Christian O’Connell. Image: ARN
One of the hallmarks of Christian O’Connell’s radio success is that he doesn’t do things by halves. In fact, he does them in multiples of nineteen.
Today’s first national instalment of the Gold Network’s Christian O’Connell Show features not one but nineteen phone-in topics.
Today, as O’Connell and his on-air team of Riordan ‘Rio’ Lee, Patrina Jones and Alex Cullen made history by networking to Sydney and Melbourne on FM and across Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth via DAB+ – the phone topic theme was all about ‘firsts.’ First detention, first pet, first car, first lie, first heartbreak. You get the drift.
In welcoming his new national audience to what he referred to as ‘The bright side of the dial,’ O’Connell said:
“Good Morning Australia. This is the start of a brand new adventure for us, and for you as well.”
“Never in radio history in Australia has there been a national Breakfast show. Since I moved here and started on the radio here seven years ago, it never made any sense. How come these radio stations have a national Drive time show?”
“I was told by so many bosses these same people in the morning, they won’t have it.”
“I am aware that there’s a high chance what we’re starting today will be short-lived. But sometimes in life, a great short-lived thing is good too!”
The first song played was John Farnham’s rousing anthem You’re The Voice.
“Because we don’t make the show just FOR you,” O’Connell explained. “We make it WITH you.”
Yesterday, O’Connell took to social media explaining why January 19 will always be a special day in his heart.
“Because this has never, ever been done before in radio history.”
“For seven years, I’ve been dreaming of tomorrow. Would it ever happen? Would I get to take my radio show – which has been in Melbourne for seven years – to all of Australia? Five cities. One show.”
From 3 this afternoon, the previous long-time Sydney Breakfast team of Jonesy & Amanda start their new Drive show on ARN’s Gold network.