ABC Radio stations will disappear from the Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) iHeartRadio app next month, as Aunty reviews how its live services are distributed across third-party platforms.
All ABC stations now carry a notice on iHeartRadio stating they will be removed on February 4, 2026, ending their presence on the ARN-owned streaming platform.
In a statement to Mediaweek, an ABC spokesperson said:
“The ABC is undertaking a planned review of how its live radio services are distributed on some third-party platforms, as part of ensuring a reliable and consistent listener experience. ABC audiences will continue to be able to access all ABC stations via ABC Listen and across key connected devices and third-party platforms.”
Platform sprawl and feed reliability
While the ABC has not detailed the technical triggers behind the move, industry sources point to a long-running issue across smart speakers and app-based radio platforms: when a station is available through multiple aggregation layers, devices can struggle to pull the correct stream.
In practice, that can mean listeners receive the wrong feed, experience delays, or encounter silence – especially when multiple versions of the same station exist across different platforms.
Reducing the number of third-party distribution points can simplify that pathway, lowering the risk of feed misfires and improving end-user reliability – a priority for any broadcaster operating at a national scale.
Rights, reach, and regional limits
Sports broadcasting adds another layer of complexity.
The ABC holds numerous rights agreements for football and cricket that restrict where live commentary can be streamed.
Each additional app that carries those feeds increases the risk of geo-restricted content being delivered into markets where it is not licensed to air.
When that happens, platforms can be forced to abruptly cut streams, replace them with silence, or block access entirely – an outcome that undermines listener trust and creates compliance headaches.
Data control in the streaming economy
Audience measurement is also part of the calculus.
Many broadcasters prefer to keep streaming data within their own analytics ecosystems, rather than dispersing it across multiple third-party platforms with different reporting standards, metrics, and commercial frameworks.
Consolidating listening through owned platforms – such as ABC listen – gives the broadcaster clearer visibility over usage patterns, engagement, and reach, while reducing reliance on external data partners.
What happens next
The ABC has not confirmed whether additional platforms will be affected by the review, or whether the iHeartRadio exit is the first of several distribution changes.
Mediaweek has reached out to iHeartRadio for comment.