The latest GfK Survey 6 2025, has revealed that the mornings firmly belong to talk with 2GB and 3AW tightening their grip on Sydney and Melbourne.
Across both cities, the nation’s biggest personalities are battling it out for breakfast dominance. But while Kyle & Jackie O slipped in Sydney and continue to struggle to make a spark in Melbourne, the momentum is firmly with talk, as Fordham and 3AW’s Ross and Russ lead.
Sydney: 2GB Back On Top, Kyle & Jackie O Slip
In Sydney, 2GB stormed back to No. 1 overall, posting a 14.2 share (up 2.8) to secure its strongest result of the year. Ben Fordham Live led the charge, rising 2.6 points to 16.8 in Breakfast, cementing his position as Sydney’s top-rating breakfast show.
Mark Levy’s Mornings also climbed 3.4 points to 14.9, with every 2GB segment posted growth.
By contrast, KIIS 1065’s Kyle & Jackie O saw a softening in their Sydney stronghold, down 0.8 to 13.6 in Breakfast. Despite retaining FM leadership, the decline highlights a tightening Sydney market where listeners continue to gravitate toward news and talk.
NOVA 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie gained momentum, lifting 1.1 points to 8.6 share, and the station’s cume now sits ahead of KIIS 1065, signalling renewed energy since Ritchie’s full-time return. Smooth 95.3 also held firm, remaining Sydney’s #1 FM station overall with a 10.7 share.
“As we move into the commercially critical final quarter of the year, we’re seeing strong momentum, both in audience reach and advertiser demand. Being Australia’s #1 metro network is never something we take for granted and we’ve seen some fantastic numbers for shows around the country. We’ve grown our 25-54 broadcast audience again and we consistently lead in streaming, so NOVA continues to deliver market-leading audiences for our brands and advertisers at this important time,” said NOVA Entertainment’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Charlton.
Melbourne: 3AW Dominates As KIIS Struggles
Down south, 3AW’s Ross and Russ continued their unstoppable run, commanding a 20.3 share in Breakfast, nearly double their nearest rival, and maintaining the station’s overall No. 1 position on a 15.0 share.
“These are truly stunning results for 2GB and 3AW, solidifying their position as number one overall and dominating breakfast, mornings, and right across the day. The breakfast shows with Ben Fordham and Ross and Russ have unequivocally won the year, and AFL and NRL across the network is the clear number one. As the cost of living bites and world affairs take a turn, audiences are flocking to our stations for trusted news and analysis,” said Greg Byrnes, Nine Radio’s national content manager.
On the FM dial, Gold 104.3’s Christian O’Connell stayed on top as Melbourne’s No. 1 FM Breakfast show with an 11.7 share, while KIIS 101.1’s Kyle & Jackie O slipped to 7.9, a difficult survey outing as the Sydney juggernaut continues to stumble in its attempt to find its footing in Victoria.
Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren recorded one of the largest breakfast declines in the market, dropping 1.2 points to 7.0, while The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick remained strong, posting 9.5 overall and a 13.6 share among 25–54s. Smooth 91.5 also retained consistency with 9.8 share and continued growth in cume.
“Consistency is our strategy, and today’s results show it’s delivering. Across the country, we’re seeing great momentum for both the Hit and Triple M networks. Flagship shows like 101.9 The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick and Carrie & Tommy continue to dominate and deliver world-class content,” said SCA head of metro broadcast content, Matthew O’Reilly.
“Triple M remains Number 1 in both Adelaide and Brisbane, reinforcing its strength with audiences who love authentic, entertaining radio built around the communities we serve. On the Hit Network, we’re also seeing exceptional growth today for Mix 94.5, SAFM, and 101.9 The Fox.”
“It’s also exciting to see audience growth for some of our newer shows – proof that our investment in talent and local content is resonating with listeners. SCA remains the home of the Audience That Matters (25-54), and we’re incredibly proud of the teams behind these results.”
Other Markets
In Brisbane, Triple M narrowly held No. 1 overall with a 12 share, but ABC Brisbane Breakfast saw the largest gain, while Nova’s Ash, Luttsy & Nikki Osborne reclaimed top spot in Breakfast.
Perth saw Nova 93.7 pull further ahead as Triple M Perth lost ground.
In Adelaide, Triple M held steady as both station and Breakfast leader.
Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) welcomed the latest GfK Survey 6, 2025 results, with commercial radio reaching 12.4 million weekly listeners, up 97,000 year-on-year (YOY). Bolstered by in-car listening which remained dominant, growing by 164,000 listeners YOY to 10.2 million, capturing 82% of commercial radio’s total audience.
Commercial radio’s growth was led by the critical 25–54-year-old advertiser demographic, which increased 99,000 listeners YOY to 6.1 million weekly. Breakfast remains a key daypart, reaching 8.7 million listeners, up +68,000 YOY.
Digital listening continues to grow, with 3.5 million Australians (+22,000 YOY) streaming commercial radio weekly. Streaming audiences at breakfast grew 8.8% YOY to 1.4 million, with time spent listening steady across key dayparts.
“Commercial radio has always evolved alongside its audiences and that’s what continues to drive its strength. It’s not just about reach; it’s about relevance, loyalty and connection across daily routines and platforms,” said Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA.
“As Australia’s only 100% locally owned mass medium, every advertising dollar stays here, supporting local journalism, emergency broadcasting and thousands of jobs. For brands, it’s a powerful combination of scale, trust, community connection and tangible economic impact,” said Young.
