“We 100% know the ratings are going to return for KIIS Breakfast.” Kerri Elstub & Dave Cameron on GfK Survey 3

ARN's Kerri Elstub and Dave Cameron. Image supplied.

From ‘goldrush’ to ‘glimmers of gold,’ the powers that be at ARN certainly weren’t averse to trotting out the odd corny phrase whilst talking up the GOLD Network’s latest radio ratings results.

In GfK Survey 3, the Christian O’Connell Show recorded the biggest audience growth in its new Sydney market – while also retaining the mantle of Melbourne’s #1 FM Breakfast show – as Jonesy & Amanda continued to deliver strong growth in Drive.

“We’re so, so thrilled for Amanda and Jonesy, and for Christian,” says ARN’s Chief Content Officer, Kerri Elstub.

Joined by Metro Director of Content Dave Cameron for the usual post-survey interview with Radioinfo’s Steve Ahern, Elstub says it’s pleasing to see that Sydney is now connecting with O’Connell and his team.

To say there wasn’t quite as much sparkle on the KIIS side of the fence would be an understatement.

Months on from the demise of the Kyle & Jackie O Show, the current KIIS Breakfast offering – hosted by Mike Etheridge and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts – plummeted 3.5% to an 8.2 share, shedding 132,000 listeners.

According to Elstub, the result comes as no surprise.

“We were just saying earlier to each other, if you were to buy a lottery ticket using those numbers – it’s the numbers we would have put in.”

Cameron concurs: “As Kerri said, (it’s) exactly what we thought it would be … actually a little bit higher than where we thought we might be.”

Cameron says having an 8 share in Breakfast is a great platform for growth.

“That’s actually a really great position for us to be in.”

Elstub reiterates that when it comes to KIIS, they’re focusing on the long game.

“As we kind of said off the top, this where we expected to land. And I think to be meddling in that kind of area, to have been able to maintain so much of our core audience, you know – 70 odd percent of the audience that were there – I think that’s pretty incredible, given everything we’ve thrown at this morning team.”

Elstub is adamant KIIS will get back to where it once was.

“Melbourne’s pretty flat. Of course Sydney’s come off. But yes, in short, they will return. Our plans for next year – that we cannot tell you about – are really exciting, and we 100% know that the ratings are going to return for KIIS breakfast.”

Of Mike E and the current team, Elstub says “I think they’re doing a pretty darn good job. We know Survey 2 still included some of the time that the former show was on air. So for them to be an 8 share – and if you really think about everything we’ve thrown at them, we’ve given them different co-hosts, different challenges … every other week has been something different that that team has had to rise to … I’m really impressed with what they’re doing.”

“You’ll see us settling into a bit more of a regular rhythm and regular pattern now.” Elstub adds. “What you have read and seen online and in the papers about us auditioning a whole bunch of people simply is not true. We have some great talent on our books and we have been giving them a platform, allowing them to have a great time on this show.”

Cameron says high-profile co-hosts including Abbie Chatfield and Bianca Dye did a stellar job.

“I thought they were amazing,” says Cameron. I thought every co-host we have had on has been amazing. As Kerri said, our strategy here is familiarity, plus curiosity. We’re giving familiar elements of the show, through the benchmarks that have existed in the past … and then the curiosity part comes from hearing some really interesting opinions and voices from a rotating co-host element that we’ve had in the show.”

Of Brisbane’s KIIS 973 downward turn, Cameron says “Yeah, a little bit bumpy today. To be honest, it’s within the band of where 973 sits, you know, in between that sort of high 9s to mid-elevens. I think the other thing you need to remember about survey results too, is that they don’t really reflect the last 6 weeks of content. They reflect the last 6 months of audience sentiment.”

Elstub notes the great KIIS result in Adelaide Breakfast. “This is the first full survey for Ben & Liam. I think they were only in four days of the last survey – so this is an incredible result for them, to be a 10.5 share. Ben and Liam are really doing some fun, original radio.”

Elstub also reserves special praise for CADA’s Jake Powell – after ARN’s youth station recorded its best Breakfast results to date.

“Jake is not only the Music Director and Content Director but announcer. Best result since 2017. He deserves a massive shout out for the work he does.”