Reflecting the hunger for national news and analysis in the nation’s capital during the recent election period, the latest Canberra survey shows big gains for ABC Radio National and NewsRadio, while other local stations fell. Canberra 104.7 remains the market leader, followed by ABC666, although both lost share this survey.

Radio National recorded the biggest gain of the survey, up 2 share points to 8%, and the ABC’s other national networks also gained, with NewsRadio up 1.1% overall to 4.2%, triple j gaining 1% to score 9.0% and ABC Classic FM up 1.6% to 9.2%.

All other local stations dropped.

Top station Canberra 104.7 lost 2.2 share points to score 18.0% overall, followed by local ABC station ABC666, which dropped by 1.2 share points to 17.3%. Third placed Mix 106.3 scored 15.5%, down 1.4 on last survey.

2CC dropped 0.5 to 5.8% and sister station 2CA was down 1.1 share points to 5.7%.

104.7 won the under 40 demographics, Mix won 40-54s, and ABC666 won the over 55s.

ABC666 breakfast with Ross Solly, which also includes News and AM, won that timeslot with an increase of 2.6 share points, and Radio National breakfast with Fran Kelly had the next biggest gain, up 2.5 share points this survey.  2CC (not 2CA, thanks for pointing this out Pete, see reader comment below) and NewsRadio also had small gains in breakfast, while other stations fell in that timeslot.

Mix won mornings, 104.7 won afternoons and drive, ABC666 won evenings and weekends.

The survey took place during the election period, between Sun August 1 – Sat August 28, 2010.

Commenting on his stations 104.7 and Mix, Canberra FM Radio General Manager Eoghan O’Byrne has told radioinfo:  “It is great to see both stations retaining their strong positions in the market. The absolute highlight of this survey is our combined audience which is now recorded at 168,400 or more than 48% of Canberra’s radio listening market. This continues both stations’ dominance of the Canberra commercial radio market.”