You know the Nova Entertainment ratings achieved in GfK Survey 4, 2023 are something special when the chief executive weighs in with a comment.
In addition to comments from Nova group program operations director Brendan Taylor this week, Mediaweek also got this from CEO Peter Charlton:
“Survey 4 has been another great result for Nova Entertainment where we remain the country’s most listened-to metro network, connecting with 6.4 million Australians every week. On FM alone, we added another 64,000 listeners becoming the only metro network reaching over 6 million people. Using GFK’s new Radio 360 methodology, we can also confirm that Nova is the country’s most streamed network with 760,000 connected listeners. This has been a fantastic set of results and a reflection of the huge amount of effort that everyone across Nova Entertainment puts in every day.”
Chrissie Swan
Nova Entertainment’s quiet achievers
While the focus is, quite correctly, on breakfast radio performance, the broadcaster shone the spotlight on some of its other regular strong performers noting that the Nova stations combined make the most listened-to network with over 4.2 million listeners nationally (4,220,500).
Nova’s Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel (4-6pm) can boast about being #1 drive show nationally with 12.2% share and the most listened to with 1,629,600 cume. Original member Tim Blackwell has been able to manage the transition to a new team after the departures of first Marty Sheargold and then Kate Ritchie.
Newcomer to the Nova brand is the Chrissie Swan Show (2pm-4pm) and the data now indicates it is the most listened-to show nationally (1,564,600) in the timeslot.
And let’s not forget Smallzy’s Surgery, again the #1 FM night show in share (9.5%) and cume (652,600). Read about Smallzy here and his talented EP Zach here.
With more detail about the ratings performance, Brendan Taylor told Mediaweek: “Both our brands are in a really strong position at the halfway mark of the year.”
Starting with Nova 100, Taylor reminded us about its best result in a decade. “And what a great boost of confidence for Ben, Liam and Belle and their team. It’s a reward for the hard work they have put in this year. The strong performance of breakfast is reflected in our strong workday numbers where the show is keeping people listening to the brand. We have the #1 drive show in Melbourne, a timeslot that is super competitive with quality shows.
“During the last survey Sarah McGilvray has been working with the show and it’s really pleasing to see good results from everyone’s work.” McGilvray is also spending time with the team on the Chrissie Swan Show and also Smallzy’s Surgery.
A challenge in Sydney?
Share in Sydney breakfast with Fitzy, Wippa and Kate dropped slightly meaning the change of breakfast line-up is yet to have a positive impact. “The show still has a very healthy cume,” Taylor stressed.
“Any change will take time,” he added by way of explanation. “We are adjusting the show and it is being refined. As we ride out a few surveys we will see the rewards as we come into the back end of the year.”
As to the future of a breakfast show that has been on air for so long, Taylor said: “Fitzy and Wippa have been so consistent over the years. They are well integrated into our business and having Kate arrive is refreshing the show.”
Nova Brisbane has fought its way back to be #1 station even if breakfast still sits at #2, narrowly behind B105. “The breakfast cume is over 700,000 and in share is just 0.2 from being #1. We are very confident about future success listening to the content we are broadcasting now which is centred around Susie. All of the team – Ash, Luttsy and Susie – are so competitive and they badly want to return to #1.”
Jodie and Hayesy
Jodie and Hayesy soon to go 6-9am?
While Triple M Adelaide has been performing very strongly this year, Taylor was keen to point out by cume Nova is the #1 Adelaide station. “The big point about our performance in Adelaide is Jodie and Hayesy. Their share has increased into double figures and they are now the most-listened-to breakfast show in four surveys in a row.
“Josh, Emily and Zoe work on that show with Jodie and Andrew and they are all doing such a great job.”
So when will Nova unleash that team across three hours instead of starting the show at 7am daily? “It’s a question that gets raised a lot,” admitted Taylor. “The team want that, but we are mindful that we get the show right before we’d do that. We feel there’s still some way to go.”
Taylor didn’t want to comment, but looking at past Nova programming performance it wouldn’t be a surprise if Nova quietly extended Jodie and Haysey toward the end of the year to gauge reaction before making the switch permanent.
Perth continues to celebrate the 20 years of Nathan Morris on air in the best way possible – pulling astronomical shares. Breakfast with Nathan, Nat and Shaun was again boasting a 20%+ share this survey. “That result just shows the strength of the connection they have with the Perth audience,” said Taylor.
Mike Perso leads smoothfm charge
Taylor was full of praise for the work done by Melbourne breakfast host Mike Perso and his colleagues with the Melbourne station posting a share of 8.9% with station share on 9.6%.
Sydney too had some record numbers to share from the survey results including record share of 1.35m.
“Peter Clay and the smoothfm team should also be acknowledged for an amazing job.”
smoothfm DAB+ is #1 in cume in Adelaide and Perth and #3 in Brisbane.