It’s footy season.

Today’s results showed that Melbourne stations covering footy have an edge at this time of year – 3AW up by 0.2 at number one; ABC774 up by 0.9 at number two; Triple M up by 0.4 in fourth place.

The trend was evident in most of the other capitals as well.

Melbourne:

3AW scored 14.3% overall with an increase in the older demographics and good gains in morning and on weekends. Evenings was down. 3AW’s Ross and John hold the number one breakfast position in the market even though they dropped 0.3 share points, with Neil Mitchell and Derryn Hinch also number one in their timeslots.

Second placed ABC 774 gained listeners in all shifts with Red Symons/AM now a clear Number 2 in breakfast and gaining on 3AW. Evenings and weekends increased significantly for 774.

In third place Fox scored 11.7% (down 0.4), dropping some 10-17s, but gaining in all other under 40 demographics. Fox lost listeners on weekends, at Breakfast and Drive, but picked up numbers in other shifts. Fox is number one in Afternoons and Drive.

Stablemate 3MMM in fourth place was up 0.4 to 10.2% with good gains in 10-17s and 25-39s. As in Sydney, the new Breakfast and Drive shows were up for Triple M.

Nova 100 came in fifth at 9.1 (down 1.3) with falls in the younger demographics. All shifts were down, with mornings (down 1.7) taking the biggest hit.

Gold 104.3 dipped only slightly (down 0.1) to 8.6%, with an increase in 18-24s offsetting other slight falls. Stablemate Mix 101.1 also fell (down 0.8) to 6.6%, with losses 18-39 and decreases in all shifts, significantly ‘at work’ and evening timeslots.

Magic 693 was up by 0.1 to 6.5% with a drop in evening offsetting slight rises in other shifts. Triple J was up 0.2 to 3.6%, 3MP gained 0.1 to 2.4%, followed by Radio National at 1.9%, Classic FM on 1.8%, Sport 927 on 1.8%, and NewsRadio at 1.5%. 3AK scored about the same rating as it’s current share price, 0.7.

10-17s was won convincingly by Fox (35.8), ahead of Nova on 22.6 and Mix on 13.5;

18-24s was won by Nova (26.0), ahead of Triple M (20.2) and Fox (18.7);

25-39s was won by Triple M on 20.8, second was Fox (16.7) and third was Nova (15.0);

40-54s was won by Gold with 17.9, ahead of ABC774 (13.7) and 3AW (15.7) and

55+ was a close race between 3AW (27.0) and ABC774 (24.9).

Brisbane:

Brisbane leader B105 strengthened its position this survey, up 0.9 to 18.8%, dominating in four demographics and up in all shifts, particularly nights. B105 won breakfast with an 18.6 share, ahead of 4BC (11.9) and Triple M (11.8).

Second placed New 97.3 was down 0.4 to 13.0% dropping in 25+ demographics, but still gaining younger listeners. Breakfast, evening and weekends were down for 97.3, but daytime listening was up. The station has number 4 breakfast in the market.

4MMM slipped 0.4, remaining in third place on 12.5%, gaining 25-39s but losing listeners in other demos. Drive was up for MMM, but all other shifts were slightly down.

ARN’s 4KQ dropped by 0.9 to 10.2% in fourth place, with a drop in newly revamped Bob Laurel & Handy Gary’s breakfast show and also in Dave D Whitcomb’s mornings and slight falls in most other shifts.

4BC was down 0.8 to 8.8%, losing older listeners to the ABC’s football and news coverage, with a significant drop in afternoons and mornings. ABC612 was up 1.1 to 7.8%, with strong increases in over 55s and gains in most shifts, particularly breakfast, morning and drive.

Triple J scored a good increase of 1.0 share points to 6.6%, with gains in all shifts. 4BH was up 0.1 to 5.5%, Classic FM dropped 0.2 to 3.1%, followed by Radio National down 0.8 to 2.6% and NewsRadio steady on 2.1%.

10-17s was won convincingly by B105 (51.1), ahead of 97.3 on 21.9;

18-24s was won by B105 (30.2), ahead of Triple M (22.9);

25-39s was won by Triple M on 22.8, second was B105 on 22.0;

40-54s was won by 4KQ with 18.0, ahead of B105 on 17.4 and

55+ was won by 4BC (21.5) ahead of ABC612 (19.8).

Adelaide:

SAFM once again won the Adelaide survey, but lost a little of its edge, down 1.6 to 19.5%, with a fall in 18-24s and falls in most shifts, particularly Evenings and Breakfast. SAFM again won breakfast with 18.5, but 5AA (18.2 at breakfast) closed the lead significantly, gaining 2 share points in its breakfast show and closing the gap on SAFM.

5AA was once again the success story of this survey, gaining another 1.7 overall to strengthen its second place at 16.4%, with the help of strong football coverage. 5AA gained listeners 55+ and increased in all shifts, particularly breakfast and morning.

Triple M also scored a good increase, up 1.1 to 14.6%, with a good gain in 18-24s and an increase in afternoons.

Mix 102.3 dropped 0.2 to 11.1, while ABC891 gained 0.8 to 10.1%. ABC891 gained at weekends and in breakfast, but is set for some format changes before the next survey, when long term presenter Philip Stachell leaves.

Triple J was down 0.4 to 6.8%, followed by 5DN down by a significant 2.2 to 5.5%, losing the gains of the last two surveys as it dropped 55+ listeners and declined on weekends, breakfast and most other shifts from the effects of football coverage on ABC and 5AA.

Classic FM was up 0.4 to 3.4%, Radio National was up 0.6 to 2.4% and NewsRadio was up 0.1 to 1.5%.

10-17s was dominated by SAFM (59.4), well ahead of Mix, on 9.3;

18-24s was also won by SAFM (38.2), ahead of Triple M (14.0);

25-39s was won by SAFM on 31.8, second was Triple M on 19.4;

40-54s was won by Triple M with 24.1, ahead of Mix on 15.3 and

55+ was won by 5AA (32.5) ahead of ABC891 (17.0).

Perth:

The aliens seem to have left Perth and released some of Nova’s audience, with the station one of the only ones to gain in Perth this survey (up 0.6 to 8.0%).

Market leader was Austereo’s Mix 94.5 on 20.5% (down 1.0), followed by ABC720, which gained a hefty 2.0, jumping to 11.5% on gains to weekends, evening and breakfast.

92.9 was in third place, down 0.5 to 11.8%, followed by 96FM, down 0.1 to 11.5%. 6PR dropped 1.1 to 8.7%, followed by Nova on 8.0%, Triple J down 0.4 to 6.1%, and 6IX down 0.2 to 5.4%

Radio National was down 0.7 to 2.2%, Classic Fm dropped 0.1 to 1.8% and NewsRadio was down 0.2 to 1.1%.

10-17s was won by Nova (30.7), ahead of 92.9 on 23.8;

18-24s was also won by 92.9 (23.3), ahead of 96FM (18.1);

25-39s was won by 94.5 on 21.8;

40-54s was won by 94.9 with 33.0and

55+ was won by ABC720 (28.3).

Nova

“It’s obvious we spent too much time going to the footy, and worrying about our tips,” Dan Bradley told Broadcast Professionals website radioinfo.

“It’s a real ‘footy’ result with all 3 AFL stations going up, and the rest of us all coming off.

“Additionally we weren’t lucky enough to have Gretel Killeen for the entire survey, which means footy was the big winner, and in September who are we to argue!” said Bradley.

Against this backdrop Nova 100 retained the number 1 position for all people aged 18-24 and 18-34 and ‘played’ second to Triple M in the 18-39 demographic.

Looking forward, Nova 100 is “very excited to announce that Gretel Killeen is on board for the rest of the year except during an overseas stint when Kate Langbroek returns to show off the baby.”

“It’s good to know that there’ll always be a brilliant, ball breaking woman in the mix,” said Nova 100’s Hughesy.

Austereo

“Overall the Austereo group maintained national leadership in all the key demographics under 40 according to the sixth AC Neilson survey for 2003,” said Austereo’s CEO Michael Anderson.

Triple M Melbourne saw a strong increase to become number two FM station overall lead by a substantial increase in 25-39 to record market leadership in this demographic.

Significantly the breakfast show ‘The Cage’ and drive show “The Whole Shebang” recorded strong increases.

Excellent results were also achieved by Austereo’s Fox FM station in Melbourne, where it maintained its number one FM position at 11.7% and gained listener numbers in both the 18-24 and 25-39 demographic markets.

These strong results continued in Brisbane with further increases for market leader B105 in both the 10 plus and in the breakfast shift where it increased 1.2 to 18.6%. Triple M in Brisbane enjoyed strong increase in the 25-39 age group where it achieved market leadership in that demographic.

Adelaide also saw very consistent results across both Austereo’s SAFM and 5MMM where strong growth was recorded in the key demographic of 25-39 with the two stations at the number one and two position respectively. SAFM maintained market leadership overall with a 19.5% share.

In the very competitive Perth market, Mix 94.5 not only retains the city’s number one spot overall at 20.5%, but increased its lead at number one in the 25-39 demographic. 92.9 maintained its number two position overall also enjoying strong increased in its target demographic of 25-39.

“Overall the Austereo group increased its share of 25-39 to 38.6%, up 1.4% from previous survey. We enjoyed FM market leadership in every market signalling a very consistent performance for the year to date,” said Michael Anderson.

“We were particularly pleased with the Melbourne result where we have had in place a strategy over the past 12-18 months that has seen both our stations assert leadership positions within the market,” he added.

Triple M Adelaide

With the release of today’s Nielsen Media Research Survey 6 results, 104.7 Triple M “has increased its total audience to 272,000 – an increase of 6,000 listeners from last survey.”

· Increase All People 10+ Share to 14.6%

· Highest ever number of listeners – 272,000 people listen to Triple M

· Grant, Jars & Milly in the Morning – No 2 FM at 13.9%

· Strong Number 2 FM station in All Weekday Shifts

· Number 1 All People 40-54 – Up to 24.1%

· Number 2 All People 25-39 – Up to 19.4%

General Manager, Noelene Buddle, said: “What a fantastic result for the team at Triple M! Not only have we have improved our position as the second most listened to music station in Adelaide, we have also strengthened our position in all key shifts and all key demographics. To have increased our total listeners to its highest ever figure is great.”

SAFM

Survey 6 results show that SA FM “is still Adelaide’s most listened to radio station. SA FM continues to lead the Adelaide radio market maintaining its No. 1 position with a 10+ All People share of 19.5%, and in all key demographics.”

Amongst the survey highlights:

* No.1 All People 10+ 19.5%

* No.1 Breakfast 18.5%

* No.1 Mornings 18.8%

* No.1 Afternoons 22.6%

* No.1 Drive 21.6%

* No.1 All People 18 – 24 38.2%

* No.1 All People 25 – 39 31.8%

* No.1 All People Under 40 37.3%

General Manager, Noelene Buddle, said: “The result reflects the hard work of the team in assuring that SA.FM continues to be the fun and entertaining radio station that Adelaide loves.”

ARN Adelaide

“MIX102.3 has weathered the footy finals storm with a stable share and 26,000 new listeners. The station’s Overall 10+ Cume has increased to 283,000* listeners despite the impact on radio listening generated by the success of both South Australian AFL teams,” says General Manager Steve Rowe.

MIX102.3’s recent on air changes, which were not reflected in this survey, include the brand new Breakfast Team – Kym, Ali & Dzelde, and Kev Mulcahy now heard in Afternoons. The change in the music focus has also cemented the station’s strength in the important Female demographics with MIX102.3 retaining the Number 2 position with Females 25 – 54.

Survey highlights include:

§ 283,000 listeners tuning in across all sessions Monday to Sunday

§ No 2 Share & Cume, 25 – 54 Females Monday to Sunday

Steve Rowe said: “MIX102.3 has undergone major renovations during a survey period where the football stations traditionally do well. This is a solid result in a traditionally volatile ratings period and with 26,000 new listeners I’m confident that we can capitalize on this growth and finish the year strongly”.

Commenting on 5DN Rowe told radioinfo:

5DN’s Ray Fewings was one of the big winners in today’s ratings. The popular nigh time host jumped 1.8% (from 7.7 to 9.5) the highest evening share increase of all stations.

“Fewings continues to win over Adelaide’s over 40 year olds with his unique brand of night talkback. His entertaining, intelligent and refreshing approach is providing a real alternative to FiveAA at night.”

5DN Program Director Ben Latimer said: “Ray’s result – in this normally football dominated period – is pleasing. In less than 12 months, Fewings has gained 12,000 new listeners. We aim to continue to build on this positive result.

Nova Perth

“In a typical Nova 93.7 move, while the rest of
the Perth commercial radio industry is going
down, Nova 93.7 is going up,” says Managing Director, Gary Roberts.

“Nova 93.7 is the only Perth commercial radio
station to increase overall share in the latest
Nielsen Media Research radio survey.”

Nova 93.7 increased overall share and
attracted another 22,000 listeners since the
release of the last result on 12 August 2003.

Nova 93.7 now has 280,000 different listeners
each week.

Nova 93.7 is up with:
10 – 17 year olds,
18 – 24 year olds,
18 – 34 year olds,
25 – 34 year olds.

NOVA 93.7 Managing Director, Gary Roberts,
apologised for the result and said: “In future,
we’ll try and keep in step with the rest of the
industry .”

4BC

“John Miller and Ross Davie have taken their popular Breakfast program to Number 2 in the Brisbane Market. In the latest Survey figures John and Ross have confirmed recent rises with an overall figure of 11.9%,” according to General Manager, David McDonald.

“4BC enjoyed a healthy rise in its overall 40-54 figure (up from 5.9 – 7.6%). Other highlights include:

– 4BC Number ONE Talk station

– 4BC Number ONE AM Breakfast show

– 4BC Number ONE AM Nights (8p.m- 12p.m)

4BC General Manager, David McDonald, was delighted with the Breakfast result: “This figure is a reflection of the hard work John and Ross have put in and is a measure of how much Brisbane is enjoying their mix of fun and news.”

“Ian Maurice, who has now moved into the vacated afternoon shift, continued his dominance of Brisbane nights. Up from 13.3% to 14.5% Ian was number Two overall but was a clear number one in all people 40 and over.”