaOldiesFormerly 5AD, Radio 1323 and SEN 1323

Other stations

CallsignFrequencyBrandingLocationFormatNotes
2ONE096.1 MHz FMCADAKatoomba, New South WalesRhythmic top 40
Urban contemporary
Formerly 2KA, OneFM and The Edge 96.ONE
2ROC104.7 MHz FM
100.7 MHz FM
Hit104.7Canberra, Australian Capital TerritoryTop 40 (CHR)Joint venture with Southern Cross Austereo
6PER93.7 MHz FMNova 93.7Perth, Western AustraliaTop 40 (CHR)Joint venture with Nova Entertainment

Digital radio

ARN also broadcasts a number of digital only radio stations.[32]

BrandingFrequencyLocationFormatNotes
Chemist Warehouse RemixDAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)

DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide)
Sydney, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
Adult contemporary
The '80sDAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)

DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide)
Sydney, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
1980s musicWSFM 80s Sydney
Gold 80s Melbourne
KIIS 80s Brisbane
Mix 80s Adelaide

96FM 80s Perth

The '90sDAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)

DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide)
Sydney, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
1990s musicKIIS 90s Sydney
KIIS 90s Melbourne
KIIS 90s Brisbane
Mix 90s Adelaide
CADADAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)

DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide)
Sydney, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
Rhythmic top 40
Urban contemporary

Former stations

BrandingFrequencyLocationFormatNotes
4BH1116kHz AMBrisbane, QueenslandEasy listeningSold to Nova Entertainment in 2002[33]
4KQ693kHz AMBrisbane, QueenslandClassic HitsSold to Sports Entertainment Network in 2022
PureCountryOnline streamingWorldwide, based in SydneyCountry musicClosed in 2009
KseraRadio.comOnline streamingWorldwide, based in SydneyRhythmic top 40
Urban contemporary
Closed
Classic Hits LiveDAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)

DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide)
Sydney, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
Classic hitsReplaced by Pure Gold '80s in 2010
Classic Hits PlusDAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)

DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide)
Sydney, New South Wales
Melbourne, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Adelaide, South Australia
Classic hitsReplaced by Pure Gold '90s in 2010

Outdoor/Advertising

  • CODY Out-of-Home (Hong Kong)[34]
  • Emotive (creative agency)[35]

References

Bibliography