Survey 4 capital city results have been released. The survey dates were March 30-May 3 and May 11-June 14.

Click on the Nielsen Ratings link (left) to see the overall results and click on the link below for detailed shift breakdowns which are now available.The survey was conducted for Commercial Radio Australia by Nielsen Media Research.

Around the country it was pretty much a “steady as she goes” survey, with few major movements greater than one share point.

In Sydney 2DAY strengthened its hold on top share spot this survey with an increase of 0.7 share points to 11.4%. 2GB also increased (up 0.7) retaining second place with 10.9%. Nova was in third place at 10.5%.

The biggest increase of the survey was ABC 702, up 1.2 to 7.6%. The biggest share decrease was 2CH, down 1.6 to 6.3%. WS FM also dropped 1.1 to 6.7%.

2DAY won the 10-17 demographic with a share of 32.6; 18-24s was won by Nova with 34.4. 25-39s was a close tussle between 2DAY (16.2) and Nova (15.2), with Mix and 2MMM also close to the leaders. 40-54s was won by 2DAY (11.8), closely followed by ABC702 and WSFM; and 55+ was won by 2GB (24.8) followed by 2UE and 2CH. 2GB also led the grocery buyers category.

Breakfast was won by 2GB (16.0) ahead of 2DAY. Mornings was won by 2DAY (11.1) closely followed by 2UE (10.8) and Nova (10.6). Afternoons was also won by Nova (12.8) with 2DAY a point behind. Nova (21.8) and 2DAY (21.1) dominated Drive, and evenings was won by 2DAY (13.4). Weekends were won by 2GB (10.8) and 2DAY (10.6).

In Melbourne 3AW dropped 0.4 share points, but is still well ensconced in top spot with 15.9%. Fox dropped slightly by 0.1 to 12.0% in second place. Nova was in third place at 10.8%, closely followed by ABC774 on 10.6%.

The biggest increases of the survey were Triple M, up 0.7 to 9.6% and Radio National up 0.7 to 2.3%. The biggest share decrease was Sport 927, down 0.8 to 1.8%. Gold FM also dropped 0.6 to 9.2%.

Fox won the 10-17 demographic with a share of 39.4; 18-24s was won by Nova with 28.1. 25-39s was a close tussle between Fox (17.3) and Nova (17.4), with Mix and 3MMM also close to the leaders. 40-54s was won by Gold FM (19.4), followed by 3AW (14.9) and ABC774 (12.0); and 55+ was won by 3AW (31.1) followed by ABC774 and Magic. 3AW also led the grocery buyers category.

Breakfast was won by 3AW (18.8) ahead of ABC774 and FOX. Mornings was won by 3AW (17.2) closely followed by Gold (11.0). Afternoons was also won by ABC774 (13.4) and 3AW (16.8) won Drive and evenings. Weekends were won by 3AW (13.8) with FOX and ABC774 a couple of points behind.

In Brisbane B105 held on top share spot despite a fall of 0.6 to 17.8%. MMM104 increased by 1.1 share points to 14.1%, moving into second place. New97.3 dropped 0.1 to 13.9%, moving into third place, followed by 4KQ (11.0).

The biggest increase of the survey was MMM and the biggest share decrease was JJJ, down 0.8 to 5.1%.

B105 won the 10-24 demographics, ahead of MMM and New97.3. 25-39s was won by MMM (24.8) closely followed by B105 and NEW97.3. 40-54s was won by 4KQ (19.4) and 55+ was won by 4BC (25.5). B105 led the grocery buyers category.

Breakfast was won by B105 (18.0) ahead of MMM. Mornings was won by B105 (16.6) closely followed by MMM (16.3). Afternoons, Drive, and evenings were all won by B105. Weekends was won by B105 (16.2) with ABC612 just behind (15.6) and 4KQ and MMM also close.

In Adelaide SAFM was still dominant with 23.9% (down 0.2). 5MMM also decreased (0.1) but moved into second place with 14.6%, jumping ahead of 5AA, which had the biggest drop of the survey (down 2.4) to 14.3%.

The biggest increase of the survey was 5DN, up 1.5 to 7.2%.

SAFM won the 10-17 demographic with a share of 62.6 and also won the demos 18-39. 40-54s was won by 5MMM (24.5) and 55+ was won by 5AA (27.5). SAFM also led the grocery buyers category. SAFM won all shifts on weekdays and weekends. 5AA’s biggest loss came in mornings (down 3.2), but all the station’s shifts were down.

In Perth Mix 94.5 continues to hold top spot, down 0.2 to 22.2% well out in front of closest competitors 92.9 and ABC702. 92.9 increased (up 0.8), moving into second place with 11.1%. ABC702 was in third place at 10.6%, followed by 96FM at 10.0% .

The biggest increases of the survey were ABC Radio National and 92.9, both up by 0.8. The biggest share decrease was ABC720, down 0.7.

92.9 won the 10-17 demographic with a share of 32.0; 18-24s was won by Nova with 25.2. The 25-54 demos were won by MIX, with 6PR winning 55+. MIX led the grocery buyers category.

Breakfast was won by MIX (22.8) ahead of ABC702. MIX also dominated other weekday and weekend shifts.

Austereo

Austereo has again recorded number one station overall in Sydney, with 2Day FM up to 11.4% of all listeners.

2Day FM also maintained the overall lead in the key 25-39 demographic and recorded number one FM station in the breakfast shift with an increase to 11%.

Austereo’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael Anderson said: “Survey four results sees Austereo entering the new financial year in the strongest position it has enjoyed in recent years.”

“It is particularly pleasing that after two of the most competitive years ever in the industry, Austereo has maintained great consistency and have continued to set the standard that other stations aspire to.”

Austereo enters the year with the Today Network number one overall in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and number one FM in Melbourne.

The Triple M Network which has focused on its offering to listeners has had great results in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne where with no marketing but with innovative strategies Triple M has shown strong growth in its core demographics of 18-39 and 10 plus overall.

“This is a great foundation as we have the plans in place that will reinstate Triple M as one of Australia’s great brands,” said Anderson.

Austereo’s Group Program Manager, Jeff Allis told radioinfo: “Austereo intends to continue to set the standard.

Austereo’s Melbourne stations both had “excellent results, with Fox FM maintaining its number one FM station position and both Fox FM and Triple M increasing their listener numbers overall and within the 25-39 age group.”

In Adelaide, SAFM has “remained the city’s number one station overall,” and continues its lead in the crucial 18-24 and 25-39 demographics. Triple M moved into second place for 10 plus.

“A highlight for Adelaide was the significant increase in the 18-24 demographic, with an increase of 5.0 to 56% of that market,” said Allis.

Austereo’s Triple M in Brisbane saw a “strong result” recording a 1.1% increase to become number two station overall. B105 retained its position of number one at 17.8%

Mix 94.5 in Perth “retained the city’s number one spot” and is number one in the 25-39 demographic. 92.9 recorded a significant increase of 5.5 to 20.7 % in the 18-24 age group.

Nova 96.9 Sydney

Nova 969 is “gob-smacked” that 2 guys and a campfire have landed the station its best survey result ever.

General Manager Mandi Wicks said: “We threw everything at Camp Merrick and Rosso – where listeners were given the opportunity to go bush with the boys for the weekend. Sure, it was byo sleeping bags, but there was more than enough deep fried food to go ’round and plenty of putt putt and karaoke to keep the troops entertained.”

Nova 969 is also extremely excited by its results across the day:

10+ – 10.5% (up 0.4%)

Merrick and Rosso Breakfast Show – 9.7% (up 0.8%)

Bianca Dye (9am-12pm) – 10.6% (stable)

Kip (12pm-3pm) – 12.9% (up 0.6%)

Rabbit (3pm-7pm) – 12.8% (up 1.1%)

Andy G (7pm-10pm) – 11.4% (up 0.9%)

Age groups:

Under 40 – 21%, #1 by 2.5%

18-24 – 34.4% , #1 by 19.2%

25-34 – 19.3%, #1 by 2.3%

55+ – 0.1%, (no change)

Nova 100 Melbourne

After recording it’s third consecutive ratings increase this year, the station is wondering if its luck “must soon run out.”

General Manager, Fiona Cameron said: “Surprisingly the station was the top rating radio station in Melbourne for all audiences aged between 18 and 54. We don’t expect to win in such a broad demographic but it is great that so many people in Melbourne choose to tune in.”

Nova’s 10+ figure is 10.8% compared with 10.3% last survey. The station was number one 18-39 (20.7) and 18-54 (14.3).

Program Director, Dan Bradley said: “For Hughesy, Kate and Dave to increase by a point to 10.0% is exciting, because it shows when we can actually keep them on air at the same time, they’re not too bad…”

Nova 93.7 Perth

The latest official radio survey “shows that 0.0% of women over the age of 60 listen to Nova 93.7.”

Nova 93.7’s share “crashed from 0.3% to nothing – our worst result ever with the over 60s.”

Managing Director Gary Roberts said: “We are not hopeful that the addition of Nathan Morris (from big brother 2) to our breakfast team is likely to attract the Grannies back either! However, we have no doubt Nathan will help Nova 93.7 maintain its no.1 ranking with their grandkids – Perth’s 18 to 34 year olds.

In its first 6 months on the air, Nova 93.7 has dominated 18 to 34 year olds with an average share of 20.8%, 18 to 39 males
with an average share of 19.9% and under 35’s with an average share of 22.0%.

ARN

Sydney

After more than a year as “the number 1 station with people 40-54,” WSFM slipped back to number 2. Interestingly, it was 2DAYFM that edged ahead which seems incongruous to their format. Traditionally, WSFM drops in Winter and 2DAY ran the Secret Sound promo, so it is likely WSFM will bounce back in the near future.

“MIX106.5 improved overall but slipped back to number 3 with women 25-44.” Nonetheless, the MIX format nationally is gaining momentum and will benefit from unique marketing plans in the near future.

Melbourne

Another “outstanding result for GOLDFM,” increasing it’s 40-54 share and consolidating its number 1 people 25-54 position despite increases on 3AW, Triple M and Nova. The strength of the Classic Hits brand nationally is that it is the only FM music format targeting 40-54’s in the nation. “As this age group gets larger as a percentage of the total population, Classic Hits will only get stronger.”

MIX 101.1 benefited from some innovative TV advertising with a big increase in its under 40 audience. The full effects of this campaign will be seen in coming surveys as MIX101.1 hammers away at the 25-44 demo.

Brisbane

97.3FM is now “Brisbane’s number 1 station with females 25-44 and number 2 with all people 25-54.” Conversely, 97.3 “goes from strength to strength and is now a dominant player in the market.”

4KQ again showed the consistency of the Classic Hits format by again being number 1 40-54. In combination, the ARN stations average audience is now just 7,000 behind Austereo.

Adelaide

For the first time in several surveys there was little movement in the Adelaide market, except for a very interesting shift in the 55+ area. Classic Hits 5DN “tends to sit a little older than other Classic Hits stations due to the broader FM formats in Adelaide.” In this survey, 5DN increased 5.2 share points 55+ and at the same time 5AA lost 8.1.

MIX 102.3 was steady in all demographics and dayparts as was SAFM and Triple M.

Radio National

ABC Radio National achieved the station’s best-ever 5-city share
result since the current format of AC Nielsen surveys began in 1991.

The 5-city share (2.7%) increased by 29% over the previous survey.
Radio National’s reach was 726,000. “Given that the station has
roughly 50% more listeners in the other non-surveyed areas of
Australia, this means that Radio National can conservatively claim
over one million listeners nationally.”

Highlights of the survey include:

– Record share and reach in Brisbane. Share rose by 1.3% (up 44%)
over the previous survey. The Drive slot, featuring Brisbane-based
program Australia Talks Back presented by best-selling author Sandy
McCutcheon, had a strong survey with a share rise of 1.6%, up 52%
compared to the previous survey.

– Sydney reach exceeds, and share matches, any survey of the past
10 years.

– The station performed well above recent surveys in the Breakfast
timeslot. Peter Thompson’s return to the station this year is now
attracting strong audiences.

– Evenings also performed well, especially in Perth where share rose
by 3.9% (up 144%). This slot features Phillip Adams’s program Late
Night Live as well as Radio National’s latest recruit Francis Leach
(ex-Triple J) who presents the new music, entertainment and arts
program called The Deep End.

– Perth share rose by 0.8% (up42%) compared to the previous survey.

– Melbourne share rose 0.7% (up 44%) compared to the previous survey.

The week ending 15 June, 2003, also saw Radio National report the
busiest week ever for its website with 481,128 accesses, the highest
number since records began in 1996.

Radio National programs are also broadcast internationally through
a range of networks including Radio Australia, giving the station’s
programs an even larger number of listeners worldwide.

ABC 702

The latest AC Nielsen Survey results have proved extremely gratifying for the team at 702 ABC Sydney with solid increases in audience share for all programs and in its target age demographics.

The station increased its overall share by 1.3% to 7.7%, demonstrating the highest percentage increase of any station in the market. This figure was helped by a very strong increase in the station’s target market of 40-54 year olds, with a considerable increase of 3.6%, out-rating rival talk station 2UE.

BREAKFAST presenter Angela Catterns is back in 3rd position amongst talk presenters and holds first place with the targeted 40-54 year olds, with a share of 12.7% and a reach of 140,000. In terms of overall audience share, she is ranked 2nd in talk, with a percentage share of 9.6%, behind 2GB at 16% and ahead of 2UE on 8.6%.

DRIVE presenter Richard Glover is in first position in talk, in terms of audience share (at 10.3% ahead of 2UE at 9.3% and 2GB at 8.4%) and reach. Glover can claim the most listeners of all three talk stations. In particular, he is strongest in the 40-54 age group, with 97,000 listeners (ahead of 2UE on 62,000 and 2GB on 57,000).

702 ABC Sydney Station Manager Roger Summerill is delighted with the results: “The consistent performance of 702 ABC Sydney demonstrates what a great team we have and how switched into Sydney they are. As a result of this teamwork, Sydneysiders in ever-increasing numbers are tuning into 702 ABC Sydney”.

4BC

Brisbane’s 4BC has achieved “another consistent ratings result,” attracting more than nine per cent for four surveys in a row – for the first time in 15 years.

The year’s fourth Nielsen Media survey shows Breakfast with John Miller and Ross Davie attracted more than 11 per cent for four surveys in a row – also the first time in 15 years.

Talk 1116 Brisbane’s 4BC attracted its most weekly listeners in five years (194,000), and in 2003 has had the biggest growth in listeners this year of any Brisbane radio station (from 171,000 to 194,000).

Among the other results:

· Time spent listening was 15 hours 28 minutes a week.

· JOHN LAWS jumped from 12.1 to 13.1 and remained Number One AM.

· BRIAN BURY increased his audience (noon-3pm weekdays) from 6.6 to 7.8.

· CHRIS ADAMS attracted more listeners to the 3-6pm slot (98,000, up from 89,000) than the station has achieved in at least eight years.

· IAN MAURICE jumped from 12.2 to 12.4 and is Number One AM in the 8pm-midnight weekday slot.

· Talk 1116 Brisbane’s 4BC was one of just two commercial stations to increase its audience share, rising from 9.5 to 9.7.

General Manager David McDonald said: “Our audience growth shows Talk 1116 Brisbane’s 4BC is clearly established as the dominant talk and news force, and that the growth is continuing,” General Manager David McDonald said. “In 2003, 4BC is consistently the leader for news, views, interviews and interaction from listeners. We encourage our many new listeners to interact with the rest of Brisbane on 4BC.”