Canberra Ratings: Hit 104.7 narrows gap as Mix remains #1

Hit 104.7 in Canberra has continued to make gains, climbing 1.9 points to a 14.8% share.

In Survey 1 of this year, the station – a joint venture by SCA and ARN but programmed in line with SCA’s Hit Network – had 11.0%. In Survey 2, this climbed to 12.9%.

Market leader Mix 106.3 – also a JV – started the year on 17.6%. This climbed to 18.3% last survey, but fell back to 17.1% this time around.

ABC Canberra also suffered a fall, down 1.9 points to 12.6%, while youth station triple j made gains (up 0.2 to 10.1%), as did 2CA (up 0.8 to 8.5%) and 2CC (up 1.6 to 6.0%).

Chris ‘Becko’ Beckhouse recently became 2CA’s program announcer and Workday announcer.

His appointment took effect on August 30, however this Survey measures the period of April 25 to June 19, and July 18 to September 11.

In Breakfast, despite Mix’s overall fall, the station made gains.

Kristen Davidson and Nigel Johnson (Kristen & Nige) climbed 0.5 points to 17.1%. This made it the clear leader in Breakfast.

Both ABC stations, which had been equal #1 and #3 in Breakfast, suffered falls.

ABC Canberra, last survey equal with Mix on 16.6%, fell 2.2 points. This left host Lish Fejer with a 14.4% share.

ABC Radio National Breakfast with Fran Kelly fell from 14.0% to 10.9%, a dip of 3.1 points.

This, combined with Hit’s climb of 1.3 points in the slot, shuffled the rankings.

Hit’s Ned Breward and Josh Torney (Ned & Josh) climbed 1.3 points to an 11.8% share. In Survey 1, the show had 9.5%, while ABC Canberra had 18.7%.

In Drive, as measured by GfK (4pm to 7pm), Mix actually lost its lead, dipping 0.5 points to 18.0%, while the Hit Network continued its recovery.

Hit had a spectacular fall in Survey 1, falling 10.8 points from 22.7% to 11.9%. In Survey 2, this recovered 3.4 points to 15.3%. And this time around, it was up a further 3.8 to 19.1%, taking back the #1 position.

Both stations, however, have Drive programs which run from 3pm to 6pm. By this measure, Mix’s Wilko & Courts – fronted by Neil ‘Wilko’ Wilcock and Courtney Kneen – had a 20.4% share. Hit’s Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little, Carrie & Tommy, had 19.3%.

Rod Cuddihy, content director at Canberra FM, which oversees both Mix and Hit in the region, said he was humbled by the result.

“Keeping Canberrans up to date, safe and entertained during the region’s first major lockdown was our priority over the past couple of months. It’s been our privilege to keep our listeners company during one of our city’s most challenging periods, and I am truly humbled that Canberrans have chosen Mix 106.3 and Hit 104.7 as their favourite stations with their favourite personalities.”

Craig Wagstaff, general manager, echoed the sentiment.

“Amid what has certainly been an unusual period for our region, it’s definitely rewarding for our entire team to again hold the #1 and #2 positions from a range of perspectives within the survey data released today,” he said.

“Our intentions remain to immerse ourselves and our stations into the community as we remain sincerely appreciative for the continued support we receive, through all manner of circumstances – be it from our audiences and/ or our commercial partners, many of whom share the genuine gratitude as held by our team to the community, the business sector and our not-for-profit/ community partners.”