Sydney FM channel KIIS1065 is the city’s most popular radio station, knocking 2GB from top spot

Nine Entertainment-owned radio station 2GB — which has dominated the Sydney market for almost two decades — has been dethroned by KIIS1065.

KIIS1065 breakfast radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie’O’ Henderson.

Nine Entertainment-owned 2GB’s 18-year reign as the most popular radio station in Sydney is over, with FM station KIIS1065 taking over as the city’s ratings powerhouse.

The talkback station had won 146 consecutive radio surveys over the past 18 years but this record came to an end on Thursday after ARN-owned KIIS1065 recorded an overall audience share of 11.9 percentage points (up 0.3 from the final survey of 2022), ahead of 2GB on 11 percentage points (down 1.5).

KIIS1065’s breakfast radio duo of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson also reclaimed the top spot in their timeslot with an audience share of 15.9 percentage points (up 1.1), overtaking 2GB’s Ben Fordham, whose ratings slipped to 14.0 this survey (down 1.7 percentage points since the December poll).

The figures from ratings firm Gfk, which included the period from January 15 through to February 25, showed the Kyle and Jackie O show recorded a cumulative audience of 842,000 listeners, compared to Fordham’s 417,000.

2GB recorded declining audiences in nearly every timeslot in the first ratings survey of the year; the only show that bucked the trend was its afternoons’ program, hosted by Deb Knight (up 0.5 percentage points to 7.6).

Chris O’Keefe, who took over as the permanent host of 2GB’s drive program from Jim Wilson in January, maintained the same audience share as his predecessor (5.7 per cent audience share).

2GB’s mornings host Ray Hadley maintained his long-running dominance in his timeslot with an audience share of 14 (down 1.9), and on his show on Thursday morning he congratulated KIIS1065 on being the most overall popular station.

“Such records are made to be broken, in my lifetime I doubt we’ll ever see any station win 146 consecutive ratings surveys over 19 years but that consecutive winning run has come to an end,” he said.

“I’m suggesting by the time we get to later in the year, we’ll be back at number one on 2GB, but well done to our colleagues at KIIS.

“But I’ll give them a warning, you are only going to have it for one survey fellas, we’re coming after ya, just a little tip, but you enjoy your success.”

In Melbourne, Nine’s 3AW remained the most popular station, with breakfast duo Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft winning their timeslot with an audience share of 22.7 (down 0.1).

3AW’s mornings host Neil Mitchell recorded an audience share of 18.1 percentage points (up 1.2) to remain the leader in the timeslot, while the rival mornings program on ABC Melbourne, which has been hosted by Ali Moore while Virginia Trioli has been on extended leave, fell to 6.6 (down 0.8).

3AW’s drive show hosted by Tom Elliott enjoyed the biggest jump of any Melbourne radio program this survey, climbing 3.9 percentage points to 14.6 to secure top spot in the timeslot.

In Brisbane, NOVA106.9’s breakfast team of Ash Bradnam, Susie O’Neill and David Lutteral, reclaimed pole position with an audience share of 13.2 percentage points, overtaking B105’s breakfast program, led by Abby Coleman, Matt Acton and Stav Davidson, who had an audience share of 12.5 (down 1.2).

In Adelaide, FIVEaa’s breakfast show, led by David Penberthy (also a senior writer on the Australian) and Will Goodings, held on to top spot with an audience share of 14.2, despite falling by 2.3 percentage points.

In Perth, NOVA93.7’s breakfast show, with Natalie Locke, Nathan Morris and Shaun McManus easily won their timeslot with an audience share of 18.6 despite slipping 2.2 percentage points from December’s survey.

Nine’s 6PR breakfast program, hosted by Steve Mills and Karl Langdon, saw its audience share fall to 6.9 percentage points (down 2.2).

Originally published as Sydney FM channel KIIS1065 is the city’s most popular radio station, knocking 2GB from top spot