Welcome back to Radioinfo for 2025.

After a glorious day watching Australia regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India at the SCG, and radio and podcasting’s thriving role in broadcasting the test matches and commentary, I then invited myself to be part of Chris Smith’s return to commercial talk radio on the Super Radio Network station 2SM the following day.

The new owners of the Super Radio Network, brother and sister George Caralis and Despina Priala, ably assisted by their first key appointment, group general manager Graham Miles, are leaning into the new year and what it holds for them. Unlike some of their competition, including ABC Radio Sydney who still haven’t announced their replacement for Sarah Macdonald in the same morning spot as Chris Smith, they are encouraging everyone to be part of their planning, lineup and listening with effective promotion that their famously economical father Bill Caralis would be proud of.

Before I get to Chris’s first day, a week earlier than most metro talent will return, and a good move to allow him to ease into the role, I thought I’d put forward some thoughts on what I anticipate we’ll see in radio-land in 2025.

There is significant goodwill towards the Super Radio Network at present. Similarly towards the also family owned ACE Radio Network (who I’ll come back to) and the larger organisation Nova Entertainment. While this positive sentiment has something to do with opportune hirings, staff support and ratings growth and success, it is equally affected by the opposite actions from rival networks SCA, ARN and the ABC. The latter three, across the large-scale networking of Triple M, Kyle and Jackie O’s thus far lack of abundant success in Melbourne on KIIS 101.1, and the ongoing fall out of the loss of the previously mention Sarah and Simon Marnie from ABC Radio Sydney respectively, means they start 2025 on the back foot, giving the others a heck of a head start.

I would suggest that Nine Radio sits on even ground. The new 2GB morning presenter Mark Levy is already on air too, a role he would normally cover when his predecessor Ray Hadley took his summer break. With established names like Ray, Chris O’Keefe from Drive, Gary Adstead on Perth 6PR mornings and virtually the whole Brisbane 4BC team either departing or shifting, Nine starts 2025 with a near blank slate and a very significant savings in their wages that they will want to use to recruit new faces judiciously.

2025 will also feature a federal election.

After a bounty of summer cricket, attention will very shortly turn to when that election will be held with campaigning starting in earnest. Radio always thrives in this environment, talk particularly, and it was wise that the Super Radio Network have led with Chris Smith’s experience with the election timeline, wrangling politicians and leading the associated national conversation, in their promotion.

It’s been a while since I’ve been present for the launch of a show like Chris Smith’s. I’ll sound like Denis Denuto in one of my favourite movies The Castle here, but there was something about the vibe and the constitution of the man, studios, and the 2SM building in particular. Everything felt electric, so much so that internet connectivity went AWOL. The phones were ringing so frantically I kept feeling compelled to put my old producer hat on and patch calls through.

Chris started by paying tribute to Bill Caralis and the family network that now supports him. Then he was right back into it with his theme song selection apt. Fleetwood Mac‘s Don’t Stop and the lyrics, “yesterday’s gone, don’t you look back.”

He isn’t.

Old friends checked in, like Tim, the avocado farmer, who said:

“There’s something special about talk radio. I hope that you’re unshackled to talk about things. I know it’s a careful line you must tread at a radio station but people want to hear the free sharing of ideas and opinions. I’m glad to have you back to do that here.” 

Jacques Laxale, who with Chris’s support was part of a ruckus that helped get rid of the carbon tax, added:

“There’s no one who can interview like you, who gets through to people and asks the questions we want answered.”

2SM and the Super Radio Network have also launched a reinvigorated website, and associated app, alongside the new lineups including Ron Wilson who will start on 2SM breakfast the following week Monday January 13. Chris had a get to know each other breakfast with Ron saying:

“We are not here to make up the numbers. We are here to make a difference.”

This online presence is a giant leap forward from the previous SRN status quo where Bill Caralis kept all the details in his head and saw no reason to change or embrace modern technology. It is a collaboration between the SRN and ACE Radio Network. ACE, as mentioned, is similarly family owned. They have been active in their support of Despina, George and Graham’s success, so much so that ACE’s Chief Marketing Officer Grant Johnstone guided them in establishing what you now see here: https://2sm.com.au/

If there is such as thing as karma, both networks deserve the rub of the green.

Alongside the website, promotion of the new Chris Smith show took to the skies.

Jason, who was out somewhere near Manly, called in to suggest that the plane flying overhead was perhaps were in the wrong NRL demographic for Chris, a known Rabbitohs supporter. But, Jason added, everyone was looking up, and listening in.

Then Barbara called in and expressed her nerves at being on air. Most of the interactions previously were with people who have spoken with Chris many times before. This will change as Chris beds in, and people invest in the program. Chris confessed to Barbara that he too was nervous on this momentous first day, saying:

“Take a deep breath, breathe out, and see your time on the radio as an opportunity, not a persecution.”

Words I’m sure he said to himself.

He wrapped up with the familiar Green Day Time of Your Lives theme and, as he headed to Dianne Coveny-Garland and the news, he stayed in the studio to savour the morning a little bit longer. The phones started up their ringing again and my fingers their itching to answer, with people just wanting to say thank you, they were listening, good luck and best wishes.

My feelings too to our readers, and the people of the broadcast and podcast industries. Radioinfo will be back on deck proper next week Monday January 13.

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.

Related report: Chris Smith on Mornings at Super Radio Network