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. The company previously had assets in New Zealand, and previously owned Adshel, APN Outdoor and Gfinity eSports in Australia. Its commercial radio stations include the Gold Network, KIIS Network, CADA, ARN Regional and iHeartRadio brands.
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 Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia). On 19 February 2014, it was reported that APN News & Media had agreed to purchase Clear Channel's 50% stake in the ARN. As a result, ARN is now fully owned by ARN Media. The company continues to operate the Australian version of iHeartRadio.
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 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. 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.HTE buys Grand Broadcasters and will merge it with ARN network Mediaweek 12 November 2021ARN's parent company acquires Grant Broadcasters Mumbrella 12 November 2021HT&E to acquire Grant Broadcasters for $307.5m Lending Association 12 November 2021 The deal was finalised on 4 January 2022.Grant Broadcasters sale completed Radio Today Australia 5 January 2022
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.Notice of initial substantial holder ARN Media 21 June 2023Non-binding Indicative Proposal to Acquire SCA ARN 18 October 2023
In 2015, HT&E's two largest shareholders were the Australian fund manager Allan Gray Australia and News Corp Australia. 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.
History
ARN Media 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.
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.
In 2001, APN acquired 25% of Soprano Design, later going on to acquire stakes 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 APN over A$125m in equity. 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.NZME Demerger Implemented APN Market Announcement to ASX, 29 June 2016 However, the company maintained a presence in New Zealand via its outdoor advertising business, Adshel NZ.APN Retains Ownership of Adshel NZ APN Market Announcement to ASX, 28 November 2016 Also in 2016, the company announced it would sell its regional newspaper division, Australian Regional Media, to News Corp Australia for $36.6 million. The deal was reviewed but not opposed by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.ACCC will not oppose News Corporation's proposed acquisition of APN's Regional Media Division Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 8 December 2016 The sale of ARM, encompassing APN's remaining newspaper assets, was completed in December 2016.APN Completes Sale of ARM APN Market Announcement to ASX, 28 December 2017
APN News & Media Limited changed its name to HT&E Limited in May 2017, changing its ASX Listing Code to HT1.Change of Company Name and ASX Listing Code APN Market Announcement to ASX, 5 May 2017
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.
In January 2023, the company sold its 25% stake in communications firm Soprano.HTE sells its stake in communications technology company Soprano RadioToday 4 January 2023 In May 2023, Here, There & Everywhere was renamed ARN Media.Change of company name and ticker code ARN Media 18 May 2023HT&E rebrands to ARN Media following shareholder vote Mumbrella 18 May 2023 In June 2023, ARN acquired a 15% shareholding in major competitor Southern Cross Austereo. 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. The deal collapsed after Anchorage withdrew.ARN throws a Hail Mary to revive collapsed radio merger Australian Financial Review 13 May 2024
Assets
ARN operates 58 radio stations, targeting the 25-to-54-year-old demographic. These stations include the top 40 (CHR) formatted KIIS Network the adult contemporary formatted Gold Network the rhythmic top 40 and urban contemporary-formatted CADA joint venture stations Mix 106.3 and Hit104.7 in Canberra with Southern Cross Austereo other radio stations via DAB+ digital radio and iHeartRadio 46 radio stations acquired from Grant Broadcasters
KIIS Network
Callsign Frequency Branding Location Format Notes 2WFM 106.5 MHz FM KIIS 106.5 Sydney, New South Wales Top 40 (CHR) Formerly 2UW and Mix 106.5 3TTT 101.1 MHz FM KIIS 101.1 Melbourne, Victoria Top 40 (CHR) Formerly 3DB, 3TT, TTFM and Mix 101.1 4BFM 097.3 MHz FM KIIS 97.3 Brisbane, Queensland Top 40 (CHR) Joint venture with Nova EntertainmentFormerly 97.3FM 5ADD 102.3 MHz FM096.7 MHz FM (repeater) KIIS 102.3 Adelaide, South Australia Top 40 (CHR) Formerly 5DN, Radio 102FM, 5AD FM and Mix 102.3 N/A DAB+ digital radio KIIS Perth Perth, Western Australia Top 40 (CHR) Launched in 2026
Gold Network
Callsign Frequency Branding Location Format Notes 1CBR 106.3 MHz FM107.1 MHz FM (repeater)0 Mix 106.3 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Adult contemporary Joint venture with Southern Cross AustereoFormerly Kix 106 2UUS 101.7 MHz FM088.3 MHz FM099.1 MHz FM Gold 101.7 Sydney, New South Wales Adult contemporary Formerly WSFM and 2WS 3KKZ 104.3 MHz FM Gold 104.3 Melbourne, Victoria Adult contemporary Formerly 3KZ and KZFM N/A DAB+ digital radio Gold Brisbane Brisbane, Queensland Adult contemporary Launched 19 January 2026 5DN 1323 kHz AM Gold 1323 Adelaide, South Australia Oldies Formerly 5AD, Radio 1323, SEN 1323 and Cruise 1323 N/A DAB+ digital radio Gold Adelaide Adelaide, South Australia Adult contemporary Launched 19 January 2026 6NOW 096.1 MHz FM Gold 96FM Perth, Western Australia Adult contemporary Formerly Triple M
Other stations Callsign Frequency Branding Location Format Notes 2ONE 96.1 MHz FM CADA Katoomba, New South Wales Rhythmic top 40Urban contemporary Formerly 2KA, OneFM and The Edge 96.ONE 2ROC 104.7 MHz FM100.7 MHz FM Hit104.7 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Top 40 (CHR) Joint venture with Southern Cross Austereo 6PER 93.7 MHz FM Nova 93.7 Perth, Western Australia Top 40 (CHR) Joint venture with Nova EntertainmentN/AN/AWoolworths RadioWoolworths stores and IHeartRadioAdult contemporaryBranded station for all Woolworths stores
Digital radio ARN also broadcasts a number of digital only radio stations.ARN Digital-radio
Branding Frequency Location Format Notes Chemist Warehouse Remix DAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide) Sydney, New South WalesMelbourne, VictoriaBrisbane, QueenslandAdelaide, South AustraliaAdult contemporary The '80s DAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide) Sydney, New South WalesMelbourne, VictoriaBrisbane, QueenslandAdelaide, South Australia1980s music Gold 80s SydneyGold 80s MelbourneGold 80s BrisbaneGold 80s AdelaideGold 80s Perth The '90s DAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide) Sydney, New South WalesMelbourne, VictoriaBrisbane, QueenslandAdelaide, South Australia1990s music KIIS 90s SydneyKIIS 90s MelbourneKIIS 90s BrisbaneKIIS 90s AdelaideKIIS 90s Perth CADA DAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide) Sydney, New South WalesMelbourne, VictoriaBrisbane, QueenslandAdelaide, South AustraliaRhythmic top 40Urban contemporary
Former stations Branding Frequency Location Format Notes 4BH 1116kHz AM Brisbane, Queensland Easy listening Sold to Nova Entertainment in 2002 4KQ 693kHz AM Brisbane, Queensland Classic Hits Sold to Sports Entertainment Network in 2022 PureCountry Online streaming Worldwide, based in Sydney Country music Closed in 2009 KseraRadio.com Online streaming Worldwide, based in Sydney Rhythmic top 40Urban contemporary Closed Classic Hits Live DAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide) Sydney, New South WalesMelbourne, VictoriaBrisbane, QueenslandAdelaide, South Australia Classic hits Replaced by Pure Gold '80s in 2010 Classic Hits Plus DAB+ block 9B (VHF, Sydney and Melbourne)DAB+ block 9A (VHF, Brisbane and Adelaide) Sydney, New South WalesMelbourne, VictoriaBrisbane, QueenslandAdelaide, South Australia Classic hits Replaced by Pure Gold '90s in 2010
Outdoor/Advertising CODY Out-of-Home (Hong Kong) Emotive (creative agency)
References
Bibliography
External links Company website