ARN has signed two of the most influential and recognisable figures in Australian media, with Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire set to join the network to create a major new entertainment format.
Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire will join forces to co-create The Long Weekend – a bold new weekly news, sport and entertainment format designed to be full of opinion, energy and perspective.
The format promises three hours of great music, unmissable banter, big personalities, big opinions, and no-holds-barred discussions that will set the tone for the weekend ahead.
The Long Weekend will see two of the biggest names in Australian media discuss the biggest news, sport and entertainment moments of the week, joined by guests at the centre of the stories shaping the national conversation.
The Long Weekend is the first Australian-produced audio and video format with Australian distribution across broadcast radio, live radio streaming, podcast, social, free-to-air streaming, premium SVOD and global distribution across the iHeart network.
The Long Weekend will be broadcast live on the GOLD Network, Fridays 12-3pm across Australia, live streamed and on demand on iHeart, amplified on all social platforms and available via the iHeart global Network in New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, the United States and the UK.
This exciting new format will also be available on Australia’s leading video streaming platforms 9Now and Stan.
This announcement is a major statement from ARN as it builds momentum behind its ambition to become an entertainment business focussed on the creation and distribution of audio, video and social content and the development of in real life experiences for audiences and brands.
In a further extension of the landmark partnership, ARN and McGuire Media will collaborate on a new sport focused iHeart original podcast series for global distribution across the iHeart network. Both formats will be produced in partnership with JAM TV, Eddie McGuire’s production company.
Michael Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer of ARN, said: “Karl and Eddie are two of the biggest stars in Australian media and they are now at ARN. The Long Weekend is an excellent example of our strategy coming to life, premium audio and video content distributed across every platform, amplified on social and distributed across the globe on the iHeart Network. This is going to be brilliant.”
Kerri Elstub, Chief Content Officer of ARN, said: “I’ve known Karl for 20 years from his first day on Today. When big moments happen, there is no one better – he has a unique ability to relate to Australian audiences. Eddie needs no introduction. His influence and broadcasting prowess is legendary. I can’t wait to show you what they can do together.”
Eddie McGuire said: “This is a wonderful new chapter. Karl and I have been talking about working together for years, and to do it on this scale, nationally on GOLD, internationally on iHeart, on 9Now and Stan and with JAM TV as a production partner is a once in a career opportunity. We’re going to bring our audience along to wherever the big news, sport and entertainment is happening, with great music in between. Karl is one of my closest mates in the industry. Now we get to do this together. Off we go.”
Karl Stefanovic said: “Since I was born, I’ve been a student of radio and announcers. The intimacy of the medium is powerful. Working with Eddie makes it even more exciting for me. We’ve been friends for a long time. We are both ready to disrupt the status quo and let me tell you, we’ll have plenty of fun along the way. God, don’t we all need that. ARN have given us this opportunity, now watch us go and have a proper crack.”
The Long Weekend will launch on June 19, 2026.