The end is in sight for the 2023 radio ratings year, with the sixth survey results released last week.
See Also: Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 6: Highlights + Full Results
Mediaweek spoke with group program director for the Nova Network, Brendan Taylor, to discuss the survey highlights and what the rest of the year will look like for Nova Entertainment.
Reflecting on survey six, Taylor said “it’s good to see some great results with some great teams.”
“I’m just I’m so thrilled for everyone who put so much time and effort into their work, their content, and the shows they work on.”
With big results across the networks for shows like Drive’s Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel, and The Chrissie Swan Show, there is one particular highlight for the national network.
“Smallzy’s Surgery marks 10 years as the most listened to night show nationally, which I think is just a brilliant result for Smallzy, Zac, and the entire Surgery team,” said Taylor. “They put so much of themselves into these shows, and it’s so pleasing to see the results.
“It’s quite incredible, the consistency of the shows he delivers, the relationship he has with music stars and personalities alike. To do that over 10 years takes passion, dedication, and commitment to deliver survey in and survey out. We’re all really thrilled for him today, we’re actually wearing Smallzy t-shirts!”
Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small
The last 12 months have seen a lot of change in the Nova lineups around the country. Early results are strong, something that Taylor credits to “the support staff and producers around them for understanding the brand of Nova and the strategy of what we’re trying to achieve.”
“If you look back to the start of the year to where we are now, there was so much change on the Nova Network. Jodie and Hayesy were established in Adelaide, and are now the most listened to Breakfast Show in Adelaide for the sixth survey in a row. Ben, Liam and Belle have been establishing themselves in Melbourne, which is such a competitive market. Ricki-Lee came onto the Drive program with Tim and Joel and Kate Ritchie is settling in with Fitzy and Wippa.
Taylor also sings the praises of show’s that haven’t had a 2023 shake-up, with standout results in both Brisbane and Perth.
“There’s also the established shows, like in Brisbane we have the number one station and number one Breakfast Show with Ash, Luttsy and Susie O’Neill. It’s such a competitive marketplace where there are four stations with a share point between them.
“Likewise in Perth, where you’ve got the heritage of Nathan, Nat and Shaun. They’re constant performers with 20 shares in breakfast, and in Shaun’s 15th year and for Nathan and Nat at 20 years, it’s just so pleasing to see these great results for such great presenters.”
Outside of the Nova stations, smoothfm continues to be a quiet powerhouse across several markets.
“It’s worth highlighting smooth DAB as well in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth – a year on from when they were launched and they’re all number one in their respective markets. Credit to the teams and you know the music teams, particularly in smooth with Peter Clay and Kate Mason, they do such a great job.”
With two surveys left for 2023, Taylor said that the end of the year will see the Nova team with their “heads down, sticking to the strategy”.
“There are some really great content arcs from around the group, and tactically we know what we need to deliver. We’re also not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We made so much change at the beginning of the year, this year is about stabilising and establishing ourselves.”
–
Top Image: Brendan Taylor