GfK Survey 4: What’s at stake for Kyle & Jackie O?

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Image supplied by ARN

At what point can a radio show in a particular market legitimately be declared a failure?

GfK Survey 4 is out tomorrow and – six months into the year and with six months of audience sentiment – it’s shaping up as the most important book for ARN, according to experienced content and music executive Irene Hulme.

Front of mind will be the numbers for Kyle & Jackie O in Melbourne. As Hulme points out on the latest Game Changers Radio podcast, with the cume trend for K & J already down, one more drop is going to make it very hard to defend the strategy.

Hulme tells Radio Today “Four surveys in, we’re seeing a trend, not a ratings blip.”

And with Survey 5 not out until September, Hulme says tomorrow’s result will be critical, both strategically and commercially.

“For Kyle & Jackie O in Melbourne, Survey 4 will tell us if they’re starting to stabilise or if 2025’s a failure.”

“These results are really the last chance to influence 2026 plans, including networking K & J into additional markets and the possible expansion of Melbourne’s The Christian O’Connell Show, if the speculation is true.”

“Plus, a strong performance in Survey 4 will likely impact commercial outcomes for the remainder of the year.”

ARN CEO Ciaran Davis himself recently described K & J’s Melbourne launch as an “unmitigated disaster.”

Whilst K & J remain a breakfast radio powerhouse in Sydney, the most recent survey saw them slip to a 5.1 share in Melbourne – shedding 30,000 in cume – and placing them below the ABC and just one point clear of AM sport station SEN.

Will ARN continue to tell us they’re in it for the long haul? Probably. But even they know there’s a difference between long and endless.

The Magnificent Seven

Meanwhile, The Game Changers Radio podcast is taking votes for the best music announcer currently on Australian radio.

The Game Changers team has narrowed the list down to ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ which includes Nic Kelly (Hit Network Nights), Tim Lee (The Fox), Gordie Waters (KIIS), Mel Tracina (Nova), Dave ‘Higgo’ Higgins (Gold 104.3), Ellie Angel Mobbs (B105) and ‘Dangerous’ Dave Williams (Triple M Melbourne).

You can cast your vote here via the Game Changers Radio Instagram page.

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Recent comments (4)
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AussieCam58
21 Jul 2025 - 9:53 am

This will be the make or break ratings in my opinion. 12 months on and no real change in figures.

ARN Shareholder
21 Jul 2025 - 9:54 am

ARN SHARE PRICE

Today: $0.45c

Six months ago: $0.68c

One year ago: $0.68c

Two years ago: $1.03

Three years ago: $1.39

Ty Mentemp
21 Jul 2025 - 3:59 pm

Thank god Dunc still has a job , one wonders why ?

SydneyCityTV
21 Jul 2025 - 4:54 pm

From a Sydney perspective, it’s pretty obvious to be that Survey #4 is likely to result in 2GB and Smooth consolidating their positions in the market.

KIIS 1065 may remain (more or less) steady here, while 101.1 continues to perform absolutely disastrously in Melbourne. 702 ABC Radio Sydney might get a slight increase as a result of the Election + its aftermath, questions will be raised if there’s another ratings fall.

Gold 101.7 will likely see a decline in its post-9am ratings during the coming surveys, as the output quality has declined since daytime networking began in April. I mean, what’s with that tacky transition sound effect after every ad break nowadays?

Nova down slightly, Triple M 104.9 continuing to go nowhere.

2DayFM will be sweating on a ratings increase, as this will be the first full survey the “Today AF” format has been running for. Jimmy & Nath with Emma need to crack 4% if their brekky show is to still be on-air in Spring, I think.

Classic Hits 2UE may go down as a result of recent presenter reshuffles, was there really any explanation given as to why Dave Ferguson (who I thought was one of their better performing shifts) completely disappeared in favour of having just music after 7pm?

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