Radio ratings – Sydney: smoothfm hits high point as WSFM fades
Nova’s one-year-old easy listening station smoothfm has recorded its highest numbers in Sydney since launch in the latest set of radio ratings released by Nielsen today.
The DMG Australia owned station also saw the biggest jump in Monday to Friday audience share of any station – with a rise from 5.5 per cent to 6.8 per cent, taking it up to third in the battle of the commercial FM station.
Sydney Monday-Sunday audience share | Source: Nielsen
smoothfm, the brainchild of group programming director Paul Jackson, overtook both ARN’s WSFM and Southern Cross Austereo’s Triple M. smoothfm airs in Sydney and Melbourne. It replaced the shortlived DMG station Classic Rock which in turn replaced Vega, which had a 3.4 per cent share when it was axed in 2010.
Jackson told Mumbrella: “When we launched there was some understandable cynicism given our previous attempts, but we had a plan and we executed it. It can take three years to become familiar with an audience so to do this inside 18 months is no mean feat. I’ve said right from the beginning that it can be a number one FM station.”
In the commercial FM battle, SCA’s 2Day FM remained at number one, with a slight increase to an 8.1 per cent share. DMG’s Nova also improved, rising from third to second with share rising from 6.7 per cent to 7.6 per cent.
ARN’s WSFM fell from second to fourth with share reduced from 7.3 per cent to 6.3 per cent., while SCAs Triple M fell from fourth to fifth with share moving from 6.3 per cent to 5.3 per cent. Mix remained sixth with a share of 5.1 per cent.
AM talk station 2GB, owned my MRN, remains top station with a share of 13 per cent, down slightly from 13.5 last time. Fairfax media owned rival 2UE went backwards with a fall from 4.8 per cent to 4.6 per cent.
Breakfast:
There was no let up for 2UE in the morning slot, with Breakfast with Dicko & Sarah – featuring Ian Dickson and Sarah Morice – falling slightly to 3.3 per cent. The show remains not only the least listened to commercial show in Sydney, but was also overtaken by ABC Radio National. Meanwhile, talk rival 2GB’s Alan Jones Breakfast Show had a 16.9 per cent share.
In the commercial FM battle, 2Day FM’s Kyle & Jackie O Show recorded its 50th survey at number one, with its share increasing from 9.5 per cent to 9.9.
Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa rose from 6.3 per cent to 7.3 per cent, the highest the show has ever rated, and moving up to second in the FM battle.
WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda saw the biggest fall in the timeslot, with share dropping from 9 per cent to 6.7 per cent and the show falling behind Fitzy & Wippa.
smoothfm’s More Music Breakfast Show with Bogart Torelli moved up from 3.7 per cent to 4.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, ABC 702 presenter Adam Spencer – who steps down at the end of the year – continued to rate strongly, but saw a fall from 13 per cent to 11.8 per cent.
Drivetime:
The commercial FM ratings lead changed hands in the 4-7pm slot, with Nova’s Meshel, Tim & Marty moving from a share of 8.6 per cent to 9.4 per cent while the Today Network’s Fifi & Jules dropped fractionally from 9.4 per cent to 9.3 per cent. Both shows are nationally networked and Meshel Tim & Marty grew their share in every market.
But SCA’s chief content officer Guy Dobson said it was far too early to draw conclusions about the Fifi Box and Jules Lund show. He said: “I’d be looking at it over a lot more than one survey.”
2GB’s Ben Fordham was the top drive show overall with a share of 10 per cent. Rival 2UE’s Jason Morrison – reported in the AFR today to be in the frame for a move back to 2GB – increased his share from 3.8 per cent to 4.1 per cent.
The biggest growth in drivetime came for smoothfm’s Byron Webb growing share from 6.2 per cent to 7.7 per cent.
Sydney Monday to Friday share | Source: Nielsen
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Champagne at Pyrmont and Home Brand cola at Greenwich!
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Water at North Ryde
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Once again, Mumbrella shows its FM bias. Look at the various headlines- all FM-centric. Now look at the figures. Oh dear, AM wins again. Come on Mumbrella, flick the band switch some time and stop deceiving readers with bs.
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Hi Rrrrosco,
Did something unexpected happen with the AM stations that we missed?
In general we tend to focus the news story’s angle on what has changed.
So 2GB being number is worth mentioning in the piece but not unexpected.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Maybe the headline could have been – UE holds onto its listeners while rival GB suffers significant drop . . .
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