Despite it being less than a week to go before Christmas and many people’s minds already in holiday mode, the radio industry has been sitting idle, waiting for this particular day to arrive.
Yes, the final radio ratings survey for 2018 has been released, and it will perhaps be a good indicator for which hosts will be showered with gifts this Christmas and who will receive a lump of coal from their respective employers.
NOVA Entertainment was the top dog nationally, but we all know there’s a lot more to the radio ratings than that. So, without further ado, here’s a detailed rundown for each of the metro markets:
SYDNEY
Unsurprisingly, Macquarie Media’s 2GB remained in top spot overall in the harbour city with 13.9 per cent – down 0.2 per cent on the last ratings survey.
ABC Sydney held onto second place with 9.2 per cent (down 0.4 per cent), and NOVA Entertainment’s smoothfm finished oh so slightly behind with 9.1 per cent (up 0.3 per cent) to round out the top three.
WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda (up 1.8 per cent to 9.0 per cent), Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa (up 1.3 per cent to 8.4 per cent) and smoothfm’s More Music Breakfast Show (up 1.1 per cent to 7.1 per cent) saw the biggest market share gains in breakfast.
However, they weren’t enough to remove 2GB’s Alan Jones, KIIS FM’s Kyle & Jackie O and ABC Sydney’s Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck from the podium.
And in drive, KIIS’ Will & Woody (up 0.9 per cent to 6.6 per cent), Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty (up 0.8 per cent to 12.6 per cent) and ABC Sydney’s Richard Glover (up 0.8 per cent to 9.8 per cent) experienced the best ratings growth.
Breakfast
First: 2GB’s The Alan Jones Breakfast Show (down 1.0 per cent to 16.5 per cent)
Second: KIIS FM’s Kyle & Jackie O (down 0.2 per cent to 10.5 per cent)
Third: ABC Sydney’s Breakfast with Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck (down 0.4 per cent to 10.3 per cent)
Drive
First: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty (up 0.8 per cent to 12.6 per cent)
Second: ABC Sydney’s Drive with Richard Glover (up 0.8 per cent to 9.8 per cent)
Third: smoothfm’s Byron Webb (no change at 9.2 per cent)
MELBOURNE
It was no surprise either that Macquarie’s 3AW finished the year in first place overall, growing its market share lead by 0.3 per cent to 14.8 per cent.
Nova’s smoothfm remained in second with a 0.8 per cent ratings rise to 10.6 per cent, and the Australian Radio Network’s GOLD 104.3 again grew its market share by 0.2 per cent to 9.7 per cent.
There wasn’t a lot of movement in Melbourne’s brekkie ratings, with smoothfm’s More Music Breakfast Show and ABC Radio National witnessing the biggest gains with 0.8 per cent apiece to finish with 8.9 per cent and 4.0 per cent market share respectively.
In drive, the most notable movement was Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty, with the show moving its market share upwards 1.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent.
Breakfast
First: 3AW’s Ross and John (down 0.4 per cent to 19.4 per cent)
Second: ABC Melbourne’s Jacinta Parsons and Sami Shah (up 0.4 per cent to 10.0 per cent)
Third: Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev & Byron (up 0.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent)
Drive
First: 3AW Drive (up 0.4 per cent to 11.0 per cent) and Fox FM’s Carrie & Tommy and Hughesy & Kate (no change at 11.0 per cent)
Second: smothfm’s Byron Webb (up 0.6 per cent to 10.2 per cent)
Third: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty (up 1.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent) and GOLD 104.3’s Gavin Miller (up 0.3 per cent to 9.8 per cent)
BRISBANE
SCA’s Triple M has maintained its overall lead in Brisbane with a 1.7 per cent market share jump to 13.3 per cent.
Nova 106.9 remained in second with 11.3 per cent (down 0.2 per cent), and SCA’s Hit105 managed to hold on to third despite a 1.1 per cent drop to 10.2 per cent.
The biggest gains in breakfast went to Triple M (up 1.8 per cent to 14.1 per cent) and 4BC (up 1.5 per cent to 8.8 per cent), while 4KQ (down 1.4 per cent to 7.9 per cent) and Hit105 (down 1.2 per cent to 10.0 per cent) suffered the largest market share drops.
In drive, Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty and Triple J’s Veronica & Lewis both gained 1.1 per cent to finish with 14.8 per cent and 10.1 per cent market share respectively, while Hit105’s double-barrell line-up of Carrie & Tommy and Hughesy & Kate lost the most ground, down 1.4 per cent to 12.8 per cent.
Breakfast
First: Triple M’s The Big Breakfast with Marto, Robin & The Moonman (up 1.8 per cent to 14.1 per cent)
Second: ABC Brisbane’s Breakfast with Craig Zonca and Rebecca Levingston (up 0.4 per cent to 10.3)
Third: Nova 106.9’s Ash, Kip & Luttsy with Susie O’Neill (down 0.1 per cent to 10.0 per cent) and Hit105’s Stav, Abby & Matt (down 1.2 per cent to 10.0 per cent)
Drive
First: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty (up 1.1 per cent to 14.8 per cent)
Second: Hit105’s Carrie & Tommy and Hughesy & Kate (down 1.4 per cent to 12.8 per cent)
Third: Triple M’s Kennedy Molloy (up 0.9 per cent to 12.5 per cent)
ADELAIDE
ARN’s Mix 102.3 saw its market share fall once more (down 0.1 per cent 12.9 per cent) but still claimed the blue ribbon overall.
Nova 91.9 jumped from fifth in the last ratings survey to second this time around with 0.6 per cent ratings growth to 10.2 per cent, while ARN’s Cruise 1323 remained in third with 10.1 per cent (down 0.1 per cent).
In breakfast, Hit107’s music-only strategy helped it achieve a whopping 2.1 per cent market share gain to 7.8 per cent, with ABC Adelaide’s Ali Clarke the next best in terms of ratings growth with a 1.0 per cent rise to 14.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, ABC Radio National (down 1.6 per cent to 2.4 per cent), FIVEaa (down 1.2 per cent to 13.4 per cent) and Cruise 1323 (down 1.1 per cent to 7.2 per cent) were the biggest losers in the early morning slot.
In drive, Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty saw a whopping 3.0 per cent market share increase to 15.2 per cent, and Hit107’s Carrie & Tommy and Hughesy & Kate enjoyed a 1.3 per cent uptick to 9.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, FIVEaa’s Rowey & Bicks (down 1.7 per cent to 7.9 per cent), ABC Adelaide’s Jules Schiller (down 1.4 per cent to 6.4 per cent) and Mix 102.3’s Will & Woody (down 1.1 per cent to 12.1 per cent) lost the most in drive.
Breakfast
First: ABC Adelaide’s Ali Clarke (up 1.0 per cent to 14.4 per cent)
Second: FIVEaa’s David and Will (down 1.2 per cent to 13.4 per cent)
Third: Mix 102.3’s Jodi & Soda (up 0.4 per cent to 12.8 per cent)
Drive
First: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty (up 3.0 per cent to 15.2 per cent)
Second: Mix 102.3’s Will & Woody (down 1.1 per cent to 12.1 per cent)
Third: Hit107’s Carrie & Tommy and Hughesy & Kate (up 1.3 per cent to 9.7 per cent)
PERTH
It’s been a constant tussle between Nova and Mix 94.5 for overall honours this year, with the latter getting the last laugh. Mix recorded 14.8 per cent market share (up 0.9 per cent) compared to Nova’s 13.7 per cent (down 0.7 per cent).
Hit929 was third-wheeling once again with 11.0 per cent market share (up 0.6 per cent).
In breakfast, the biggest mover was 96FM, which experienced 1.1 per cent growth to 7.7 per cent, and ABC Radio National saw 0.9 per cent growth to 2.6 per cent.
In drive, Hit929 (up 1.1 per cent to 14.0 per cent) and Mix 94.5 (up 1.0 per cent to 13.6 per cent gained the most, while 6PR gained the least (down 1.3 per cent to 6.1 per cent).
Breakfast
First: Nova’s Nathan, Nat & Shaun (down 0.2 per cent to 14.9 per cent)
Second: Mix 94.5’s Clairsy, Matt and Kymba (up 0.7 per cent to 13.3 per cent)
Third: 6PR’s Breakfast with Steve Mills and Basil Zempilas (down 0.6 to 10.4 per cent)
Drive
First: Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty (up 0.2 per cent to 16.4 per cent)
Second: Hit929’s Carrie & Tommy and Hughesy & Kate (up 1.1 per cent to 14.0 per cent)
Third: Mix 94.5’s Lisa and Pete (up 1.0 per cent to 13.6 per cent)
