In the first Newcastle survey for 2005, KOFM has maintained top position with 20.9%, ahead of sister station 106.9 NXFM (19.6%), despite both stations losing audience.

ABC 1233 had the biggest gain of the survey, jumping 3.1 share points to 11.5%. Caralis Super Network station New FM also jumped, up 1.5 share points to 9.7%, while sister station 2HD dropped 2.2 share points to 15.4%.

The Newcastle survey (Nielsen Media Research) covers the periods of 30 January-12 March and 3-16 April.

The Mon-Sun 5.30am-midnight figures are (previous survey in brackets):

* KOFM 20.9% (down from 22%)
* NXFM 19.6% (20.7)
* 2HD 15.4% (17.6)
* ABC 1233 11.5% (up from 8.4)
* NEWFM 9.7% (8.2)
* Triple J 6.1% (7.2)
* Classic FM 2.1% (1.4)
* Radio National 0.9% (1.3)
* NewsRadio 0.5% (1.1)

KOFM has scored #1 in breakfast and afternoons, while 2HD has come out on top in mornings and NXFM is #1 in drive and evenings.

NX FM dominated the younger demographics. 25-39s were won by NX FM, just ahead of New FM and KO FM. 40-54s were won by KO FM, and 55+ was won by 2HD.

Radio Newcastle General Manager, Steve Smith has told radioinfo: “We have to do a lot of things right for KO & NX to be the two most listened to radio stations in the region; to continue to widen the gap over the distant 3rd ranked station is a real credit to our on-air, music and promotions staff.”

Radio Newcastle’s two stations secured a 40.5% of the total listening audience in the Newcastle and The Hunter survey area.

The Radio Newcastle Breakfast teams – David and Tanya on KOFM, and Steve, Kim and the Crew on NXFM, increased their lead over other radio stations.

Survey promotions included David and Tanya making ‘winners of the Hunter’s Biggest Losers,’ and a ‘My Breakfast Rules,’ competition, while Steve, Kim and the Crew on NXFM had promotions called Race for the Rock, Dogs Day Out and Live with the Crew.