Sydney market ratings analysis and comment

NOVA

Nova’s GM Larry Bruce highlighted the station’s movement to number one in the 25-39 demographic as a key indicator this survey. He told radioinfo: “Our first ever number one for 25-39s is a great result… We are very pleased that our commitment to creating a different radio environment continues to attract a growing group of listeners across a broad age range.”

Nova’s PD Scott Muller, who is in New York at a conference, rang through this comment to radioinfo: “This ia a terriffic performance and a credit to the entire Nova team. We’ll celebrate it here.”

2UE

Commenting on John Laws’ survey result, 2UE GM Ian Sheppard told radioinfo: “He is incredible… his show remains relevant, contemporary and absolutely entertaining… he is a huge column of strength for this station and a great supporter of our other on-air presenters.” On Steve Price Sheppard said: “He has moved into third place and is already ahead in the highly important 25-54 age group… there are early but very encouraging signs of a changing of the guard in breakfast… the prospect for growth is exciting.”

2GB/2CH

Macquarie Network CEO George Buschman told radioinfo: “2CH is a story of consistency and PD Peter Burgham has done a great job. He really cares about the station.”

Commenting on the fall of 1.6 points on Alan Jones’ breakfast show Buschman said: “He’s been on air for 4 months and he’s taken us from ground zero to number one breakfast – so I think we can cut him a little slack don’t you… We are 0.6 of a point off the top position in the Sydney market. Our cume is continuing to increase, our time spent listening is up to 13 hours 10 minutes. It is a dream come true.”

In Sydney 2DAY retained top spot with 10.6%, down 1.1 from 11.7% last survey. 2DAY lost most listeners in the 18-24 demographic and dropped most in afternoons and weekends, reflecting the influence of football on the survey. 2GB was in second spot with 10.0%, down from 10.2% last survey. 2GB gained listeners in the 25-39 and 55+ demographics, but lost in others. 2GB’s Alan Jones’ Breakfast was down 1.6 share points, mornings and weekends were steady and other daytime shifts rose. Jones is the city’s number one breakfast announcer, followed by Harmer and Moon on 2Day then Price on 2UE.

Fighting back, 2UE regained some of its lost breakfast audience, with Steve Price gaining 1.7 share points. John Laws up 0.7 and other shifts also rose. 2UE was down in the 25-39 and 55+ demographics, but up in others, coming in at third place in the market. Fourth place getter was 2MMM, up 0.4 share points overall to 8.9%, with gains in the 18-24 demographic, but losses in 10-17s. After a significant advertising blitz for the breakfast show, MMM breakfast rose by only 0.1 share points, but mornings, afternoons and weekends did better, holding up the station’s overall figure.

Fifth placed Nova gained 0.4 share points to 8.7% with gains in the 10-17 and 25-39 demographics. Evenings and Ugly Phil’s Drive shift had the biggest increases on the station. ABC702 slipped by 0.2 share points and is in 6th place with 7.8%. Gains in mornings and weekends offset slight falls in other shifts for ABC702.

ARN stations Mix 106.5 and WSFM were in seventh and eighth place. Mix had a strong gain of 0.7 share points, up to 7.5%, with gains in all demographics and increases across the week – especially weekends and evenings. WSFM was down 0.5 to 7.2% with losses in most demographics except 55+. Breakfast went up while most other shifts decreased for WS

2CH was down by 0.1 share points to 6.9% in ninth place, with gains in breakfast and afternoon offsetting falls in other shifts. Triple J regained some listeners, gaining 0.6 share points to 4.5% on the back of rises in all shifts, particularly Drive. Classic FM was steady at 2.4%, NewsRadio was up by 0.4 to 1.5% and Radio National dropped by 0.3 to 1.7%. 2KY slipped 0.3 to 1.4% and 2SM was down by 0.1 to 0.8%.