Sydney Radio Ratings 2021, Survey 7: FM fightback as Triple M and Nova are up

Posted on 9 November 2021

• Ben Fordham climbs even higher, always the best choice to replace AJ

Sydney Radio Ratings 2021: Survey 7
GfK Survey 7, Survey Period: Sunday August 15 to Saturday September 18, and Sunday September 26 to Saturday October 30

UP: 104.9 Triple M/Nova 96.9 +0.7
DOWN: 2GB -0.7

2GB 15.7% (16.4%)

Cume: 772,000 -46,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 14.8% (13.2%)
Best Breakfast 17.9% (14.8%)

Breakfast host Ben Fordham managed to buck the station trend this survey as his breakfast shift lifted 1.0 to 19.8%. That’s one of the best breakfast shares ever. The numbers eased across all other dayparts with Ray Hadley down 1.7 to 18.3% and evening down 2.9 to 22.8%. Both are of course still way ahead as clear leaders in their respective dayparts.

WSFM 8.1% (7.6%)

Cume: 764,000 (-37,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 8.9% (7.1%)
Best Breakfast 9.1% (7.4%)

WSFM is now #1 FM despite the fact that breakfast dropped 0.9 to 7.9%, but Jonesy and Amanda remain a clear #2 FM breakfast. The biggest lift was in afternoon where share was up 2.0 to 10.2%. The music director should take a bow and the various announcers covering the slot including Phil O’Neil, Jason Stavaley and Steve Fitton. WSFM remains #1 40-54 and 55-64.

KIIS 1065 8.0% (8.0%)

Cume: 1,067,000 (-13,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 9.7% (8.1%)
Best Breakfast 11.3% (9.9%)

The station is now ranked #2 FM as sister station WSFM crept ahead to lead the FM market. Kyle and Jackie O remain clear breakfast leaders with share steady close to 11%. Morning dropped 0.6, but that was offset by afternoon lifting 0.6. Drive with Will and Woody was up 0.8 to 8.2% to trail only smoothfm drive in the FM race. KIIS is a big leader 25-39 and in second spot 18-24 and 40-54.

smoothfm 95.3 7.9% (8.0%)

Cume: 935,000 (-37,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 10.8% (8.1%)
Best Breakfast: 8.5% (6.2%)

Steady as you go survey result with several improvements starting with breakfast where Bogart and Glenn were up 0.4 to 4.9. Drive with Byron Webb remains #1 9n the market and smoothfm evening where Simon Diaz and Cameron Daddo rule was also up where the station also remains #1 FM.

Nova 96.9 5.4% (4.7%)

Cume: 980,000 (+4,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 7.7% (6.1%)
Best Breakfast 8.0% (6.4%)

The only FM station to grow cume this survey, albeit by a fairly modest amount. Fitzy and Wippa saw a turnaround which still has some way to go until they get near where they were 12 months ago. Morning and afternoon were also up, but drive was down marginally. The station has reclaimed leadership 18-24 with a massive swing of 7.0 to 20.4%. KIIS was the big other mover here, down 6.6 to 14.0%.

104.9 Triple M 5.4% (4.7%)

Cume: 562,000 (-7,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 6.1% (4.7%)
Best Breakfast 6.0% (4.9%)

While the station managed to lift this survey, the breakfast show remained bolted to its share of 4.6%, its equal lowest result in over five years. The decision to add MG to the breakfast might help bring in some new listeners who have abandoned the station at breakfast. The soon-to-depart Mick Molloy remains the highest-rating Triple M broadcaster with share up 0.7 to 6.8% in drive.

104.1 2Day FM 3.5% (3.4%)

Cume: 634,000 (-24,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 5.3% (3.3%
Best Breakfast 4.2% (2.5%)

The station still seems in limbo with the all-important breakfast share static on 2.9%, the third consecutive survey under 3.0. The station ranks #4 FM 18-24 and 25-39.

2UE 954 2.5% (2.7%)

Cume: 223,000 (+11,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 1.2% (0.6%)
Best Breakfast 1.1% (0.3%)

With ACE Radio to run the music stations for Nine next year the only way should be up!

Sky Sports Radio 1.3% (1.4%)

Cume: 172,000 (-40,000)
2020 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 0.9% (0.5%)
Best Breakfast 1.4% (0.4%)

Sky Sports lost half the cume growth from last survey. It has had a second consecutive breakfast share over 2.0 which hasn’t happened in a long, long time.

SEN 1170 0.5% (0.7%)

Cume: 79,000 (-33,000)

Share in breakfast, afternoon was steady with small gains in drive and evening. The down trend was driven by dips on the weekend and in weekday mornings.