The results of the fourth survey for 2005 have now been released, with the highlight this survey being the Brisbane market results, where the new Nova station has debuted at 11.3%.
The survey was conducted for Commercial Radio Australia between 27 March-30 April and 8 May-11 June.
Click Nielsen Ratings in the left hand margin (‘Knowledge Base’ section) to see the overall rankings, and click the links below for full shift and demographic breakdowns.
In Sydney, 2GB seems rusted on to the number one market position with exactly the same result as last survey 12.3%. Second placed Nova increased slightly to 10.3%, followed by ABC702.
Angela Catterns last weeks as breakfast presenter and James O’Loghlin’s new baby seem to have helped ABC702 in it ratings, which were up by the biggest margin in the survey (1.3 share points) to 10.1%. Mix 106.5 was third placed with an 0.5 increase to 9.3%.
Triple M has the biggest drop of the survey, down 1.4 share points to 8.4%, followed by stablemate 2Day, which also fell by 1.2 to 8.2%.
2UE gained 0.8 to 8.0% overall, with the recently outspoken John Laws scoring 9.4% (up 0.7). WSFM was steady at 7.3%, followed by 2CH, which dropped 0.3 to 5.6%. Triple J scored 3.9%, followed by Classic FM on 2.5%, Radio National on 2.1% and NewsRadio on 1.5%.
2Day won the 10-17 demographic, while Nova won 18-24s, Triple M topped 25-39s. WSFM just beat ABC702 for leadership of the 40-54 demographic, and 2GB won 55+.
Breakfast was won by 2GB’s Alan Jones, and 2GB also won mornings. Nova topped the afternoon slot, ahead of Mix 106.5 and Nova also won drive. 2GB won evenings ahead of ABC702 and 2GB also won weekends.
3AW again won the Melbourne survey with 15.7%. During the survey drive presenter Hinch stirred up hot comment about Graham Kennedy, but only lost 0.3 share points despite the controversy, while morning presenter Neil Mitchell, who disagreed with Hinch’s stand, dipped by 1.1 share points.
3AW was followed by Gold 104.3, which jumped 1.2 share points into second place at 12.0%.
Triple M gained 0.2 share points to 11.6%, equal third with ABC774. ABC774 jumped 1.3%, the biggest gain of the survey.
Nova gained 0.4 share points to 9.6%, followed by Fox, which slipped 0.7 share points to 9.0%. Magic693 gained 0.6 to 6.7%, followed by Mix 101.1, which is at a low point in eighth place on 4.5%, down 1.1 share points.
The troubled SEN dipped 0.1 to 2.6%, followed by Triple J on 2.5%, 3MP on 2.0%, NewsRadio and Radio National on 1.6%, and Classic FM on 1.4%.
Fox won the 10-17 demographic, Nova dominated 18-24s and Triple M won 25-39s. Gold won 40-54s and 3AW topped the over 55s.
3AW won all shifts except afternoons, which was won by Gold FM.
Brisbane’s new Nova station has debuted in second place at 11.3 and has caused further shake up in the Brisbane market.
First placed Triple M scored 15.4%, down by 2.8 share points. Austereo stablemate B105 was third with 10.8% (up 0.3).
New 97.3 lost 1.4 share points and is fourth placed at 9.0%. ARN’s 4KQ increased by 0.7 to 8.9%, followed by 612ABC, which was down 0.7 to 8.6%.
Southern Cross’ 4BH jumped 1.6 share points to 8.1%, followed by stablemate 4BC on 6.4% (down 0.5). Triple J lost 0.2 to 6.4%, followed by Classic FM on 2.7%, Radio National on 1.7% and NewsRadio on 1.3%.
The new Nova station blitzed the two younger demographics, while Triple M won 25-54s and 612ABC won over 55s.
Breakfast was won by Triple M, followed by B105, ABC612 and 4KQ. Nova scored 8.8 at breakfast. Daytime listening was won by Triple M, while Nova won nights. Weekends was won by Triple M, closely followed by 4BH, ABC612 and Nova.
The Adelaide market continues to be dominated by 5AA, which again increased its lead, up 1.3 share points to 18.6%. The demise of SEN is likely to be responsible for 5AA’s extra increase, which is the icing on the cake for 5AA, as ARN considers what to do with the old 5DN frequency. SEN/5DN results are being reported in the ‘Other AM’ category until further notice.
ARN’s Mix 102.3 gained 0.6 share points to 15.4%, followed by SAFM, which slipped further, dropping 0.5 to 13.5%.
Nova had the second biggest fall of the survey behind SEN, down 1 share point to 11.7%. ABC891 dropped 0.2 to 10.7%, followed by Triple M on 9.7%, down 0.3.
Triple M was in seventh place on 3.7%, followed by Classic FM on 2.8%, Radio National on 2.3% and NewsRadio on 1.5%.
SAFM won the10-17 demographic, closely followed by Nova 91.9. Nova won 18-24s ahead of SAFM. A close tussle for 25-39s saw Nova winning that demographic ahead of Mix, Triple M and Nova. Mix won 40-54s and 5AA dominated the over 55s.
Mix 94.5 increased its lead in the Perth market by 1.5 share points, scoring 18.6%. Second placed ABC720 increased by 0.7 to 11.8%. Third placed Nova was up by 0.1 to 11.0%.
96fm dropped 1 share point to 10.7%, followed by a strongly increasing 92.9, which gained 1.1 share points to 10.0%.
Sixth placed 6PR was down 0.4 to 9.9%, followed by Triple J on 5.4%, down 1.3 share points. 6IX was steady at 4.8%, followed by Radio National on 2.6%, Classic FM on 2.5% and NewsRadio on 1.7%.
92.9 won 10-17s and Nova dominated 18-24s. 96fm won 25-39s, just ahead of Mix 94.5. Mix won 40-54s and ABC720 won 55+.
Austereo’s Mix 94.5 won all shifts in the market.
DMG Nova Network
dmg Radio Australia’s long term plan became a reality today, with NOVA stations achieving the No #1 position for All people Under 40 in every mainland capital city across Australia in the fourth AC Nielsen radio survey for 2005.
The NOVA Network launched its Brisbane station – NOVA 106.9 – in April this year, and after just 10 full weeks on air (and still broadcasting out of temporary studios), recorded the stunning audience share of 11.3% making it Brisbane’s favourite station for people under 40.
In Sydney, NOVA 969, dmg’s flagship station, retained its position as the leading FM station for the 12th consecutive survey. The station also increased its leading FM share in the crucial Breakfast position with Merrick & Rosso producing an outstanding survey result of 11.7%* (up from 10.4).
Adelaide’s leading talk station, dmg’s Fiveaa again increased its overall leadership position with a dominant overall audience share of 18.6% (up from 17.3%), a clear 3.2% ahead of any other station. Fiveaa is clearly the highest rating talk radio station in Australia.
Other survey highlights:
o NOVA stations lead the under 40 demographic in every metropolitan market across Australia
o NOVA stations lead the 18-39 demographic in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth
o Increased 25-39 shares in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane
B105 & Triple M Brisbane
Triple M is still Brisbane’s number one station after the station recorded a 15.4 per cent share in today’s Nielsen radio ratings.
Triple M is still the number one station at breakfast with The Cage and Ian Skippen with a 14.1 per cent audience share, mornings with 16.7 per cent, Tough Love with Mick Molloy and afternoons on 18.2 per cent and The Shebang in drive with 17.8 per cent.
Austereo’s B105 held steady with 453,000 listeners each week and retained its number one position for the station with the most listeners each week.
B105 recorded rises in all its shifts from breakfast B105 Morning Crew with Jamie, Penny & Deano gaining 0.3 points for a 12.6 per cent audience share and mornings gaining 1.5 points for a 10.2 per cent share.
Austereo Brisbane general manager Richard Barker said: “Brisbane has become a more dynamic market this year, but I’m pleased Triple M is still on top.
“B105 has undergone a transformation in recent months with a new brand and refreshed music format of hits and songs we brought in from home, and the listeners have responded well.”
4BH
Easy 882 4BH has today reached number one position in their target market of 40 years plus.
Easy 882 4BH is the number one commercial radio station 40 plus with a 14.1% share.
General Manager David McDonald says he is pleased with all shifts’ healthy gains and in particular the success of the Breakfast Show hosted by Kim Mothershaw and Leisa Sheehan, which went up 1.8%. It is now the highest rating shift Mon – Fri All People 40+ with a 7.7% share.
Kim Mothershaw and Leisa Sheehan are currently on annual leave and will be returning to Easy 882 Breakfast on Monday 27 June.
Austereo
Austereo’s Triple M network is now the number one radio station on the eastern seaboard in the crucial 25 to 39-year-old age group, according to today’s Nielsen radio ratings.
Austereo chief executive officer Michael Anderson said the result was a clear indication Triple M’s strategy appealing to these listeners was working.
“Triple M is number one in 25 to 39s and number one in the 25 to 54 age group in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In Sydney it’s the first time since 2001 that Triple M has been the number one station in this age group.
“While we have lost some total audience share, we’ve actually consolidated our leadership among the listeners we wanted to attract.
“Triple M’s The Cage is the number one breakfast show in Brisbane, the number one FM breakfast show in Melbourne and the number two FM breakfast show in Sydney.
“The momentum that Triple M has been building this year is continuing.”
Mr Anderson said the Today network was still building, although several stations suffered slight falls in total audience share.
“In Sydney we’ve had three consecutive surveys of ratings increases – that run was always going to pause,” he said.
“It’s still very early for the new format, and we’re confident we’ve got the right strategy.”
Austereo chairman Peter Harvie said: “Triple M’s achievement in 25 to 54-year-olds is an excellent achievement. There still remains more work to be done – there is no finish line to this race.”
ARN
The Australian Radio Network has maintained its top positions in the key radio markets driven by strong performances from Gold FM in Melbourne and Mix 106.5 in Sydney.
Gold FM in Melbourne gained 1.2 percentage points among all listeners, ensuring it is the top-rating FM station in the city. Audience share for the station increased across all sessions, with its breakfast show – hosted by Grubby and Dee Dee – gaining 1.0 points, and mornings with Peter Harrison up by 1.5 points.
In Sydney, ARN continues to lead among its core demographic group – listeners aged between 25 and 54. The two Sydney stations – Mix 106.5 and WSFM 101.7 – together account for 22.9 per cent of all listeners in this commercially important group – well ahead of its competitors.
Among all listeners aged 10 and over, Mix 106.5 is now the second rating FM station, with 9.3 per cent of the audience (up by 0.5 points), while WS FM remained steady at 7.3 per cent of the audience.
At WSFM 101.7, the breakfast show with Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones continues to attract listeners, gaining 0.4 points.
In Adelaide, Mix 102.3 continues its stronghold of the local FM market, gaining 0.6 points to place it 1.9 points ahead of its nearest competitor – and the only FM station to increase its share of audience.
In Brisbane, 4KQ rose 0.7 points to 8.9 making it the number one AM station across the radio spectrum.
APN News & Media Chief Executive Officer Brendan Hopkins said ARN had again demonstrated that it owns the leading radio brands in the key 25 –54 year old demographic.
“Gold FM and Mix 106.5 continue to be the star performers with excellent programming continuing to please both listeners and advertisers,” Mr Hopkins said.
“As always there is work to be done, and we will be focusing on the short term on Mix in Melbourne to bring its performance into line with other stations.”
2GB
Survey 4 confirms Macquarie Radio Network is the number one commercial network in Sydney, attracting over 900,000 different listeners each week – a 26.1% share of commercial listening.
2GB continues to be Sydney’s number one choice for radio listeners with an overall 17.6% commercial share:
· Alan Jones (5.30 – 10am) is number one once again, with a 21.2% commercial share, and the Alan Jones program attracts 37% more listeners than its nearest competitor .
· Ray Hadley (10am – 1pm) retained his number one position with a 16.1% share of commercial listening.
· Murray Wilton & Brian Wilshire (7pm-midnight) also retain top spot.
2GB’s Continuous Call team is number one on weekends with 18.3% commercial share of people 10+ and 26.8% commercial share of men 10+.
2CH also consolidated its recent audience increases with 8.5% commercial share of people 10+.
Nova 96.9 Sydney
At Nova Sydney, newly arrived General Manager Fiona Cameron sent this ‘memo’ to breakfast team Merrick and Rosso:
Thanks for a great welcome to Nova 969! It’s bloody brilliant to be working at leading FM radio station and for you guys to be leading with such a huge margin in breakfast, with all the shit in the market place – is exceptional!
Love ya work!
PS. Sales are pretty thrilled about being 6% ahead of any other radio station in the under 40 market.
702 ABC Sydney
702 ABC Sydney recorded its best share result in over four decades with share
now over 10%.
With a share of 10.1%, 702 ABC Sydney achieved the highest share gain in the
market and is now ranked No. 3.
702 ABC Sydney achieved share and audience gains in all sessions this
survey, and is the No. 1 talk station in Sydney among audiences aged
under 65.
Highlights include share gains of more than one share point in all weekday sessions
including:
• Breakfast with Angela Catterns No. 2 with a share of 12.2%.
• Drive with Richard Glover No. 1 talk for the 17th consecutive survey. Glover
has an audience share of 10.5% and attracts more listeners than any other
Drive-time talk program in Sydney.
• Afternoons with James Valentine with a share of 9% achieved the highest
share on record for this session.
• Evenings with James O’Loghlin / Tony Delroy cements its No. 2 position with
a share of 10.5%.
With just under 20% of Sydney-siders tuning into 702 the station continues to
dominate talk radio in the nation’s most competitive radio market.
“This is a fantastic result for 702. It is a tribute to the hard work and tenacity of the
702 team, who every day, create unique and dynamic radio for the people of Sydney.
All programs have demonstrated an increase in share and reach.” says Station
Manager Roger Summerill. “We are delighted with the results”.
2UE
2UE has consolidated the first half of 2005 with a strong all-round performance in the latest radio ratings.
Overall, 2UE achieved the largest rise in Sydney commercial radio share and a substantial rise in Time Spent Listening, up 12.0%.
Graham Mott, Southern Cross Group General Manager for Radio says “In Australia’s tightest & toughest radio market, I’m very pleased that 2UE had the biggest increase in share across all Sydney commercial radio stations.”
In a promising result for all 2UE programs (M-S 5:30am-Midnight), the stations average audience increased by 12.0%.
Average Audience From Survey 3, 2005
Mike Carlton – 88,000 up 5.0%
John Laws – 80,000 up 7.0%
John Stanley – 51,000 up 34.0%
Steve Price – 61,000 up 20.0%
Sports Today – 21,000 same
Stan Zemanek – 21,000 down 5.0%
On the weekend, George Moore and Paul B Kidd, Sydney’s only talk alternative to Rugby League, had an average audience increase of a massive 60.0% to 40,000.
3AW
3AW has been number one for 20 surveys in a row – we’ve equalled our own record of the best ever run of of successive survey wins,
in the years 1996 – 1998 3AW won 20 surveys in a row.
3AW is number one again for all people 10+, the 20th survey in a row at the top (number one since survey 1/2003).
Highlights for 3AW include:
3AW Football is well up on this time last year
Footy Friday night, 6pm – midnight rating 15.7% up 1.3 points and number one (this time last year 14.3%)
Footy Sat arvo, midday – 6pm rating 15.9% up 2.4 points (this time last year 14.7%)
Footy Sat night, 6pm – 11pm rating 9.8% (this time last year 8.6%)
Footy Sunday, midday – 6pm rating 14.6% up 2 points (this time last year 14.1%)
Breakfast with Ross and John 5.30 – 8.30am – rating 20.2% – number one for 28 consecutive surveys – (number one since survey 1/2002)
Morning with Neil Mitchell 8.30am – midday – rating 15.1% – number one for the last 20 surveys – (number one since survey 1/2003)
Afternoon with Ernie Sigley – rating 11.1% – number 3, top rated talk program in the afternoons (this time last year 10.7)
Drive with Derryn Hinch 4 – 6pm rating 15.4% – down 0.2 – number one for 20 consecutive surveys (number one since his return to 3AW in survey 1/2003)
Nightline with Bruce and Phil 8pm – midnight rating 20.8% up 2.1 points – number one for the last 9 surveys – (number one since 4/2004)
Glossing Over with Tony Leonard, Trevor Marmalade and Dr Turf, (Saturdays 10am – midday) rating 12.4% – up 0.9 points (this time last year 11%)
Sunday Morning with Darren James, Nick McCallum and Peter Faris QC (10am – midday) rating 15.8% – up 1.6 points and still number 1
The biggest program increase was in Remember When (Sundays 6pm – midnight with Bruce and Phil) which rose 4.4 points to an all time high of 20.3%.
Nova 100 Melbourne
Nova 100 is the leading station under 40 in Melbourne. It also leads 18-24 and 18-39, with an overall result of 9.6%.
[The Nova team played a crazy song called Schnappi during the survey.] Michelle and Tim kept playing Schnappi and they’re Melbourne’s favourite FM drive show with 12.5%.
Breakfast however only played Schnappi once, but still did well with 9.8%.
So does this mean that breakfast is soon to be hosted by Hughesy Kate & Dave with Jane Hall… and Schnappi?
General Manager Sam Thompson says: “Nova 100 has no proof and little confidence that Schnappi actually contributed to this survey result… however our people are talking to Schnappi’s people!”
5AA
FIVEaa has consolidated its number one position in the Adelaide radio market with the
release today of the latest Nielsen Media Research – recording a 10+ share of 18.6% …
3.2% clear of its nearest competition and the highest 10+ share in the talk station’s
history.
Highlights:
FIVEaa’s breakfast team of Keith Conlon, Tony Pilkington, Jon Blake, Jane Doyle
and Chris McDermott – sits at 20.8% up 2% – now 6.3% clear of all other
breakfast shows in Adelaide.
The FIVEaa Sports Show with K G Cunningham and Graham Cornes – kicked ahead
of its already strong number one position in drive adding 1.2% for a 10+ share of
20.8%.
FIVEaa radio legend Bob Francis continues to blitz the field moving up 2.2% to take
him 19.7% clear of his nearest opposition at a massive 30.4% 10+ share.
Michael Keelan’s Weekend – maintained its position as Adelaide’s number one
weekend breakfast show with a 10+ share averaging 21.5%
The FIVEaa Saturday Sports Show with K G Cunningham, Graham Cornes,
Russell Ebert and Michelangelo Rucci – remained number one, leaping 1.6% to
18.4%
The FIVEaa Sunday Roast with Stephen Rowe reached the number one position for
the first time, jumping 1.2% clear of its nearest competition to 17.5%
FIVEaa is number one for all footy broadcasts.
General Manager Paul Bartlett said, “This is a great day for FIVEaa with our third
consecutive number one and our best 10+ share since the radio station went talk/sport
with an equal number one share at 18.6% of all metropolitan radio stations.”
SAFM and Triple M Adelaide
SAFM has increased its listeners in its18 to 24-year-old age group by 5.3 percentage points in today’s Nielsen radio ratings.
Austereo Adelaide general manager Sam Ciccarello said the result was a pleasing sign the station’s strategy of the freshest hits and best celebrity news was working. “It’s a good result for that age group, and it shows they’re liking our mix of music and pop culture.”
“We’ve lost some audience share in the 25 to 39 age group, but I think our strategy is on track and I’m confident we’ll pull those listeners back, although we have to keep putting in the hard work.”
SAFM’s morning and afternoon sessions both increased their ratings, with morning gaining 1.1 points to a 15 per cent audience share, while afternoon gained 0.5 points to 15.7 per cent.
SAFM lost 0.5 points overall for a 13.5 per cent audience share, while Austereo’s Triple M lost 0.3 points to 9.7 per cent.
Triple M’s The Shebang in drive has increased its ratings again, gaining 1.8 points to 11 per cent.
Mr Ciccarello said: “The momentum is continuing for both stations in several shows and the Shebang is still gaining a committed audience.
“We changed the format of both stations at the beginning of the year and we knew it would be a slow growth, but we’re pleased with the progress we’ve made so far.”
Nova 91.9 Adelaide
Nova had a cracker of a result with people under 40.
Leading station 18-39 (increasing our margin by 0.6%). Jodie, Jules, Tony and Fitzy are the leading breakfast show 18-39s.
Lisa Fernandez and Hayden Else (9am – 5pm) are leading workday listening with 18-39s. Merrick and Rosso (5-6pm) leading 18-39s.
Cume is 268,000, up from 263,000.
Nova is the leading Adelaide station for 18-24 and 25-39.
Nova PD Jason Stavely says “I’m crap at maths, but it would seem this is a great result overall.”
MIX102.3 Adelaide
Adelaide’s 25-54 year olds were on the prowl in Survey 4, finding over $20,000 worth of cash in MIX102.3’s Finders Keepers Promotion.
The successful promotion, which launched MIX102.3 into the number one position in 2004, kept Adelaide tuned in for clues and has ensured MIX102.3’s position as the number 1 FM station in Adelaide for Survey 4.
As for Adelaide’s 25-54’s, hunting for clues and listening to Adelaide’s best music proved a winning combination and resulted in MIX102.3 retaining top spot with a 20.3% share of the listening audience.
Other highlights from Survey 4 include:
MIX102.3 – #1 25 – 54 All People
MIX102.3 – #1 FM Station
MIX102.3 – #1 FM Breakfast
MIX102.3 – #1 Mornings with Karen Prater
MIX102.3 – #1 Afternoons with Kev Mulcahy
MIX102.3 – #1 35 – 54 All People
MIX102.3 – #1 40 – 54 All People
MIX102.3 – #1 10+ All People (318,000 weekly listeners)
General Manager Steve Rowe said: “This has been a great survey for Mix .We have made the gains in the right age groups. Mix102.3 is now the most listened to radio station in Adelaide”
Nova 93.7 Perth
It’s been a pretty top day so Nova’s management is letting the staff have a big one!
While the Party Pies and Asti Spumante are on the way in, we’ll just let you know what all the fuss is about.
In today’s Survey, Nova is:
•The Leading Station –18 to 39
•The Leading Station –Under 40
•Nathan and Nat –Leading Breakfast –18 to 39
•Nathan and Nat –Leading Breakfast –Under 40
…and the cherry on the sponge cake:
•For the first time the Nova Network around the country now attracts the highest number of Under 40 listeners in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Not bad eh? If you want us to save you a party pie, let us know.
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