Hamish & Andy, Australia’s most successful podcast and radio duo, have signed an early long-term extension with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) ensuring their hit Hamish & Andy podcast remains an exclusive to the LiSTNR audience network for years to come.

Hamish & Andy share a 25-year history with SCA, spanning both radio and podcasting, with their ever-growing loyal fan base a testament to their enduring appeal. As hosts of Australia’s highest rating radio show of all time, they seamlessly transitioned to podcasting in 2018. Continuing their upward trajectory, the Hamish & Andy podcast has been one of the most successful podcasts in Australia. Over the past three years the podcast has consistently attracted an audience of more than 800,000 monthly listeners and has been crowned the number one podcast a record 26 times in the Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200.

The new deal covers Australia’s most successful podcast, the weekly Hamish & Andy podcast, along with fan-favourite Hamish & Andy’s Remembering Project.

John Kelly, SCA’s CEO said, “Hamish & Andy aren’t just one of Australia’s most beloved media duos — they’re consistently one of the most listened-to podcasts in Australia. Their authenticity and one-of-a-kind connection with audiences is unmatched, and we are proud to continue our long-standing partnership. Hamish & Andy continue to play a vital role in LiSTNR’s success, and as the country’s Number One podcast network, we’re doubling down on what we do best: delivering premium brand-friendly content to the audiences that matter. SCA is all about audio, and this extended partnership with Hamish & Andy exemplifies that commitment.”

Hamish & Andy said: “We are thrilled to be continuing the podcast with LiSTNR. They have been an immense support in the past across all of our extremely important endeavours which have included: bringing peace to two rival Croc Jumping Tour companies in the NT, uncovering that the chocolate treat Maltesers doesn’t have the letter ‘a’ in the back half of the spelling to actually say ’teasers’ as it is pronounced, and trying to find out how the Health Star Rating works on foods. It just makes sense that LiSTNR continues to back these heroic missions. Glad we’ll be able to have many more years of this service to the people.”

Dave Cameron, SCA Chief Content Officer, said: “We are insanely excited that Australia’s greatest ever media duo Hamish and Andy, often replicated but never matched, will deliver their world-famous, seriously unserious nonsense for many years to come. It’s the perfect, inseparable partnership with their home at LiSTNR, the home of Australia’s biggest podcasts and creators.”

New episodes of the Hamish & Andy podcast are published every Thursday. Listen for free on the LiSTNR app. 

About LiSTNR:

LiSTNR is a curated and personalised, free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news, creating a new audio destination for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant and Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com

Triple M has announced two brand new Rush Hour Drive shows for New South Wales and Queensland, focused on delivering localised NRL coverage from Monday 28 April. Airing weekdays from 4pm to 6pm, both locally-produced Rush Hour shows are tailor-made for NRL fans, further solidifying Triple M as the undisputed home of footy with content that keeps fans informed, entertained, and connected to the game they love.

Rugby league commentator and radio veteran Anthony Maroon will host Triple M’s Rush Hour across metro and regional NSW, joined by a range of co-hosts including former Captain of Paramatta Eels Nathan ‘Hiney’ Hindmarsh, four-time NRLW premiership winner Millie Elliott, host of LiSTNR’s Willow Talk and Footy Talk Adam Peacock, and NRLW’s premiership players Sam Bremner and Keeley Davis. Maroon will also continue to anchor Triple M Sydney’s Dead Set Legends every Saturday alongside Josh Mansour.

Maroon said: “I’m genuinely pumped to be working with Hiney, we’ve actually been mates for years – we both wore the blue and gold, he with Parra and me with the Waterloo Waratahs. But I’m just as excited to be teaming up with some of the best in the NRLW. Millie, Sam, and Keeley bring so much talent and insight. I think listeners are going to love what they bring to the show.”

Hiney said: “Absolutely pumped to get even further involved with Triple M. I have always been a loyal Triple M listener and I’ll try anything once…even working with Anthony Maroon.”

The Rush Hour with Dobbo & Elliott will air across metro and regional Queensland, hosted by existing Triple M regulars and seasoned NRL commentators Ben ‘Dobbo’ Dobbin and Elliott Lovejoy. Dobbo, a former Rush Hour host and regular on Triple M Breakfast with Marto, Margaux & Dan, teams up with commentator and broadcaster Elliott who was previously part of regional QLD’s Rush Hour. The duo will be joined by a rotating lineup of respected NRLW stars, including Brisbane Broncos Captain Ali Brigginshaw – a three-time NRLW premiership 10-time Origin and three-time World Cup winner; Brisbane Bronco’s two-time NRLW premiership and Origin winner Romy Teitzel: Gold Coast Titans, Australian Jillaroos, NSW SkyBlues and Indigenous All Stars representative Jaime Chapman; and North Queensland Cowboys NRLW Premiership winner Mackenzie Weale.

Dobbo said: I’m excited to be driving listeners home again in 2025. Rugby league and sport have always been my passion and to be able to share that with listeners on a daily basis is an honour. Elliot is one of the real good guys in this industry but make no mistake, we have some very different opinions and we won’t be shy to  take each other on. The addition of some of the toughest, smartest minds in the NRLW to the lineup brings a fresh perspective and their insight is going to take Rush Hour to another level.”

Elliott said: “I’m struggling to put into words how appreciative I am to broadcast right across Queensland, a place I’ve called home after growing up in the Torres Strait and living in Brisbane, Cairns and everywhere in between. Sharing the biggest stories from the sport I love alongside someone I’ve called a friend for a long time, Ben Dobbin, is a real privilege. And now with some of the most accomplished women in rugby league joining us – it’s going to be an exciting show. I can’t wait to push Dobbo’s buttons every afternoon and bring Queensland a show where everyone’s welcome.”

Building on the outstanding success of The Rush Hour with JB & Billy, which has fast become one of the most beloved Drive shows across footy obsessed states – Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. James Brayshaw and Billy Brownless started in 2025 with audience growth in Adelaide and Perth, following a record-breaking 2024 that saw them achieve an  18-year ratings high in the 4-6pm slot on Triple M Melbourne. Their popularity extends beyond broadcast with their LiSTNR podcast now ranked inside the Top 50 Australian podcasts and continuing to grow*. The enduring appeal of JB & Billy highlights the power of the Rush Hour brand – now set to be replicated in NRL states with localised, fan-first editions tailored to metro and regional listeners in NSW and QLD listeners.

Demand for rugby league content continues to grow, and Triple M’s current NRL coverage is a clear testament to that. Reaching a combined weekly audience of 376,000 listeners across Sydney and Brisbane — well ahead of other commercial competitors — Triple M is the #1 station for NRL across all key demographics, including P10+ and P25-54**. These numbers highlight the strength of Triple M’s live sport coverage and the deep trust it has earned with fans across both heartland markets.

Given the clear demand for sport content, the addition of the new NRL Rush Hours across NSW and QLD, alongside the popular AFL focused Rush Hour with JB & Billy, rounds out a national Drive sports offering around the country with compelling content for fans and commercial partners.

Dave Cameron, SCA Chief Content Officer, said of the launch of the new Drive shows: “Triple M’s Rush Hour brand is already synonymous with delivering compelling sport-focused shows nationally for the drive home. Creating these two new shows specifically for Triple M New South Wales and Queensland NRL fans continues Triple M’s commitment as a premium partner to the NRL – alongside our existing Rush Hour show in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania which continues to deliver AFL-focused content with JB and Billy. Triple M remains the home of Australia’s biggest sporting codes with these new show launches for NSW and Queensland.”

The Rush Hour can be heard weekdays from 4pm – 6pm from Monday April 28 on Triple M and on the free LiSTNR app.

Although we are one of Australia’s biggest media sectors, the contribution of community broadcasting is not always well understood by policymakers.

In recent years, the CBAA advocated for our sector’s contribution to news to be properly recognised in the ACMA’s Media Diversity Framework, which is a major foundation for many government policy and funding decisions.

Over 2024, the CBAA’s Advocacy Team worked closely with the ACMA to ensure that its first report on that Framework would accurately capture our sector’s contribution.

News Media in Australia 2025 Report, released in March, reflects some important aspects of our sector’s contribution. It notes that radio is the second most prevalent form of media outlet after websites/apps and, of the 880 radio outlets the ACMA counted for the report, 51% are community radio. We continue to work with the sector to improve measurement around news, and this is covered in a community broadcasting case study in Appendix D.

Importantly, in a section on the impact of media, the ACMA has included a great 4-page case study about the excellent work done by Ngaarda Media and how important its news content is for the community.

The next report will be published in 2 years and we will continue to work with the ACMA to improve how our sector’s contribution to media diversity is understood

The latest official Australian Podcast Ranker has been released by Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) and Triton Digital. Below are the top five charts for March. The complete charts can be viewed here.

March 2025 continued its record-breaking streak, reaching a new all-time high of 7 million average weekly listeners. This growth has been driven by an expanding and diversifying roster of participating publishers, showcasing the increasing appetite for on-demand audio content.

About the Australian Podcast Ranker

The Australian Podcast Ranker is a monthly snapshot of the top 200 podcasts listened to by Australians, the top 200 Australian podcasts, the 20 biggest publishers and the 20 most successful podcast sales representatives.

The Australian Podcast Ranker is an industry initiative commissioned by CRA and published by Triton Digital. Results comply with IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines.

The Nine Podcast Network has strengthened its position as a major player in Australian podcasting, climbing two spots in the March 2025 Australian Podcast Ranker to become the country’s #4 publisher – overtaking both Nova Entertainment and Mamamia.

With more than 1.4 million listeners tuning in across its growing slate, Nine Podcasts’ momentum is driven by a commitment to quality content that connects with Australian audiences. From news and business to sport, lifestyle and entertainment, Nine’s diverse lineup is winning over more ears than ever.

The return of the footy season gave several shows a major boost, with 3AW Football attracting over 55,000 listeners and Six Tackles with Gus reaching 52,000. Other strong performers in the Top 200 include Real Footy, Eddie & Jimmy, and Marlee & Me.

Nine Radio’s Head of Digital Growth, Mia Stern, said, “This jump in the publisher rankings is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. We are incredibly proud to see our podcasts connecting with more listeners than ever before. Our focus remains on delivering compelling audio experiences, making that content available as widely as possible, and providing valuable opportunities for advertisers to reach engaged audiences.”

Source: Australian Podcast Ranker – Top Podcasts Australian Made, March 1-31 2025, Downloads, Listeners.

Over three million Australians listened to ABC podcasts in March, the highest ever monthly result for the national broadcaster. The ABC also had more titles in the top 200 than any other publisher.

In the leadup to the Federal election, listeners are turning to ABC News podcasts, with ABC News Top Stories growing its audience by 139k listeners and breaking through the one million monthly listeners mark for the first time. The podcast also maintained its No. 2 position in the Triton Podcast ranker.

ABC News Daily added 37k listeners month-on-month and rose one spot to No.9. Politics Now grew its audience by 76k and climbed 10 places to No.37.

AM increased its monthly audience by 79 per cent to over 100k, advancing 45 spots to No.78. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald added 42k listeners and jumped up 35 spots to No.74. PM and The World Today both returned to the Top 200 for the first time since November.

Other ABC big movers were Health Report which added 21k listeners in March, moving up 22 places to No. 85. Roy and HG’s Bludging on the Blindside also added 14k listeners and rose 11 places to No.91.

ABC Director Audio Ben Latimer said: “Reaching over three million Australians in March is testament to the impact of the ABC’s podcasts. Whether it’s ABC News Top Stories, Health Report or Global Roaming, the result demonstrates that audiences turn to the ABC for trusted information and stories that reflect their lives and interests.”

Professor Jackie Huggins AM FAHA has launched her tenure as the ABC’s inaugural Elder-in-Residence with an interview on ABC News Breakfast this morning and in an online feature by senior reporter Miriam Corowa.

Professor Huggins is a Bidjara and Birri-Gubba Juru woman and an eminent Australian with a distinguished career working across the community, government and non-government sectors and as an author and historian. In 2001 she became a Member of the Order of Australia for her work on reconciliation, social justice, literacy and women’s issues.

She also has a long history with the ABC, starting when she worked at the Toowong, Brisbane headquarters when she was just 16.

The Elder-in-Residence role was created last year in response to the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report and is for a two-year term, with an option to renew. Professor Huggins will support First Nations employees and provide cultural guidance to the management and leadership teams across the ABC during the implementation of the report’s recommendations.

Professor Huggins described becoming the ABC’s Elder-in-Residence as “one of my highest badges of honour” and said the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report had become a blueprint for other organisations to follow.

“My new role is something that I never imagined I would do when I started my employment at the ABC when I was 16 years of age,” she said.

“I have been a long-time audience member and contributor to the ABC. I look forward to deepening that connection through taking up the position of the ABC’s inaugural Elder-in-Residence and to meeting and yarning with people across the divisions and offices of our national broadcaster.

“I am also looking forward to working with the Director First Nations Strategy, the Bonner Committee and the ABC Leadership team in setting the stepping stones for the work ahead.”

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks welcomed Professor Huggins.

“With Professor Huggins, and under the leadership of Acting Director of First Nations Strategy Kelly Williams – and with so many other contributors around the ABC – we are well placed to act strongly,” he said.

“We must ensure our approach to addressing issues of racism and any form of inequity reaches into every part of the organisation. This is a priority for me in my new role as Managing Director.”

iHeart continues its unprecedented run as Australia’s #1 Podcast Publisher, achieving its 59^th  consecutive #1 ranking in the March Australian Podcast Ranker – and reaching a record 7.8 million listeners (+9%) and 24.7 million downloads (+10%).

This marks the biggest audience ever for ARN’s iHeart, as the network continues to scale both reach and engagement across its slate of premium content.

A standout performer this month is Stalked, the gripping true crime series from BBC Studios, which leapt 67 places to #8 overall, claiming the title of Australia’s #1 true crime podcast. Represented locally through iHeart’s partnership with BBC Studios, Stalked has resonated strongly with Australian listeners, driven by its urgent storytelling and real-life narrative.

The podcast follows 25-year-old Hannah Mossman Moore, who is digitally hunted by an anonymous predator weaponising her personal data. In a desperate bid for answers, she joins forces with investigative journalist – and former stepmother – Carole Cadwalladr to uncover the truth behind a campaign of psychological terror. Together, they unravel a global web of deception that law enforcement failed to stop.

Louise La Grange, BBC Studios’ SVP, BBC Audio, Digital News & Streaming, said: “We are delighted to see BBC Studios’ produced podcast Stalked connect so deeply with Australian audiences. It is an affecting example of how BBC Audio’s groundbreaking storytelling can start conversations and strongly engage listeners. It is a further example of our successful ongoing partnership with iHeart to bring these important stories to listeners in Australia.”

ARN’s Head of Digital Audio Corey Layton added: “With more Australians listening than ever before, iHeart’s record results reflect the power of combining world-class storytelling with unrivalled scale. From global hits like Stalked to the most loved local titles, we’re delivering premium audio experiences that cut through – creating enormous opportunity not just for brands looking to connect with engaged audiences, but for ARN as Australia’s podcasting powerhouse.”

iHeart dominated the March Ranker with 47 titles in the Top 200, showcasing the depth and breadth of its podcast slate. Standout performers included Life Uncut at #10 (Australia’s #1 Relationship Podcast), The Kyle & Jackie O Show at #14 (the #1 radio show podcast), and The Daily Aus at #20.

Also featured in the Top 50: BBC’s Global News Podcast (#32), Stuff You Should Know (#33), On Purpose with Jay Shetty (#36), Smosh Reads Reddit Stories (debuting at #45), She’s On The Money (#47), and Dyl & Friends, which jumped 38 spots to round out the Top 50.