NZME and Partners have over two million listeners, according to the latest 2017 GfK independent radio survey.
NZME’s Chief Commercial Officer, Laura Maxwell says that NZME’s radio is ‘on a roll’ with 54,500 new listeners, now reaching 60% of all radio listeners. In addition, iHeartRadio registered users have increased by 33% year on year to over 631,000†.
“This is an overall market share increase of 1.8 percentage points for NZME and Partners whilst Mediaworks went backwards for the second survey in a row, this time by 0.7 percentage points.* I’m particularly excited that alongside our radio partners, we are better reflecting the new diversity of New Zealand’s population.”
This result means NZME continues to close the overall listening gap, with its share of listeners up 3.7 percentage points across the first two surveys of this year.*~
In specific station results, NZME Managing Editor Shayne Currie says Newstalk ZB continues its dominance having been number one since 2003.** Newstalk ZB has grown its share in Auckland to 11%and nationally to 10.3%.*
“This means we’ve again retained the number one crown, while the Mike Hosking Breakfast is the biggest breakfast show in the country⁰,” said Currie. “Marcus Lush has also had a phenomenal result, being number one in all markets across the country⁰⁰.”
Currie says that the Newstalk ZB results, along with Radio Sport enjoying the biggest growth of any station, with an additional 21,200 listeners^, is testament to the stations’ talent and NZME’s integrated newsroom.
“This absolutely shows the power of NZME. Our broadcasters, producers and reporters are across everything – delivering high-quality exclusive news and sport content and interviews that people want to listen to.”
Currie says Newstalk ZB’s digital audience is also growing significantly. “The Newstalk ZB Facebook page now reaches almost one million people each month and almost two million people are reached on the Mike Hosking (pictured) Breakfast Facebook page each month+.
ZM Breakfast has had another great result says NZME’s Group Director Entertainment, Dean Buchanan, “Fletch, Vaughan and Megan have retained their number one breakfast title for 18-34 year olds⁰⁰⁰. Jase and PJ claimed the number one Drive show in this demographic,~~ showing that both show are producing content that this demographic love to hear. The ZM Facebook page reach exceeds a staggering 2.4 million people each month+”.
“Coast retains top music station for those of us that are 40 years and older.* The re-branding and modernising of this station and the line-up is working. I’m thrilled with how Coast is performing.”
Buchanan confirmed that The Hits’ ‘Sarah, Sam and Toni’ breakfast show continues its upward trend in Auckland for the second survey in a row.^^
Maxwell says radio is a strong medium for advertisers, with the number of listeners continuing to grow.
“These results show that in 2017, radio is more relevant than ever as an effective channel to inform, entertain and connect. The power of NZME’s content generators have the proposition right, proven by the growth in listeners. In addition, we have the benefit of iHeartRadio and its growing influence. As a company NZME now reaches over 3.3 million people in New Zealand. [1]
“Plus, as Shayne Currie has mentioned, the impact of having one newsroom across Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport, is proven in the audience growth. It’s been an exciting 2017 for NZME as a company, with our success at the Canon Media Awards, the Radio Awards, the Nielsen newspaper readership growth and these ongoing GfK Radio Survey results. Commercially, NZME has the audience reach and the targeting capability to answer any objective you challenge us with delivering.”
Sources:
GfK Radio Audience Measurement, Commercial Radio Stations, Total New Zealand Survey 2 2017, Cumulative Audience (‘000s), Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, People 10+ (unless otherwise stated). Includes 95bFM, Humm FM and WTV’s radio stations; Chinese Radio AM936 and FM 99.4 Chinese Voice. Any comparisons made are done with GfK Survey 1 2017 (unless otherwise stated), 95bFM was not in Survey 1 2017.:
*Commercial Share %, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, People 10+, unless otherwise stated.
~Total New Zealand Survey 2 2016.
**NZ Major Markets, Commercial Share %, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, People 10+.
⁰Commercial Share % and Cumulative Audience (‘000’s), Mon-Fri 6-8.30am, People 10+.
⁰⁰Commercial Share % and Cumulative Audience (‘000’s), Mon-Fri 8pm-12mn, People 10+.
^Cumulative Audience (‘000s), Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, People 10+.
+Facebook Analytics, July 2017.
⁰⁰⁰Commercial Share %, Mon-Fri 6-10am, People 18-34.
~~Commercial Share %, Mon-Fri 4-7pm, People 18-34.
^^Auckland, Commercial Share % and Cumulative Audience (‘000’s), Mon-Fri 6-9am, People 10+.
†iHeartMedia July 2017.
††Streamguys Q1 2017.
[1]Nielsen CMI, April 2017 fused database: Q2 2016-Q1 2017 (based on population 10 years +). Based on unduplicated weekly reach of NZME newspapers, radio stations, and monthly domestic unique audience of NZME’s digital channels.