Following mounting speculation, Australian Radio Network (ARN) has confirmed the breakfast team of its rebranded Melbourne Kiis101.1 station will be the new pairing of Matt Tilley and Jane Hall.
ARN announced earlier this week it was rebranding its Melbourne Mix101.1 station in 2015 under the Kiis banner which it launched in Sydney at the beginning of this year, to counter low ratings. ARN content director Duncan Campbell told AdNews at the time, its strategy would be to "bookend" its Melbourne show with a new nationally syndicated show in drive, consisting of Dave "Hughsey" Hughes and Kate Langbroek, as well as a new team specifically for its Melbourne breakfast time slot.
Tilley had previously worked at Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M station, as part of its drive show, The One Percenters, which he hosted with Joe Hildebrand. He and Hildebrand were shifted from the spot last week when Triple M announced Merrick Watts and an unnamed presenter would be taking the drive slot in 2015, due to poor ratings.
Hall has been presenting breakfast on Mix with Chrissie Swan since 2012. ARN announced as part of the changes, Swan would be leaving the ARN network.
“Kiis 101.1 will be a new station built specifically for Melbourne listeners with an exciting new breakfast show hosted by Matt and Jane. They will make for a dynamic and entertaining combination with a passion for the city set against the backdrop of a new energetic station,” Campbell said.
“The proven strength and audience connection of Hughesy and Kate in drive, combined with the fresh new on-air breakfast team of Matt Tilley and Jane Hall, puts Kiis 101.1 in a powerful position to shake things up in Melbourne from January next year."
It follows a number of reshuffles in the radio schedule going into next year, including SCA's shakeup of its Sydney team which will see Dan and Maz taking on the breakfast slot, and Hamish and Andy hosting a nationally syndicated drive show.
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