Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson are heading to Melbourne in 2026, with an expanded edition of their $100k Ball Drop, as the city continues to be the breakfast duo’s most challenging market.
Officially announcing the news on air, Sandilands said: “We’re back, Melbourne. And we’re ready to drop all these balls from the Kyle & Jackie O helicopter. We’re making it rain cash, diamond bracelets, Visa gift cards, you name it.”
Henderson added, “Last year was such a smash hit, so we knew we had to come back bigger with more balls, more prizes and more chaos. Everyone is going to be walking away a winner.”
The move marks a clear shift from Sandilands’ early stance on Melbourne, when he openly rejected the idea of adapting the show to local tastes. At the time, he dismissed the usual on-the-ground rituals – from riding trams to pledging loyalty to an AFL club – as unnecessary window dressing.
“I said, ‘No effin’ way,’” Sandilands said at the time. “Why would I be on a tram? I don’t do public transport. That’s not my thing … we’re not gonna march into town and try all this hokey local rubbish.”
Cracking the Melbourne audience
The refreshed focus on the tightly-held Melbourne audience arrives as the latest radio results show renewed pressure on the KIIS Melbourne breakfast show. Survey 8 data showed the duo’s Melbourne share slipped from 5.5 to 5.0, while KIIS 101.1 recorded a modest overall rebound, rising from 5.2 to 5.4.
This year’s larger Ball Drop marks the second year of the promotion, following its debut in 2025. The live event, presented by Coinspot, will take place on Friday, 30 January at Frankston Centenary Tennis Club.
The activation will see 120 listeners from Sydney and Melbourne gather on court as hundreds of foam tennis balls are dropped from the Kyle & Jackie O helicopter, each containing a guaranteed prize.
How Kyle and Jackie O’s Ball Drop works
Each participant will collect two foam balls, with prizes revealed live on air by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson after the drop.
Major prizes include $20,000 and $10,000 cash, alongside five diamond tassel tennis bracelets valued at more than $6,000 each, supplied by K’dor.
Listeners keen to take part can register via the KIIS 1065 and KIIS 101.1 websites, with only successful entrants selected to attend the Melbourne event.
Top image: Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson