Wollongong Survey results released

i98fm has reclaimed the crown as the Illawarra’s leading radio station, jumping 2.5 share points to 22.4%. The station won its target youth demographics and had good lifts in most shifts.

The tide went out a little for Wave, which could not retain the good gains it made last survey, dropping back to second place, down 2.3 share points to 19.7%.

At i98FM all shifts except mornings went up. Marty & Erica in breakfast increased by 1.0 to regain first place at 21.0% of the breakfast market. Ryan Cram’s Fresh Music Countdown in the evening enjoyed a strong audience lift of 6 share points and weekends was also up strongly by 5.6 share points. The station was dominant in the 10-39 demographics and also recorded a good share of 40-54s.

Wave FM gained slightly in drive, but dropped in all other shifts, with breakfast (down 4.6) and mornings (down 3.2) hardest hit. Wave won the 40-54 demographic with 31.0 share points of that age group, and was also strong in 25-39s and 55+.

Third placed local station, ABC Illawarra 97.3, scored 12.4% overall, with a strong lift in the older 55+ audience (up 4.4) but dips in other demographics. Breakfast and weekends increased for ABC Illawarra, while other shifts fell. Breakfast was up a significant 3.1 share points to 17.2, in third place behind Wave breakfast on 18.7.

Nowra’s Power FM, also heard in some parts of the market, scored 3.8%, up 0.3 with increases in the 10-17 demographic and gains in morning and afternoon.

Other FM category was down 1.3 share points to 3.3% and other AM was down 0.6 share points to 0.7%.

WIN Corporation’s Deputy Chairman Andrew Gordon told radioinfo:

“With the un-beatable on air team of Marty & Erica, Dave ‘Stretto’ Stretton, Maje Saba and Ryan Cram, i98FM have proved they play today’s best music and are today’s best station. This has resulted in a massive audience share with 100,300 listeners (all people) tuning in to i98FM every week, almost 30,000 more than nearest rival Wave FM… These latest figures re-affirm i98FM’s position as the Illawarra’s leading radio station.”

Some Sydney stations, which can also be heard strongly in the northern parts of the Illawarra market, scored well, including: 2GB (4.8%), Triple J (4.6%), 2CH (4.5%), 2UE (3.9%), Triple M (3.5%) and ABC702 (3.5%).

For the full rankings list click below or go to the Nielsen ratings tab in the left margin.