“A very strong result for 2GB in a very tough market.” Greg Byrnes on GfK Survey 3

Tapt Media's Greg Byrnes. Image supplied

It’s been happening for so long now that nobody blinks an eye. But Tapt Media’s National Content boss Greg Byrnes still marvels and the kind of ratings figures 3AW’s Ross & Russ continue to pull in Melbourne Breakfast.

Case in point: Today – in GfK Survey 3 for the year – they’re up to a 19.1 share. Extraordinary as that number might be, thesedays it’s simply seen as the norm for the city’s longstanding overall #1 brekky team.

In his post-survey interview with Radioinfo’s Steve Ahern, Byrnes says it’s been a great opening book for Nine’s newly-rebranded stable of talk stations.

Cumes are up at Sydney’s 2GB – however there was a significant drop in share.

“That cume has held,” notes Byrnes. “Ben (Fordham’s) cume last survey in Breakfast was at a four-year high … which was over 500,000.”

“He’s effectively held that today. It is down a little.”

Byrnes points out that Time Spent Listening is down right across the board.

“But Mornings are still doing 13s. Ben’s up over 15. Afternoons – 10-plus. Drive with Clinton (Maynard) is holding.”

“Overall it’s been a really strong result for 2GB today in a very tough market.”

Streaming numbers remain strong.

“Yeah, they’re absolutely extraordinary,” says Byrnes. “You know, Ben’s doing over a 40 share. Ross and Russ over 45. And I think a lot of that is because of the listening experience on streaming. It evens us up. Certainly takes the AM/FM factor out. And, much like DAB+, it’s just a better way to listen.”

Byrnes says streaming represents a real growth opportunity for the company, both in the traditional radio sense and also digitally, via podcasting and video.

Byrnes was chuffed with Tapt Media’s swag of wins at the recent Australian Audio Awards.

He’s particularly proud of Tapt Media’s triumph in the Best Specialist News Program category, and 2GB’s compelling yet sensitive coverage of the Bondi shooting tragedy.

“2GB stood up, and that recognition was well deserved and wonderful for the teams.”