AM/FM. Both tops on radio dial

It’s long been a point of contention between AM and FM operators in Sydney and Melbourne as to who gets to claim the number one spot.

It’s a little like the ongoing question of who the real winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race is – Line Honours or Handicap? Whatever the answer, in the Sydney to Hobart, it’s Line Honours that gets the lion’s share of media coverage and captures the public’s imagination. 

In radio, it seems the opposite is true.

In Sydney and Melbourne where AM talk stations 2GB and 3AW, followed by ABC SYD and MEL, have dominated for decades, it has become customary for the highest ranking FM station to market itself as Number One (FM), much to the frustration of the aforementioned AM stations who were clearly first and (usually*) second past the post. 

Interestingly, in the remaining three metro markets, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, where FM music stations dominate, the ABC Local Radio stations could each lay claim to holding down the number one spot (AM). 

However, that’s not a tactic that Aunty would consider using any time soon, according to ABC Head of Radio, Michael Mason. His only comment on the issue was, “We frequently note that sometimes a whole ratings story is written without any regard to our performance overall.”

That’s pretty much what riled Shane Healy who was 3AW’s GM in back in 2012 when radioinfo reported on his displeasure with the post survey spin adopted by FOX.  

Speaking on behalf of SCA Craig Bruce said at the time, “I think Shane’s just looking for a way in to remind everyone that AW won overall. We always focus on FM rather than 10 plus. For us it’s about beating ARN and DMG (now Nova Entertainment).”

* In Survey 2, 2017, ABC SYD was beaten into third place by smooth 95.3 FM.