Southern Cross Austereo’s 2Day FM was one of the largest shifters in the Sydney radio market with the station shedding more than one percentage point in the crucial breakfast and drive slots.
The Kyle & Jackie O Show, which attracted controversy last year for Kyle Sandilands' on-air taunt of a female journalist, lost 1.1 percentage points in Nielsen’s first radio ratings survey of the year.
Despite a flurry of bad press, a social media backlash utilising the Twitter hashtag '#vilekyle' and a mass exodus of advertisers Sydney’s radio listeners appear relatively unfazed with the show maintaining its grip on the number one FM breakfast spot. Talk station 2GB remains the overall breakfast leader with 16.6%.
In drive 2Day FM lost 1.6 percentage points to 10.4% during the survey period of January 15 to February 11.
In comparison Southern Cross Austereo’s (SCA) Triple M station added audience across the board with The Grill Team gaining 1.2 points in breakfast to 6.9% with the station reaching 5.9% in drive after a one point increase.
DMG Radio Australia’s Nova 96.9 also increased its audience share by 1.1 points in drive to 8.3% while 2CH dropped one point.
In the Melbourne market Melbourne’s 91.5 was the biggest mover, shedding 2.9 points in drive to claim 2.7%. SCA’s Fox FM lost almost as much in the drive slot, dropping 2.3 points. However the station still leads with 11.9%.
DMG’s Nova also performed well in Melbourne with Nova 100 adding 1.7 points, the slots largest increase, to claim 9.6%.
Talk continues to rule breakfast in Melbourne with 3AW adding 0.8 points to lead with 17.4%.
The first survey of the year has seen Brisbane’s tight radio market loosen with more space emerging between the overall top four stations.
The last survey of 2011 saw all top four stations sitting on a share ranging from 11.1% to 11.7% but now, following a 2.4 point jump, the Australian Radio Network’s 97.3 FM commands 14.1% and clears its nearest rival by more than three points.
In breakfast 97.3FM gained 1.7 points to claim the top spot and jumped 2.3 points in drive to take the lead from Nova 106.9 which dropped 1.2 points.
ARN’s Classic Hits 4KQ 693 shed 2 points in drive to claim 4.9% while in breakfast SCA’s Triple M lost 2.1 points.
The survey’s largest fall was in Adelaide with DMG’s FiveAA dropping 6.3 points in drive from 16.6% to 10.3%. The mammoth drop saw the station surrender its place as leader of the drive slot to Mix 102.3 which gained 1.5 points to claim 14%.
DMG was dealt another blow with Nova 91.9 falling 2.5 points in breakfast. However FiveAA maintained its lead in breakfast despite a slight drop of half a point.
In Perth the largest shift was Fairfax Radio Network’s 6PR which lost 3.4 points in drive. Also in drive, SCA’s Mix 94.5 gained 2.9 points to claim 17.2% while 96FM added 2.7 points to 10.7%.
There was more good news for SCA in breakfast with Mix 94.5 adding 1.9 points onto its already decisive overall lead of the slot to claim 16.2%. Station 96FM also gained 1.9 points.