Sydney radio ratings: WS FM increases margin over Kiis as leading FM station
WS FM has increased its lead in the Sydney FM radio market, commanding an overall audience share of 10.7%, up from 9.7% last survey.
Australian Radio Network (ARN) stablemate Kiis, however, fell 0.4 points, taking its overall market share to 8.4%.
Jonesy & Amanda’s promotional push in Sydney
A large portion of Kiis’ overall decline can be attributed to its Sydney breakfast show, fronted by Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson (‘Kyle & Jackie O’), who suffered a 0.9 point decline. The duo are still the leading FM breakfast show, however, with 11.0%, but remain behind 2GB’s market-leading 16.6% (up from 15.3% last survey).
WS FM was in second place for FM breakfast, with Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones (‘Jonesy & Amanda) climbing 0.2 points to 9.6%.
Nova’s breakfast show climbed 0.5 points to 6.9%, while Nova Entertainment’s other station Smooth FM had a 0.1 point climb to 5.9%.
Sydney radio ratings survey 4 2018. Total audience share. Source: GfK (Click to enlarge)
2Day FM’s breakfast show of Em Rusciano, Gold Logie-winning Grant Denyer and Ed Kavalee (‘2Day FM Breakfast with Em, Grant and Ed’) slipped 0.6 share points, taking it back to 4.3%.
The fall comes after heightened media attention for the show and reports of tension between the co-hosts.
The worst performer across the board in Sydney breakfast, however, was the recently rebranded Macquarie Sports Radio – previously Talking Lifestyle – which shed 1.8 points to hold onto just 0.7% of the breakfast radio market.
Overall, the leader in the Sydney radio market was 2GB, with an audience share of 14.0%, and, much like in breakfast, Macquarie Sports Radio was the weakest, with just 0.8% of the market. The decline of 1.1 share points puts Macquarie Sports Radio even behind Sky Sports Radio, which picked up 0.5 share points to finish on 1.2% overall.
Sydney radio ratings survey 4 2018. Source: GfK (Click to enlarge)
2Day FM slipped 0.7 points, to again fall below 5%, to just 4.9%.
Nova climbed 0.4 share points to 7.1%.
Macquarie Sports: Oh dear. So who’s bright idea was it to switch to an all-sports format? Blind Freddy could see that was going to be a disaster. And so it is.
It is an absolute tragedy what management at 2UE have done to John Stanley in the Macquarie Sports Radio rebranding. This station has the potential to be dominant in certain demographics but how management could think catapulting a clown like Beau Ryan into the most important slot of the day would entice it’s target audience — males aged 35 – 60 — to listen to his drivel is beyond me. He was funny for five minutes on Channel 9’s Footy Show and has been a ratings decliner ever since whereas John Stanley is a broadcasting legend that must be thinking “what the hell have I done to deserve this?!?”. It is nauseating listening. Anyone who listened to the program last week with Mark Riddell filling in for Beau Ryan would be hoping that management see the error of their ways and make him a permanent replacement.
Unfortunately, a lot of their choices have been poor and they are pairing “broadcasting” legends like David Morrow with “presenting” lightweights like Tiffany Cherry and Matt Thompson.
The afternoon three are diabolical but there are some shining lights in the Drive Program in The Ox and Mark Allen.
Absolutely.
Macquarie sports should moved to a DAB+ station, like EON Sports was.
The AM spot should be used for music. Magic Soul (London based DAB station) is a brilliant format and if Macquarie/Fairfax tried it down under, it would do a lot better and be a good competitor to Smooth, Easy and Pure Gold.
Macquarie Radio’s decline and perhaps 2UE’s future demise are either a result of completely inept ownership/management or of a cunning plan to assist co-owned 2GB and associated stations. 2UE’s departure from reasonably intelligent talk has given those listeners no choice but to move the dial next-door to 2GB.
KIIS’ decline isn’t due to breakfast. In fact it’s the opposite. K&J are propping up an otherwise average station and are suffering as a result of weak offerings in drive and nights. Sadly, without King Kyle, KIIS/2day could very well be the same station.
The Mac Sports Radio got what they deserved. I am a sports nut but I am not shocked at all. Macquarie destroyed 2UE and now they have killed it entirely. I have given it a go but I don’t think I will stick around, I miss the old 2UE but they have got this station badly wrong. I know they won’t read the comments but when there is actual sport on, they aren’t covering it. League is all on 2GB of course. I listen to ABC Grandstand more on digital radio because they actually call live sport. Don’t call yourself a sports station if you can’t actually call any matches, particularly when there is a lot of sport going on right now. The only sport they seem to cover in SYD is Swans and Giants matches (And Russell Barwick is terrible at calling). The lack of callers is damning – the same people call, not many others. However, they don’t exactly encourage talkback discussion. And David Morrow………I can’t stand listening to his voice. I will stick with ABC Grandstand – there is no reason to go back. RIP 2UE.
hi there, what reporting format do you use for the presentation of this data? Thanks
“WS FM has increased its lead in the Sydney radio market.” Huh? I don’t understand, how is this true when 2GB has a higher percentage?
Hi Tom,
The headline (‘WS FM increases margin over Kiis as leading FM station’) made it clear I was referring to the FM market, and I also have a further line clarifying 2GB’s lead overall (“Overall, the leader in the Sydney radio market was 2GB, with an audience share of 14.0%…”)
For further clarity though, I have added in ‘FM’ to the offending paragraph.
Thanks for flagging,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
Hi,
Are you referring to the graphs which chart each station’s performance over time?
If so, that is Infogram, which we build based on the GfK data.
The tables themselves (the orange ones) are provided by GfK.
Thanks,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
kiis need to get rid of the 3pm pick up and there night show get and get better shows
Vale 2UE…thanks to the intellectual pygmies who have effectively turned a radio Rolls Royce into a Mini Moke…pathetic.
Dead set – I could play music from my bedroom that would rate higher than 0.8 on an AM station in Sydney. Someone from Macquarie should organise a connection to my Surry Hills apartment before the next survey starts.
Good summary. They’ve made some big mistakes. Another example of management not understanding the value of experience and treating the audience with scant regard.
Lot’s of money riding on surveys of not many.
Love it when the radio and TV ratings come out. Lots of dollars and egos resting on the listening and viewing habits of a few people. Makes everyone feel important or devastated.
Great comment however I must have missed the 5 minutes that Beau Ryan was funny for!!! He is completely unlistenable to and barely literate.I have been a long time listener to John Stanley and it is a shame to see what they have done to him by pairing him with such a complete fool!!! The sports reporter Billy Magee would be a good replacement. Hopefully I will hear about this because I can’t stand listening anymore.
before i go out i put on the radio macquary sports station so people will think that there some one home ,,,then when i get home i tune it off ,,,20 second a day is to much john