Kyle Sandilands warns Alan Jones shifting to another radio station could have flow-on effect

Sydney’s breakfast FM radio king, Kyle Sandilands, has warned that if his AM colleague Alan Jones switches to another network the result would be “catastrophic” for 2GB and could change the city’s radio landscape.

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Sydney’s breakfast FM radio king, Kyle Sandilands, has warned that if his AM colleague Alan Jones switches to another network the result would be “catastrophic” for 2GB and could change the city’s radio landscape.

Sandilands famously propelled KIIS FM to Sydney’s number one FM slot after he was ditched by 2DAY FM, which shed listeners after the transition.

On Monday, he told The Daily Telegraph he believed Jones could pull off a similar ratings coup if he was forced to change stations.

“The idea of Alan leaving reminds me of what happened to (co-host) Jackie and I when we were at 2Day FM,” Sandilands said.

Kyle Sandilands, pictured with girlfriend Imogen Anthony, said if Alan Jones moving from 2GB could prove “catastrophic” for the radio station. Picture: Toby Zerna

The Saturday Telegraph revealed Jones has been eyeing rival offers after contract negotiations was left to the last minute. Picture: AAP Image/John Gass

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He speculated that Jones could shift to a station like 2SM, backing on to veteran broadcaster John Laws to bring ratings and revenue to the station.

Sandilands warned that a shift by Jones would have a flow-on effect to other programs throughout the day on 2GB because people in that listener bracket often tune in at breakfast and then don’t move the dial.

“(They don’t) fiddle around much,’’ he said of the AM listeners.

“I think they (2GB management) are very foolish not to have secured him already.

“It would be catastrophic for Jones to show up at another radio station.”

Sandilands said Jones could do what he and Jackie O did and pull massive ratings with him to another station. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Saturday that Jones has been eyeing rival offers after Macquarie Media left his contract negotiations to the last minute.

Wednesday is the final day for Macquarie to continue negotiations before Jones is free to consider rival offers.

Radio insiders believe Jones has the ability to broker a rival deal where he would be paid based on ratings and ad revenue, meaning a smaller station like 2SM could secure the broadcaster.

It would not be the first time Jones has staged a ratings coup.

Wednesday is the last day for negotiations before Jones is free to consider rival offers. Picture: John Feder

He left 2UE for 2GB at the end of 2001, when 2UE was rating with 19 per cent of the market share and 2GB was rating just 2 per cent.

By survey three of 2002, 2UE was rating 8 per cent and 2GB was rating 16 per cent.

2UE no longer exists, having been replaced by an all-sports network.

It was revealed on Monday that Jones has donated $10,000 to One Nation ahead of the state election. NSW One Nation candidate Mark Latham is expected to secure a spot in the NSW upper house in the poll.

Originally published as Kyle Sandilands warns Alan Jones shifting to another radio station could have flow-on effect