Nine Radio Sold for $56M to Pub Tycoon Arthur Laundy amid QMS Acquisition

Rowan Ashford

Published: January 29, 2026 10:11 PM ET

Nine Radio Sold for $56M to Pub Tycoon Arthur Laundy amid QMS Acquisition

Nine Entertainment has sold its radio network to billionaire pub mogul Arthur Laundy for $56 million. This decision follows the company’s shift towards outdoor advertising amid declining performance in the radio sector.

Details of the Sale to Arthur Laundy

The sale involves some notable stations, including:

3AW, Melbourne’s leading talk station
2GB, Sydney’s prominent station

Along with the stations, several high-profile presenters are part of the transaction, including Ben Fordham and Tom Elliott. Laundy, with a net worth of $1.75 billion, operates over 40 pubs in New South Wales. He is also the father of former Liberal MP Craig Laundy and reality TV personality Stu Laundy.

Value Shift in Media Investments

The sale price of $56 million is significantly lower than the network’s valuation seven years ago, when it was worth $275 million as Macquarie Media. The drop indicates profound changes in the media landscape.

At that time, the network boasted stars like Ray Hadley, who retired last year, and Alan Jones, who is currently facing serious legal issues. As Nine struggles with a wider decline in the radio industry, many media analysts highlight a shift in audience demographics. Digital platforms have begun capturing younger listeners, leaving traditional broadcasters vying for an aging baby boomer audience.

Strategic Shift to Outdoor Advertising

Simultaneously, Nine invested $850 million in acquiring QMS, a major outdoor advertising company. This move, alongside the sale, reflects a departure from radio as a core business focus for Nine. The sale is expected to generate about $50 million in cash after accounting for transaction costs and debts.

Impact on Company Structure

CEO Matt Stanton aims to create a more efficient and digitally focused Nine Group. Analysts, however, offer contrasting views; while Nine steps back from radio, competitors like Seven West Media and Southern Cross Austereo promote the medium as a prospective growth area.

Many within Nine’s publishing division, which includes major outlets such as The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, expressed relief over the radio station’s sale. They had often felt at odds with the station’s right-leaning outlook.