Bickmore and Little to Depart Southern Cross Austereo
The radio duo will conclude their decade-long partnership with the Hit Network on 11 December 2026.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Tennis
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Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little will finish their tenure at Southern Cross Austereo on 11 December 2026. The pair has hosted the Hit Network national drive show for 10 years.
Why it matters
The departure marks a significant shift for the Hit Network, which currently relies on the show as its third most-listened-to national radio programme. The network is expected to announce its new drive-time strategy for 2027 following the exit.
The programme reached an average of 125,000 listeners across five capital cities in the latest ratings survey. It holds a rank as the third most-listened-to network show on Australian radio.
The players
Carrie Bickmore
She is a prominent Australian television and radio presenter known for her long-standing role on national drive-time radio.
Tommy Little
He is an Australian comedian and radio personality who has served as a co-host for the Hit Network's drive show.
Southern Cross Austereo
It is one of Australia's largest media companies, operating the Hit and Triple M radio networks nationwide.
Matthew O'Reilly
He serves as the head of broadcast content at Southern Cross Austereo.
The details
Matthew O'Reilly confirmed the departure via an internal email to Southern Cross Austereo staff on 21 October 2026. The duo, who moved from the Nova network to join the broadcaster in January 2017, will complete their final broadcast before the end of the year.
Timeline
January 2017: Bickmore and Little joined Southern Cross Austereo.
21 October 2026: The head of broadcast content issued an internal notification email.
22 October 2026: SCA announces the 2027 national drive show lineup.
11 December 2026: The duo airs their final radio show.
2027: Bickmore is rumoured to join the ARN network.
Season Trajectory
The show's performance data is measured against the GfK radio ratings survey, which tracks listener engagement across major Australian markets. This departure significantly alters the competitive landscape for the 2027 radio season as the Hit Network recalibrates its national drive-time strategy.
Listeners can expect a full change in the drive-time broadcast schedule starting in the new year. The shift removes the third-ranked show from the current network lineup, potentially affecting morning and afternoon drive-time programme availability for commuters.
The takeaway
Audience habits often shift during major talent transitions in the national radio market. Listeners should monitor network announcements in early 2027 to see how their preferred local drive-time programming evolves.
What happens next
Southern Cross Austereo is scheduled to announce the 2027 national drive show lineup on 22 October 2026.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in Australian sports and media, visit the Tennis section.
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