The latest survey, number 7 2002, has been released. Analysis and comments below.

To see comments from Austereo’s Brad March, Australian Radio Network, 4BC, 2GB’s George Buschman, ABC774 and Nova scroll down.

SYDNEY

2CH and Mix 106.5 had the biggest drop this survey, both down 1.2 share points, while ABC702 had the biggest increase, up 1.5 share points to 9.4%. 2DAY FM also increased well, up 1.2 to 11.7%, strengthening its first place position. 2DAY increased well in the Harmer/Moon breakfast show (up 1.1) and in all daytime shifts.

Second placed in Sydney was 2GB on 9.6%, down 0.5 share points. Weekends slipped most for 2GB (down 1.9), Alan Jones’ breakfast and Ray Hadley’s morning were both was down 0.2 share points and other shifts except Drive also dipped. Third placed ABC702 increased by 1.5 share points to 9.4% overall, up in its weekend sport audience by 1.1 share points, up in Angela Catterns breakfast by 1.6 and up 2.5 in Drive.

Triple M was fourth with 8.9%, up 0.2 share points with increases in the 10-17 demographic. Fifth placed WS FM was up 0.4 share points overall, with a significant increase in the 25-39 demographic. WS FM, which has just announced changes to its breakfast shift, dropped in breakfast while all other shifts increased slightly.

At sixth place was Nova, steady at 8.2%. Nova’s breakfast was up slightly, offset by dips in Drive (recently vacated by Ugly Phil) and Evening.

2UE was seventh at 8.0%, down 0.8 share points on last survey, with drops in Steve Price’s breakfast (down 1.7), John Laws morning (down 1.2) and evenings (down 1.0). Mix 106.5 was in eighth place on 6.9%, down 1.2 share points, dropping in ‘at work’ shifts and on weekends. 2CH was down 1.2 share points to 5.5%, with a good gain in the evening shift (up 1.7), but drops in all other shifts.

Next was Triple J, down 0.4 share points to 4.4% with dips in the under 25 demographics and drops in all daytime shifts and weekends. Classic FM was steady at 3.0%, Radio National was up 0.3 to 1.7%, 2KY dipped by 0.1 to 1.5% and NewsRadio was down 0.2 to 1.2%. 2SM gained 0.2 share points to 0.8% with slight gains in all shifts except evenings. Howard Sattler, who will rejoin 6PR at the end of this year, was up 0.5 share points in his morning shift.

MELBOURNE

Market leader 3AW dropped back from its good gains last survey, recording a drop of 2.0 share points this survey, while Nova 100 had the biggest gain, up 1.6 share points to 9.4%.

Fox FM moved into top spot in the Melbourne market, down 0.3 to 13.6% with drops in Tracey and Matt’s breakfast and on weekends offset by gains in ‘at work’ timeslots. Second was ABC774, up 0.6 to 12.7% with a good gain in breakfast (up 1.3) and increases in most shifts. In third place, 3AW was down 2.0 to 12.0%, with losses across all shifts mostly in the 55+ demographic.

Nova 100 moved into third place with 9.4%, up 1.6 share points with gains in all under 40 demographics and increases in all shifts. Fourth placed Gold 104.3 was up 0.3 to 9.3% with gains in the over 40 demographics and a 0.7 share point increase at breakfast.

3MMM gained 0.3 to be fifth place with 8.0%, with a drop in mornings but slight rises in all other shifts. Next was Magic693 on 6.7%, up 0.1, which increased by 0.9 in Bill Howie’s Nights and was steady in other shifts. Seventh placed Mix 101.1 gained 0.1 to 6.3% with slight increases in mornings and afternoons.

Triple J was up 0.3 to 3.0%, followed by Sport 927 on 2.8% (up 0.4) and Classic FM on 2.5% (up 0.4). 3MP scored 2.4%, down 1.0 share points, followed by 3AK at 2.2% (down 0.2). 3AK’s breakfast slipped 0.6, Derryn Hinch’s morning was up 0.1 and Jeff Kennett’s drive was down 0.2. Radio National scored 1.8%, down 0.2 and NewsRadio was 1.1 (down 0.4).

BRISBANE

Brisbane’s market leader B105 had the biggest drop of the survey, down 2.6 share points, but still in number one position with 17.2%. B105’s daytime shifts were all down, with evenings the only shift to increase this survey.

Austereo stablemate 4MMM was second on 14.3%, the same result as last survey, followed by New97.3 at 12.2 (down 0.7). New97.3 dropped in the under 25 demographics, losing listeners in most shifts, especially evenings which were down 2.2 share points.

4BC was in fourth place on 10.1%, up 0.8 with gains in the 40-54 demographic and increases in all daytime shifts. 4BH scored equal fifth place with 8.5%, up 0.5 with a good increase of 2.6 share points in evenings and gains in all other weekday shifts. Also on 8.5% was ABC612, which increased by 0.9 share points, with good gains in daytime and breakfast shifts.

4KQ increased by 0.1 to 8.1%, followed by Triple J on 6.1% (up 0.5), then Radio National at 2.3% (down 0.3) and Classic FM on 2.2 (down 0.2). NewsRadio was 1.8%, up 0.2.

ADELAIDE

SAFM dropped 2.6 share points this survey, but retained its dominant lead of the Adelaide market with 24.2%. SAFM lost across all shifts, most significantly in evenings (down 5.0) and weekends (down 4.0). The biggest increase of the survey was recorded by Mix 102.3, which was up 2.1 share points.

Second placed 5AA increased by 0.8 to 17.9%, with a good gain in the evening shift and increases in most other timeslots. ARN’s Mix 102.3 had a good survey, jumping 2.1 to 12.0% after gains in breakfast (up 2.6) and all other shifts.

5MMM was steady at 11.5% with slight drops in breakfast and morning being offset by gains in other shifts. Triple J gained 2.0 share points, back to a healthy 8.8% with increases in all shifts, especially daytime.

5DN was down 0.8 to 4.8% with a drop of 1.9 share points in breakfast and dips in all other shifts except evenings. Classic FM scored 3.0%, down 1.1 share points, followed by Radio National on 2.1% (down 0.4), then NewsRadio on 1.7% (up 0.1).

PERTH

In Perth ABC720 recorded the biggest gain, increasing by 1.5 share points, while 6IX dropped the most, down 1.2.

Mix 94.5 remains clear market leader on 22.6% (down 0.3), followed by 92.9 on 17.0% (up 0.5). 92.9’s gains came from a 1.1 share point increase in breakfast, a 1.3 share point jump in evenings and small increases in most other shifts.

96FM was up 0.4 share points to 13.6% with increases in ‘at work’ timeslots, followed by ABC720 which lifted 1.5 share points to 11.2%. ABC720’s biggest increases were in drive (up 2.6) and evenings (up 2.9), with all shifts recording an increase.

Triple J was down 0.1 to 8.9%, followed by 6PR on 8.2% (down 0.4). 6PR’s breakfast, which is scheduled to change next year, was up 0.9 share points, while the morning and afternoon shifts fell and other timeslots showed slight increases. 6IX was down 1.2 to 5.0%, with drops in all shifts except drive.

Classic FM was steady at 2.6%, Radio National was up 0.2 to 2.0% and NewsRadio was down by 0.1 to 0.9%.

AUSTEREO

Austereo’s Brad March told radioinfo about the network’s figures for this survey:

“Obviously we’re very pleased with the results, particularly the strong leads in 10+ and 25-39 which are showing in all markets. 2Day and Fox both have substantial leads.”

“Despite the presence of new competition we have been able to continue to attract good ratings and strong ad revenue… The Triple M network is enjoying growth and we are happy with the format.”

Commenting on the new breakfast shows on three Triple M stations, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, March said the results “show they are working – we expect steady growth.”

radioinfo: So, what are you going to do about 2Day breakfast. Will Harmer and Moon be back together again next year? March: No comment. All will be revealed soon.

radioinfo: It has been interesting to follow the debate about ad placement and frequency between DMG and your network. I guess radio people-meters will settle that question once and for all. March: People Meters are an industry issue – they will have to be introduced and then tested in this market, so I don’t think we will see them actually in use for a few years yet. Radio is a frequency medium. Our advertisers response is very positive to our philosophy so I don’t expect to see changes in the near future.

radioinfo: Who is going to replace Cathy O’Connor? March: Michael Anderson is doing a good job acting in the position until we finalise a replacement. We are looking at several internal candidates at the moment plus external candidates and we will make a judgement soon. Cathy is contracted to Austereo until December 31st.

Austereo’s promotions this survey included “The Secret Sound” on 2DAY FM, and M-One giveaways on the Triple M network.

In Adelaide SAFM gave away the Ultimate Trip with “SA.FM’s Hollywood Headlines” – a trip for 2 to Sydney to the ARIA’s where the winners got to meet Kelly Osbourne and they also get to fly to Hollywood for the taping of a TV show.

In Perth Mix 94·5’s major station promotion was “The Ultimate Fashion Fantasy”, where listeners had the chance to win a trip to Paris, London and New York with $5,000 worth of travellers cheques. “The Ultimate Fashion Fantasy” promotion was a cross promotion with The Sunday Times.

Mix 94·5’s major breakfast promotion was the “Bunch’s Cool World Breakfast”, where 94 listeners won an invitation to the “Bunch Breakfast” at Matilda Bay Restaurant.

2GB

2GB’s George Buschman said he had “a moment of surprise and disappointment that 2GB had dropped slightly,” but then realised that all commercial radio stations in Sydney had lost cume this survey.

“Nielsen Media Research has told us that all commercial stations lost cume this survey, possibly because of people turning to TV or ABC Radio for coverage of Bali or possibly through some other factor. Number 2 in such a volatile market is very good.”

“We aimed to increase Time Spent Listening and we achieved that,” said Buschman. 2GB’s TSL is 37 minutes up on last survey. We are also 30,000 listeners ahead of John Laws in cume – Hadley has been creeping up steadily, which is great.

“2UE is our main competitor and we are well ahead of them now that they have dropped out of the top 3 to number seven. I’ve been there and I know it is an ugly place to be,” said Buschman. “Agencies hit you hard when you drop out of the top three.” Buschman also commented on the recent ABA investigation and Media Watch’s report – see ABA investigation story.

ARN

Commenting on the ARN ratings around the country ARN told radioinfo: “Classic Hits is the only FM radio format to have grown audience share in both the Sydney and Melbourne markets in 2002.”

The ratings results released today show “Australian Radio Network stations WSFM in Sydney and Gold FM in Melbourne both increased their audience share, leaving them well ahead of the results from survey one in February. ARN’s Classic Hits stream increased its 25-54 age group listeners from 1,238,000 to 1,261,000, up 23,000 around Australia… WSFM is still the only FM station to have grown its audience share in Sydney this year.”

In the commercially important 25-54 demographic, the latest survey showed Gold growing its audience to 500,000 and WSFM increasing to 484,000.

In a survey period dominated by big sporting events and major international news, most ARN music stations were “able to grow or maintain their share.” In Adelaide, Mix102.3 took the number 2 position in the market with a 2.1 point share increase – the largest ratings jump in the market. In Brisbane, New 97.3FM again “improved its relative market share against the market leader and continues to hold good audience numbers.”

Executive Chairman of Initiative Media, Alan Robertson believes “ARN have certainly been the quiet achievers of the recent surveys… Most of the news has focused on the battle between Austereo and Nova, and has missed the return to form of WSFM in Sydney and Gold FM in Melbourne. While Austereo and Nova have been arguing, neither of them has been talking about audience. ARN has come along and picked up big audience gains.”

APN (ARN’s joint parent company) chief executive Brendan Hopkins said the survey results reflect “ARN’s fresh new approach to programming and its focus on the essential 25-54 age demographic… Advertisers now know that if they want to reach people with real spending power then there is no better network than the Australian Radio Network.”

NOVA

It’s “smiles all ’round” according to Nova 969.

The biggest grins come from Nova 969’s Sydney Breakfast duo Merrick and Rosso – up from 6.8% to 7.1% – with just over 400,000 listeners each week.

Program Director Scott Muller told radioinfo: “This is an excellent result for a relatively new breakfast show to be second in the number of FM listeners between 6am-9am.”

Overall, Nova 969 has “also landed the second biggest weekly audience in Sydney with 758, 000 listeners, widening the lead on #3 to 60,000.”

Of the total Nova audience, two-thirds are in the all-important 18-39 age group. “It’s great that Nova touches just over half a million of Sydney’s 18-39 year olds every week,” said outgoing General Manager, Larry Bruce.

In Melbourne, Nova 100 remained the “number one station for all people aged 18 to 24 and
the number two station for those aged 18-39.”

General Manager, Fiona Cameron told radioinfo: “In an added bonus Nova 100 secured the number two FM spot with healthy
gains across all shifts… We are now approaching our 12 month anniversary and Nova 100 would like
to thank Melbourne listeners for taking us into their homes.”

4BC

Brisbane’s commercial news/talk station, Talk 1116 Brisbane’s 4BC, “remains the Number One AM station in Brisbane.” 4BC is now also “the favourite station for all listeners 25+ (12.5 share), according the seventh ratings survey.”

Overall, Talk 1116 Brisbane’s 4BC rose from 9.3 to 10.1 – “our best overall result since 1988,” according to ,” General Manager David McDonald.

In breakfast, John Miller and Ross Davie took 4BC from 11.1 to 11.8 – “blitzing their AM rivals and remaining number three in the most competitive shift.” The station “bucked the trend to become the only commercial station to increase its cumulative audience.”

McDonald says: “Our new weekday programs have also proved an instant success, with our noon-3pm result rocketting from 8.4 to a stunning 10.4 for Brian Bury, our 3-6pm result increasing from 7.1 to 8.5 for Chris Adams and Greg Cary’s Sports Today rising from 5.4 to 6.8. And at night, Ian Maurice has jumped to number two in Brisbane.”

Station highlights are: “NUMBER ONE AM station in Brisbane, all people 10+ share; NUMBER ONE all listeners 25+ share in Brisbane; NUMBER ONE AM Breakfast Program all people 10+ share – John Miller & Ross Davie; NUMBER ONE AM Morning Program all people 10+ share – John Laws; NUMBER ONE AM Afternoon Program all people 10+ share – Brian Bury; NUMBER ONE AM Drive Program all people 10+ share – Chris Adams; NUMBER ONE AM Evening Program all people 10+ share – Ian Maurice!”

“This has been an outstanding team result for Talk 1116 Brisbane’s 4BC, with the focus now clearly on the community here in Brisbane, it is paying immediate dividends for us,” General Manager David McDonald told radioinfo.

“I was also extremely pleased to see the changes in Afternoon and Drive have immediate impact, with the addition of proven media performer Brian Bury in afternoons, Chris Adams thriving in current affairs and Greg Cary’s passion for sport improving ratings dramatically in what is traditionally a challenge for talk radio.”

774 ABC Melbourne

774 ABC Melbourne “continues to increase its audience in the Melbourne radio listening market, attracting 12.6% share as shown in today’s results.”

The latest survey puts the station in second place overall and number 1 for talk radio in Melbourne. Manager for 774 ABC Melbourne, Ian Mannix told radioinfo he is pleased with the results and to see the station doing so well.

“These results are a continuation of the upward trend for the station since 1998. I think this is a reflection of the great work being done by the station as a whole… Across the week we’re providing radio which analyses the issues that people in Melbourne care about.”

Morning presenter, Jon Faine continued to hold the top position for his morning timeslot, increasing to a share of 15.2%. The “most impressive result” was recorded between 8.30 and 9.00am with a share of 17.7%.

“Ever since Jon Faine led the coverage of the last State election, listeners have stuck with us as they know he is not afraid to ask the questions that they want answered, ” said Mannix.

The Breakfast program presented by Red Symons also increased share by 1.3%, taking the timeslot to 15.5% – second in the market. “It is wonderful that Red Symons has built on Lynne Haultain’s big audience. We’re amazed that a 70’s Rock star like him could do so well!”