Survey 7: leaders 2GB and 3AW drop, good news for vega

The results of the seventh Nielsen Media Research ratings survey for 2006 have just been released. 2GB and triple M took a hit in Sydney, while 3AW and ABC774 also lost share in Melbourne, reflecting the effect of a post-footy season survey and perhaps also the fall out from publicity surrounding the Jonestown book. Alan Jones’ 2GB breakfast show was down 1.1 share points.

The survey was conducted for Commercial Radio Australia between Sun July 30 – Sat September 02, and Sun September 17 – Sat October 21, 2006. Click in the left margin (KNOWLEDGE BASE/Nielsen Ratings section) to view the share tables or click below for the demographics and shift figures.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sydney

2GB had the biggest fall of the survey, down 1.4 share points overall to 11.6%, still the market leader, but with 2Day FM closing in fast. 2Day scored 11.1%, up 1.4 share points, one of the biggest gains of the survey.

Triple M fell 1.2 share points to 7.4%. WS FM scored a much needed gain of 1.2 share points, lifting it to 6.8%. Mix 106.5 also lifted, up by 0.7 to 7.3%.

Vega’s Sydney result finally turned upwards, gaining 0.3 share points to 2.0%.

ABC702 slipped inconsequentially, down 0.1 to 9.3% and 2UE was down 0.2 to 8.3%.

Melbourne

ABC774 had the biggest drop of the survey, down 1.8 share points to 10.9%. 3AW also dropped, down 1.1 to 14.9%, cutting its impressive lead a little but still winning top spot in the market.

Vega Melbourne had even better news than the Sydney station, improving by one whole share point to 2.8%. Mix 101.1 also improved well, also up by 1.0 share points to 6.6%.

Fox was second placed with 12.5%, up 0.6 share points. Gold also improved, up 0.7 to 11.0%.

Brisbane

Triple M had the biggest drop of the survey, down 1.6 share points to 12.1%. Nova 106.9 also fell by 0.7, but retained top spot at 14.3%.

ABC612 had the biggest gain of the survey, jumping significantly by 2.9 share points to score 10.0% and move into fourth place.

Adelaide

SAFM dropped significantly, down 2.2 share points to 12.8%. Market leader 5AA also dipped a little, losing 0.5 to 16.1%.

Triple M had the biggest gain, up 1.1 share points to 8.2%. Cruise also improved, up by 0.8 to 7.0%, and Nova gained 0.7 to score 12.2%. ABC891 gained 0.8, up to 11.5%.

Perth

96FM had the biggest drop this survey, down 2.7 share points to 11.6%. ABC Classic FM scored the bigest gain of the survey, up by 1.4 share points to 3.5%. 92.9FM gained 1.1 share points to 10.4%.

Mix 94.5 retained its top spot despite dropping 0.8 to 17.4%. Nova 93.7 was up 0.8 to 12.6%, 6IX gained 0.3 to 5.4%, 6PR dropped 0.3 to 10.2% and ABC720 gained 0.1 to 10.8%.

COMMENTS

vega

Sydney’s vega 95.3fm increased its ratings across all sessions in the seventh Nielsen Media Research survey for 2006.

The station improved its overall share from 1.7 to 2.0% with 269,000 total listeners, and achieved consistent increases across the day:

Breakfast with Ange, Tony and Bec 1.8% (up 0.3)

Mornings with Jason Staveley 2.0% (up 0.2)

Afternoons with Jen Oldershaw 2.0% (up 0.6)

Drive with Nathan Hardy 2.2% (up 0.6)

Weekends 2.2% (up 0.1)

vega 95.3fm also increased share across all demographics including the key 40 – 54 age group to 3.4% (up 0.6).

“This is great news for vega in Sydney and Melbourne and we are excited about the future of both stations,” General Manager vega 95.3fm, Mandi Wicks said.

“We’ve always said vega 95.3fm’s audience will build over time and this is a step in the right direction. We’ll keep focusing on the sound of the radio station and spreading the word that vega 95.3fm provides a real alternative for adults on the FM band.”

In Melbourne, vega 91.5fm achieved an increase overall to 2.8% (up 1%), up in all shifts with an overall audience increase to 296,000, adding 80,000 new listeners.

Vega 91.5fm attracted 80,000 new listeners, increasing its weekly cumulative audience to 296,000 listeners according to the seventh Nielsen Media Research survey released today.

Vega 91.5fm has shown growth overall and in every daypart:

· Overall vega 91.5fm went from a 1.8% to 2.8%

· Dave and Denise with Shaun Micallef increased to 2.1%

· Mornings with Francis Leach up from a 2.3% to 3.3%

· Afternoons with Mike Perso lifted from 2.6% to 3.8%

· Drive with Wilbur Wilde went from 1.3% to 2.8%

· Nights with Sally Rope from a 1.2% to a 2%

Increases continued in vega 91.5fm’s key demographics:

· 25-54 year olds – grew from 3% to a 4.5%

· 40-54 year olds – rising from 3% to 4.6%

Sam Thompson, vega 91.5fm General Manager said, “It’s great that 80,000 new listeners have found vega 91.5fm on their radio. People getting to know us and finding us on the dial continues to be our focus”.

Nova Network

In the seventh Nielsen Media Research survey for 2006 released today, DMG’s national Nova radio network continued to hold the leading position for the All People 18-39 demographic across Australia.

Nova 969 in Sydney achieved an overall share of 7.4% in the survey and increased its share in the 18-24 age group to 23.4% overall and in the 25-39 age group to 11.1% overall. The Merrick and Rosso breakfast show performed consistently and maintained the No. 2 FM position in the marketplace with a share of 8.7%.

In the Melbourne market, Nova 100 achieved an overall share of 8.2% and maintained its leadership of the 18-24 demographic with an overall share of 23.9%.

Nova 106.9 Brisbane achieved a strong No. 1 position in the Brisbane market for the 6th consecutive time with a share of 14.3% overall. The station produced another No. 1 result for the breakfast shift with Kip, Meshel, Ash & Luttsy with a 13.9% share overall.* Nova 106.9 Brisbane continued to lead in the key demographics of 10-17, 18-24 and All People Under 40 in the market.

Nova 919 in Adelaide increased share for the second consecutive time from 11.5% to 12.2% overall. Nova 919 maintained its strong leading position in 18-24’s with an increase in share to 35.8 % overall and achieved the No. 1 position for All People Under 40 in the market. The station performed well in breakfast with Fitzy, Jules, Tony & Lisa, increasing share to 10.9% overall.

Nova 937 in Perth enjoyed its best ever overall result increasing share from 11.8% to 12.6%. The station maintained its leadership in the key demographics of 18-24, 18-39 and All People Under 40 in the market. The Nova breakfast team of Nathan & Nat also performed strongly increasing their share from 12.0% to 13.1%.

FIVEaa

DMG’s talk station FIVEaa remained Adelaide’s outright No. 1 station for the fourth consecutive time with a 16.1% share. The breakfast show with Keith Conlon, Tony Pilkington, Jon Blake, Jane Doyle & Chris McDermott continued with a dominant No. 1 share of 18.6%. Similarly in drive, FIVEaa’s well known team of KG & Cornesy maintained their No. 1 strength, with a share of 18.9% overall.

Australian Radio Network

The Australian Radio Network’s stations in the key markets of Sydney and Melbourne have recorded substantial increases in audience share, with Mix 106.5 in Sydney attracting an additional 48,000 listeners in the latest survey results.

This means Mix 106.5 now has 7.3 per cent of all audience in Sydney, up 0.7 points on the previous survey, while its sister station in Melbourne, Mix 101.1, jumped by a point to a 6.6 audience share.
The Classic Hits stations also performed well, with WS FM in Sydney jumping by 1.2 points to 6.8 and GOLD FM in Melbourne up 0.7 points to 11 points.

In Adelaide, Mix 102.3 dropped slightly but comfortably retained its position as the number one FM station in the market, with an overall audience share of 14.8, while Cruise 1323 continued to go from strength to strength – up 0.8 points to seven points.

The Chief Executive of ARN, Bob Longwell, said he was pleased with the results but questioned again the fluctuations experienced by stations across the board from survey to survey.

“We believe ARN stations are now back where they belong,” Mr Longwell said. “We know we have an excellent product and intelligent, loyal listeners – and this is reflected in our own internal research.

“And yet, we sometimes experience wild fluctuations in listener numbers in the official ratings that make absolutely no sense. It’s an industry-wide issue and one ARN is continuing to pursue through industry bodies.”

Mr Longwell said the results nationally confirmed that ARN’s continuing strategy of targeting the commercially-important 25 to 54 age demographic was paying dividends.

Austereo

Austereo’s 2Day FM in Sydney and Fox FM in Melbourne have cemented their leadership of their key FM markets in today’s radio ratings. Both stations posted stellar results, led by breakfast shows which are the clear FM favourites.

Austereo chief executive officer Michael Anderson said the two stations had been consistent market leaders throughout the year.

“Together with SAFM, which has been the number one or two FM station in Adelaide throughout the year, and a resurgent B105 in Brisbane, the Today network is continuing to lead the way for the group,” he said.

“Both 2Day FM and Fox FM have tapped into their audiences this year with fantastic breakfast shows and a confident selection of hit music. They’ve shown the way and early indications of the trends over the past year would suggest we have growth ahead for B105, SAFM and 92.9 in Perth.

“The amazing success in Sydney and Melbourne demonstrates the importance we have placed on developing a clear, well-defined strategy for the Today network, with a focus on hit music and entertaining shows.”

Mr Anderson said the Triple M network continued to deliver consistent results in a very crowded market.

“Triple M is the equal number two FM station in Sydney, equal number three in Melbourne, number two overall in Brisbane and returning to form in Adelaide,” he said.

“In Perth, Mix 94.5 has continued its market leadership. We’ve seen the Triple M results settle slightly this survey, but the overall trend is strong.

“It’s been an affirmation of our strategy to have two differentiated networks that are complementary, rather than competitive. That strategy has allowed each network to drive consistently good performance.

“Both networks have continued to deliver very strong results in the all-important 25 to 39-year-old audience around the country.

“We continue to maintain clear FM leadership nationally, with the number one FM station in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and the number two FM station in Brisbane and Adelaide.”

Austereo chairman Peter Harvie said: “The survey period saw exceptional weights of competitive marketing. However, Austereo stations shrugged off the marketing attack and demonstrated consistency in audience results.”

3AW

3AW is the number one radio station in Melbourne (AM and FM) rating 14.9% Mon-Sun 5.30am-midnight.
3AW has been number one for 31 consecutive surveys – a record for the Melbourne radio market. 3AW is number one Breakfast, Morning and Weekends.

3AW Program Director Clark Forbes said:

“A good result for 3AW as summer begins – encouraging signs for our new weekend programs.”

Highlights for 3AW include:

Breakfast with Ross Stevenson and John Burns 5.30 – 8.30am – rating 19.0% – number one for 39 consecutive surveys – (number one since survey 1/2002)

Morning with Neil Mitchell 8.30am – midday – rating 18.2% – still number one

Afternoons with Ernie Sigley noon – 4pm – rating 11.8%

Drive with Derryn Hinch 4 – 6pm rating 13.0%