Radio Ratings
BY Staff Writer April 18, 2024
Radio Ratings December 8, 2020
Radio Ratings: Kyle & Jackie O end 20th anniversary in double digits
Welcome to Radio Today’s coverage of the latest metro radio survey of 2020.
After a disruptive year, and just two consecutive books, the curtain is about to close – and nobody is complaining. The results from GfK’s metro Survey 8 will be published below at 9:30am AEDT.
Survey 8 was conducted by GfK between September 20 and November 28.
Hit the refresh button throughout the day for all the key takeaways from each metro market, and later in the week, we’ll bring you chats with content directors from the major networks.
Editor Vivienne Kelly and publisher Jake Challenor will also bring you all the highlights from today’s results on the Radio Today Tonight on Thursday afternoon.
Meantime, you can circle back to Survey 7 here and past radio ratings analysis here.
SYDNEY:
#1 FM Overall: smoothfm
#1 AM Overall: 2GB
#1 FM Breakfast: KIIS’s Kyle & Jackie O
#1 AM Breakfast: 2GB’s Ben Fordham
#1 FM Drive: Smooth’s Byron Webb
#1 AM Drive: 2GB’s Jim Wilson
Biggest Mover Up: KIIS (+1.0)
Biggest Mover Down: WSFM (-1.0)
Sydney’s 2Day FM Music For Breakfast format has bowed out with a slight increase in audience share, climbing from 3.5% last survey to 4.2% this survey.
The show, anchored by programming veteran Jamie Angel, will be replaced in 2020 by The Morning Crew featuring Ed Kavalee, Dave Hughes and Channel 9’s Erin Molan.
Kavalee and Hughes currently occupy part of the Drive slot, appearing after Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little, who will take on an extended program next year.
In Drive in Sydney 2Day’s share climbed 1.3 points to 5.1%.
Overall, in people 10+, the station’s share was 4.0%, up from 3.4% last survey.
KIIS 106.5’s The Kyle & Jackie O Show remained on top of the FM Breakfast pile, with an 11.3% share, up from 10.7%. The radio veterans have just celebrated 20 years on air together.
Its nearest competitor was NOVA Entertainment’s smoothfm which had 7.9%, down from 8.5%.
Overall, however, Nine Radio’s 2GB managed to stay on top, with a 17.1% share in the Breakfast slot occupied by Ben Fordham – an increase of 1.0 points. The 17.1% share carried over to Mornings with Ray Hadley, a minimal 0.1 point drop.
In overall share, 2GB had 13.8%, up 0.1 points.
MELBOURNE:
#1 FM Overall: Gold FM
#1 AM Overall: 3AW
#1 FM Breakfast: Gold’s Christian O’Connell
#1 AM Breakfast: 3AW’s Ross & Russel
#1 FM Drive: Gold’s Gavin Miller*
#1 AM Drive: 3AW’s Tom Elliott
Biggest Mover Up: Fox (+1.5) (updated)
Biggest Mover Down: ABC (-1.3)
The Fifi, Fev & Byron show on Melbourne’s Fox FM was one of a few key shows from across the country to have its final outing this survey.
It wrapped up with a 6.6% share, up 1.6 points from last survey when many hit music stations were hit by changing listener habits in Melbourne.
In the FM Breakfast battle, GOLD 104.3’s Christian O’Connell maintained his lead, climbing 0.2 points to a 7.5% share.
And despite a 3.4 point drop, nothing could touch 3AW’s Breakfast with Ross & Russel, which was well ahead with a 25.o% share.
3AW was also untouchable overall, dropping one point to 19.6%, taking out the audience share win.
In FM, Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) GOLD stayed on top, climbing 0.1 points to 9.0%.
BRISBANE:
#1 FM Overall: Nova
#1 AM Overall: 4KQ*
#1 FM Breakfast: Nova’s Ash, Kip & Luttsy with Susie O’Neill
#1 AM Breakfast: 4KQ’s Laurel, Gary & Mark*
#1 FM Drive: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Joel
#1 AM Drive: ABC Radio’s Steve Austin
Biggest Mover Up: 4KQ (+2.3)
Biggest Mover Down: 4BC (-1.6)
Nova 106.9 is still the reigning radio champion in Brisbane, with an overall 12.5% share, up 0.6 points. Its closest competitor is Southern Cross Austereo’s (SCA) Triple M, which climbed 0.9 points to 11.0%.
Both managed to also secure a climb in Breakfast, with Nova’s Ash, Kip & Luttsy with Susie O’Neill climbing 0.4 points to 13.0%, and Triple M’s The Big Breakfast with Marto, Margaux and Nick Cody going up 0.8 points to 10.6%.
Next year, Cody will depart Triple M Brisbane to join Fox FM in Melbourne alongside Fifi Box and Brendan Fevola.
97.3 FM, which at one point last year topped the Breakfast ratings battle, had an 8.2% share in Breakfast with its revived lineup of Robin, Terry & Bob. This was a decline of 0.8 points, and also placed it behind B105’s Stav, Abby & Matt, on 9.3% (down 0.9 points).
The most popular station in Drive was once again Nova, climbing 2.2 points to 15.9%. The survey covers the Kate, Tim & Joel iteration of the show, which kicked off on 14 September. The survey period started on September 20.
ADELAIDE:
#1 FM Overall: Mix
#1 AM Overall: ABC Radio*
#1 FM Breakfast: Mix’s Jodie & Soda / Triple M’s Roo & Ditts*
#1 AM Breakfast: ABC Radio’s Ali Clarke
#1 FM Drive: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Joel
#1 AM Drive: Cruise 1323’s Mark Elliston (updated)
Biggest Mover Up: ABC Radio (+1.4)
Biggest Mover Down: Mix (-1.7)
Mix 102.3’s Breakfast program with Jodie Oddy and Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom has finished up its run with a 10.6% share.
For years the show has been a survey-topper in terms of audience share, however briefly lost the top spot to new kids on the block Ben Harvey and Liam Stapelton, from Ben & Liam on Nova, when surveys returned after the COVID-pause.
Last survey, Jodie & Soda returned to the top of the pile, however on November 19 it was announced Oddy was leaving immediately. Her replacement has not yet been confirmed.
This last survey for 2020 encompasses the period of September 20 to November 28.
Jodie & Soda’s 10.6% share, down 1.9 points from last survey, puts it on par with Triple M in the Breakfast slot. Roo & Ditts climbed 1.1 points from last survey to match the 10.6% share.
Ben & Liam dropped one point to 9.7% putting it behind Mix and Triple M in the FM Breakfast battle.
Overall Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) Mix 102.3 fell 1.7 points, but remained on top with an 11.7% share.
PERTH:
#1 FM Overall – Nova*
#1 AM Overall – ABC Radio*
#1 FM Breakfast – Nova: Nathan, Nat & Shaun
#1 AM Breakfast – ABC Radio: Nadia Mitsopoulos & Russell Woolf*
#1 FM Drive – Nova: Kate, Tim & Joel
#1 AM Drive – 6PR: Oliver Peterson
Biggest Mover Up: ABC Radio (+1.9)
Biggest Mover Down: 96FM (-1.9)
The Perth radio market is in for a shakeup next year, with the final survey of 2020 giving a snapshot of where the stations sit ahead of the changes.
96FM had a glorious return to the top of the pile last survey, however suffered a 1.9 point drop this time around, placing it at 11.3% in terms of audience share. This enabled Nova to climb to the top, with a 1.8 point climb to 14.3%.
Southern Cross Austereo’s (SCA) Mix 94.5 also finished ahead of 96FM, remaining steady on 12.0%.
Mix 94.5, however, became part of the Hit Network on December 1 – after the survey period. Its long-serving Breakfast co-host Dean ‘Clairy’ Clairs also announced his departure on November 27. He will be replaced by Pete Curulli.
Curulli had been part of the Hit 92.9 Breakfast team of Xavier, Juelz & Pete. 92.9 has subsequently become part of the Triple M network, with its Breakfast plans not yet clear.
In Breakfast, Nova’s Nathan, Nat & Shaun climbed 1.9 points to a dominant 15.9%, while Mix was in second with 10.8%. Hit 92.9 had 9.0%, while Botica’s Bunch on 96FM was down 1.6 points to 8.3%.
6PR, which will also have a new Breakfast lineup in 2021 following the departure of Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, had a 10.8% share in Breakfast.
Stations and shows marked with an asterisks [*] signal a change from the last survey.
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4KQ out-rating 97.3 in Brisbane.
Are the alarm bells ringing at ARN yet?
97.3 now No. 5 in a city with only 4 FM stations.
Cruise No. 3 in Adelaide beating 3 out of the 4 FM stations! Cruise is the No. 2 commercial station in Adelaide.
When will ARN actually promote 4KQ and Cruise and push the DAB+ aspect. They could both be No. 1 in their markets.
By the way, Radio Today, how come your commentary doesn’t mention 4KQ or Cruise and how they are beating FM stations in their markets?
Hi BC,
Just a time-pressure thing on my end. We’ll be able to go into more detail in the podcast.
Thanks,
Vivienne – Radio Today
It really is time for Smooth 97.3 in Brisbane.
Fox was the biggest jump in Melbourne (not Smooth) up 1.5!
Thanks, Chantelle.
Updated.
Vivienne – Radio Today
4KQ out-rating 97.3 in Brisbane.
Are the alarm bells ringing at ARN yet?
97.3 now No. 5 in a city with only 4 FM stations.
Cruise No. 3 in Adelaide beating 3 out of the 4 FM stations! Cruise is the No. 2 commercial station in Adelaide.
When will ARN actually promote 4KQ and Cruise and push the DAB+ aspect. They could both be No. 1 in their markets.
BTW I think Radio Today are remiss by not actually pointing out how well 4KQ and Cruise are doing, despite the handicap of being music stations stuck on AM/DAB+. Your commentary seems to be mostly about FM.
Hi BC,
I addressed this concern in a previous comment by you, but you are right that it’s a good book for 4KQ and Cruise.
Thanks for flagging!
Vivienne – Radio Today
Pretty sure Cruise 1323 is the number 1 drive show in Adelaide AM??!
Hi Thommo,
Thanks for this. You are absolutely right. Apologies that we let this error though. I have updated.
Vivienne – Radio Today
How long will ARN keep Christian O Connell, when he rates 2 points below station average.
Previous shows were sacked for this reason.
Craig Huggins presents a much better show. Christian and his team talk over each other and seem to be entertaining themselves more than the audience!
Why the headline with Kyle and Jackie?
They have never been number 1.
On the other hand applause for Ben Fordham.
I agree with Alex, it’s time for NE to launch Smooth on FM in Brisbane
Thommo is quite right, in fact Cruise drive is better than the ABC on AM as well.
Mix102.3 listeners already leaving the station as expected.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/how-jodie-oddy-leaving-mix-has-affected-adelaide-radio-ratings/news-story/9b345d8adfa516e6b4dda80c89f7752c
Great move by Duncan and ARN to blow up a #1FM brekky show
This is the end of Mix’s dominance.
Surely leaving the show alone would have be smarter given the issues they have in Brisbane and Kiss Melbourne
Good luck to Kyle and Jackie O but they have never been number one, and don’t start on demographics etc, otherwise we’ll have an argument on who is number 1 among housewives that buy apples. Congratulations once again 2GB on being the number 1 station and having the top rating breakfast show
@ Vivienne Kelly
Hi Vivienne Unfortunately just can’t please anyone these days on the radiotoday, some people just can’t read & unfortunately have to post up the same reply twice in one day…..
Love your work throughout 2020 & I look forward to reading all your new posts and comments in 2021
Where’s my popcorn, where’s my Coke so I can continue to sit back, & enjoy all the entertainment Reading all the negative comments on this post + every other post on radiotoday lol lol
Will 97.3 get some fresh leadership in 2020? They’ve tried replacing everyone except the boss, and they’re still struggling to get any attention.
New direction could really shake up Brisbane’s market, and there are SO many potential content directors sitting in the wings who know Brisbane, lets start with Abi Benaud at b105.
This survey could be a Covid reality check. Much as 3AW played a vital role during the second lockdown, this survey reflects there being more to why 3AW rates abundantly.
Something problematic persists with the KIIS format in Melbourne and yet there’s Jase & PJ once more being formidable (second highest rise behind Fox). I can’t see a bigger dilemma this survey regarding a troubled situation.
Also noteworthy is Radio National getting a 5+ share twice a day. If only worth mentioning because no one ever does and it being a treasure trove of great programs.
Elsewhere, as already mentioned, Cruise 1323 now performs as much as a quiet achiever as stablemate 4KQ. It would be good if Radio Today were to profile these successes with an article or two given how much attention always goes to the regular winners.
If ARN can skew 96FM Perth so much toward rock, perhaps they ought to try skewing 97.3 in Brisbane toward “smooth”, perhaps calling for a little less network and little more local.
However you can bet ARN will want to keep this station branded in its KIIS network as is, however much it is joint-venture owned.
In the spirit of some of the other comments, I don’t think it makes sense to talk of #1FM Drive and #1AM Drive etc. It’s a whole radio market.
Advertisers are buying time (and stations compete)based on audiences in the whole radio market, not just the bands the stations are on.
For instance, in Melbourne, the audiences for Triple M, Gold and 3AW do overlap and compete for advertising.
Similarly, in Adelaide, the audiences for 5AA and (to a lesser extent) Cruise 1323 do overlap with audiences of Triple M & Mix102.3. Given it is an older-skewing city, if you want to reach those mainstream audiences you consider what station is attracting them, not whether it is FM or AM. And of course, Triple M directly competes with 5AA’s sports show. If you want Adelaide males who are into sport, you would prioritise one or both of those shows, what Mix or SAFM are doing is not relevant even if they beat Triple M on the FM rankings.
@AJMELBOURNE
The duplicate post was obviously an error when I thought the first one hadn’t worked. Any fool could see that.
And when I read all the comments I actually find YOURS the most negative.
@Joey If ARN can skew 96FM Perth so much toward rock, perhaps they ought to try skewing 97.3 in Brisbane toward “smooth”, perhaps calling for a little less network and little more local.”
Absolutely agree! That’s probably all that is needed to “fix” 97.3. They need to smoothify the music and reduce the networking in favour of more local announcers.
@Observer
I agree, I don’t get the No.1 AM vs No. 1 FM split either.
Particularly when the No. 1 AM in a market is sometimes a music station (e.g. 4KQ this survey) and sometimes a Talk station.
Why does it matter if it’s on AM or FM?
Saying Nova is No 1 FM in Brisbane and 4KQ is No 1 AM when they’re both music stations?
The idea that anyone ever talks about being #1 10+ is ridiculous.
AW are #1 10+ but 80% of their audience is over 55. How does that help an advertiser who wants to buy under 40 females?
No radio business is built on selling 10+.
they sell grocery buyers, they sell demos and they sell environment.
As a radio industry website, I’d like to see Radio Today actually do something different than the mainstream press and actually report results based on the stations strategies and key demos. 10+ is a ridiculous measurement. Almost as ridiculous as not talking about or reporting on catch-up.