KIIS and MasterChef Australia took dining and entertainment to new heights last night with their exclusive Edible TV Live Event, an unforgettable evening onboard Sydney’s most luxurious super yacht, The Jackson.

Twenty lucky KIIS listeners from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane joined Network 10 executives and MasterChef judges to celebrate the premiere of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win.

Attendees were treated to a special preview screening of the highly anticipated first episode – and in a true ‘Edible TV’ twist, the television screen was brought to life during an intimate dinner setting, where diners savoured the winning dishes from the show, crafted into an opulent, multi-course feast.

Throughout the evening, the MasterChef magic continued with the new season’s judges, who shared behind-the-scenes insights. KIIS Network announcer Gordie Waters hosted a live Q&A session featuring celebrated chef and MasterChef Australia judge, Jean-Christophe Novelli alongside food writer and judge Sofia Levin, who gave attendees an exclusive look into what makes MasterChef Australia: Back To Win so exceptional.

Andreana Walton, Head of Marketing – Broadcast & Digital, Network 10 said: “Sailing across the breathtaking Sydney Harbour as the sun set, the Edible TV Live Event delivered an experience that blurred the lines between television and reality.

“We’re thrilled with the result and for the incredible partnership between KIIS and MasterChef Australia that delivered a unique event with remarkable flair, the perfect entrée to this season of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win.

Three of the Melbourne Storm’s biggest names Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, and reigning Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes, will bring you exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes access with The 167 Podcast available for free on 9Now.  

Diving into all things NRL and beyond, the superstar Storm trio will give a front-row seat to the 2025 season, delivering plenty of laughs, interviews with sports stars, fan-submitted questions, and much more.

Streaming free on 9Now alongside Nine’s commitment to all Storm games being made available free on Channel 9 in Melbourne, the weekly podcast gives fans an all-access pass into the lives of the players, going beyond the try-lines and training paddocks to share laughs, stories, special guests and behind-the-scenes moments from off the field.

Whether it’s the latest locker room banter, wild weekend tales, or insights into what really goes down in Storm HQ, nothing’s off limits. From Papenhuyzen’s love of American sports, to Munster’s mischief and Hughes’ cool-headed take on the season, The 167 Podcast is a must-listen for rugby league lovers and casual fans alike.

“We’re pumped to be bringing the pod to 9Now and giving fans something a bit different,” said Papenhuyzen. “It’s not just footy talk — it’s a chance for people to see who we are when we’re not in a jersey.”

Episodes will drop weekly on 9Now, with the first one launching this week. Don’t miss a minute — head to 9Now and stream The 167 Podcast for free.

167 podcast is produced by award winning independent podcast partner DM for 9Now.

167 PODCAST WITH RYAN PAPENHUYZEN, CAMERON MUNSTER AND JAHROME HUGHES – AVAILABLE WEEKLY ON 9NOW

Nine today announces Matt James has been appointed Chief Sales Officer, one of the most senior commercial roles in Australian media.  

Reporting to Nine’s Chief Executive Officer, Matt Stanton, Mr James has extensive global media experience and will be responsible for growing the revenue of Nine’s Total Television, Total Publishing and Total Audio assets.   

Appointed Acting Chief Sales Officer in December 2024, Mr James holds 35 years of experience and has previously been CEO of global media agency Zenith Media based in London, the inaugural Group CEO of Publicis Media, and CEO of Zenith Australia and New Zealand.

His appointment as Chief Sales Officer amid a wide field of candidates signals a new era for Nine Sales, with Mr James set to sharpen a reinvigorated digital video strategy to ensure the company can compete with the global platforms, and to drive collaboration within the streaming and broadcast industry.        

Early in his career, Mr James held senior roles at Nine including Managing Director of the company’s then-digital media division Mi9, and after his global role at Zenith, Mr James returned to Nine in 2020 as Managing Director of Nine Melbourne. 

In that role, he oversaw major operations including Channel 9, 3AW, The Age, and The Australian Financial Review, as well as flagship productions which contributed significantly to strengthening Nine’s position in the Melbourne market.

Since November last year, Mr James has held a senior strategy role across the Nine Group as part of the company’s Transformation team focusing on initiatives to drive growth and innovation, including a renewed vision to accelerate an advanced digital strategy that will cement Nine’s leadership position over the next five years. 

Nine’s Chief Sales Officer, Matt James, said: “I’m excited to lead one of the most talented sales teams in Australia. We have spent the last several months re-arming and re-organising ourselves to be able to execute an advanced digital strategy across TV, Publishing and Audio, and Nine is well-placed for a strong future. We are now at a pivotal point where Nine is ready to be a leader in the digital video market. With clients and brands at the centre of everything we do, our move to accelerate our VOD strategy and to drive a new era of collaboration within the TV industry, will ensure Nine positions itself as a market leader.”     

Nine’s Chief Executive Officer, Matt Stanton, said: “Matt James is a high-calibre media executive with impressive global experience who has a strong vision for Nine. With experience on both the media and agency sides, a strong background in digital, and extensive knowledge of Nine, I can’t think of a better person to re-invigorate Nine’s strategy to be the leader in the digital video market.”

West Australian community radio powerhouse RTRFM has earned international acclaim, tying for first place with Lady Gaga’s website to win Best Music Site in the 2025 Webby Awards.

The Webby Awards, often referred to as “the internet’s highest honour”, celebrate excellence on the internet across a wide range of categories including websites, video, apps, and podcasts. Winning a Webby is a significant achievement, shining a spotlight on RTRFM’s dedication to connecting audiences with diverse, innovative music programming and Perth-based design agency Start Digital‘s efforts in creating the new site.

RTRFM’s Station Manager, Simon Miraudo, said the station was “extremely chuffed (and extremely flabbergasted)” by the win.

“Our listeners, volunteers and staff have long believed RTRFM can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best music outlets in the world, so to get this kind of global recognition for our website, and our new online-only channel RTR2, is both humbling and validating,” Simon said.

“Lady Gaga has a standing invitation to any of our upcoming events, and we’ll even throw in a plus-one for a friend!”

Reflecting on the website redevelopment that led to the award, Simon emphasised the importance of staying true to the station’s community roots.

“There were three guiding purposes when we started working with Start Digital: making music the hero, helping listeners better discover and stream shows they love, and launching RTR2 to broaden our music programming. We also kept accessibility at the centre of everything we did,” he said.

Simon’s advice to other stations considering a digital refresh is clear: focus first on community, music, and accessibility, and work with partners who share your passion.

“Find a developer who truly gets you. And above all, remember: without brilliant community presenters creating brilliant radio, there’s no point having a website at all!”

About RTRFM

Established in 1977, RTRFM is Perth’s original community broadcaster. Known as “The Sound Alternative”, RTRFM is powered by more than 300 volunteers and showcases an extraordinary range of music, arts and ideas across its programming. Through its commitment to local artists, diverse voices and independent journalism, RTRFM plays a vital role in keeping Perth’s creative and cultural scene vibrant.

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. 

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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.

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcasts March 2025
Podcast		Producer	Monthly Listeners
1	The Mel Robbins Podcast	SiriusXM Podcast Network	1,865,687
2	ABC News Top Stories	Australian Broadcasting Corporation	1,007,362
3	Hamish & Andy	LiSTNR (SCA)	752,700
4	Mamamia Out Loud	Mamamia	611,205
5	Shameless	Shameless Media	595,433

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five genres March 2025
Genre		Monthly Listeners
1	Society & Culture	5,285,878
2	News	5,158,492
3	True Crime	4,095,766
4	Sports	3,808,100
5	Comedy	3,579,754

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcast publishers March 2025
Publisher		Monthly Listeners
1	ARN/iHeart	4,637,894
2	SiriusXM Podcast Network	4,169,539
3	LiSTNR (SCA)	3,843,169
4	Australian Broadcasting Corporation	3,025,504
5	News Corp Australia	1,959,319

Top five sales representatives by monthly listeners March 2025
Sales representatives		Publishers represented	Monthly Listeners
1	LiSTNR (SCA)	LiSTNR (SCA) / SiriusXM Podcast Network / audiochuck / Wondery / DM Podcasts / NBCUniversal News Group	9,353,203
2	ARN / iHeart	ARN / iHeartMedia / Audioboom / AdLarge Media / Sport Social Podcast Network / The Athletic / The Investors Podcast Network / All Ears English / Sony Music / Clubby Sports / NZME / TED / BBC	7,792,675
3	NOVA Entertainment	NOVA Entertainment / News Corp Australia / Podshape/ Schwartz Media / Johns Media	3,368,751
4	News Corp Australia	News Corp Australia	1,959,319
5	Nine	Nine Radio / Nine Publishing	1,421,478

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.

March 2025	LISTENERS	DOWNLOADS
Nine Podcast Network	1,421,478	3,441,400

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.”