Perth radio station 96FM has outraged listeners by changing its line-up to include east coast-based programs Kyle and Jackie O and Hughesy and Kate.

The station became part of ARN’s KIIS FM Network in February after former owners Fairfax Media sold it for a reported $78 million.

At the time listeners were promised the station would retain its rock and roll format.

Hughesy and Kate might have the number one Drive program in Sydney but 96FM listeners were furious about the dumping of Drive presenter Darren de Mello in favour of network programming earlier this week and took to the station’s Facebook page to express their anger.

The station's response was to delete any posts criticising the line-up change and then disable comments. Some listeners claim to have been removed from the station’s Facebook page entirely.

Listener Mike Jolley wrote: “I have been listening to this station since 1983 and have never wavered, even through the Triple M years when things could have been better but, I'm sorry to say you've lost me with the new format. The constant repeats, the so called ‘real music’ that's so far from real and this p*** poor excuse for a drive show is the final straw”.

Lyn Green said: “Not liking Hughesy and Kate on my drive home. Have changed channel for the arvo drive. Too much talking and no music”.

Others have criticised the station’s shrinking playlist, meaning more repeats and less music variety.

An ARN spokesman said: “96FM staff are able to use their discretion when it comes to removing posts, comments and content that are offensive or abusive and some of these were removed yesterday.

“We are absolutely listening to our audiences and we want to know what they think. We’ve had a lot of feedback so far, both on and offline, and we’ll continually be reviewing this.

“Hughesy & Kate have been on-air in Perth for less than a week but we feel that loyal 96FM listeners will soon embrace them like our audiences in Brisbane and Adelaide who made the switch earlier this year also and, in less than two surveys, made Hughesy & Kate the country’s most popular Drive show.

“96FM is a strong performer in the Perth market and we won’t be taking any actions to disrupt this and we really feel the addition of Hughesy & Kate into the station’s line up marks an important and positive step for 96FM’s positioning in the market.”

Under Fairfax Media the station knocked Mix94.5 off mantle as Perth’s number one station in July 2012 and again a year later.

Veteran presenter Darren de Mello, who had been hosting Drive, left the station on June 19 and has since joined 6IX.

The 96FM line-up change was announced last Monday, June 15. One the official release Kate Langbroek (of Hughesy and Kate) indicated she was pleased to be broadcasting into WA.

“Can’t wait to make Perth suffer like the rest of the country,” she said.

Fans of the network seem less pleased about it.

Read Marketing & Media in Friday's West Australian.