Despite the penetration by Sydney stations, local radio is the winner overall in the latest Xtra Insights Survey for Wollongong and the Illawarra with the local stations showing that live and local not only works, but wins.
 
i98 FM is still clearly the number one station (down 2.6 to 26.5), while Wave FM  gained 2.1 to 18.3 overall, with ABC Illawarra still third on 14.0 and triple j improving 2.2 to 11.4.

Despite the incursion of Sydney station into the Illawarra, local stations Wave FM and i98 FM show why local radio is so important to Wollongong listeners
 
In a survey conducted by Xtra Insights that involved up to 1200 respondents between 15 October to 3 November 2018, both stations consolidated audience with Wave FM up to 16.2 and i98 FM up to 29.1.
 
ABC Illawarra also added some audience to move to 15.3.

Click on the survey for a larger view

Wollongong commercial radio stations Wave FM and i98 FM will focus on the release of the region’s latest radio survey today to see how the stations have fared since the last survey a year ago.

The new breakfast team at Wave FM Wollongong will be Jade, Trav and Chris, after the departure of Mel Greig, who left the show last week for new opportunities in Sydney.

Survey results for Wollongong have been released, the first since November 2015.

i98 FM was a clear winner as the station listened to most with 29.1%.

Their nearest competitor with 18.5% is Wave FM and ABC Illawarra rounds out the top three spots with 13.5%.

"It really is just like getting back on the bike, I rode that bike this week and I didn't fall off. It felt comfortable and I loved it."

Mel Greig back on Radio in 2016 on Wave FM.

Results from the first 2015 All of Industry radio rating survey in Wollongong have been released, with i98 FM the market leader all people 10+ with 25.1%, up from 23.8% in the last survey.

97.3 ABC Illawarra is second on 16.2%  and Wave FM is third with a 15.4% 

i98 FM also remained number one in breakfast despite a 2% drop to 22.8%.

97.3 ABC also dropped in breakfast, but sits in second place on 17.9%.

Wave FM increased from 14.9 to 15.4%.

Radio announcer Phebe Irwin has passed away from complications during an operation. The former Wave FM breakfast co-host will be farewelled at Albury Crematorium at 1.30 next Wednesday, followed by a wake afterwards at La Maison Albury.

Tributes have been flowing in since news of her death broke earlier today. Marcus Paul, host of Canberra Live on 1206 2CC posted the following message on Facebook:

i98FM came in as number one overall in the Illawarra survey region, with a 23.8% share.
 
The new, CRA approved Wollongong Research Survey conducted by IRIS Research saw i98FM’s Marty and Bianca retain top spot in the breakfast timeslot, with 24.8%.
 
Wave FM scored 16% overall, with a strong result in the over 40 demographics. Wave breakfast scored 16% in that timeslot.