B105 dominates Brisbane radio again, but Nova 106.9’s epic comeback is shaking up the airwaves

Brisbane’s radio battle is heating up, with a ratings surge from Nova closing the gap on rival B105, which clinched top spot for the fifth straight survey.

B105 continues to dominate Brisbane's radio ratings.

Brisbane’s airwaves are sizzling with renewed rivalry as Nova 106.9 launches a dramatic fightback, closing the gap on B105 and setting the stage for a fierce battle to close out 2024.

The latest survey results, released today, show B105 retaining its crown as Brisbane’s most popular station, capturing 14.4 per cent of audience share.

This marks B105’s fifth consecutive win, entrenching its position as the leader in Brisbane’s fiercely competitive radio market.

However, after slipping in recent surveys, Nova 106.9 has surged back into contention, reclaiming second spot with 11.3 per cent market share.

The station’s resurgence re-establishes the longstanding rivalry between Nova and B105, a dynamic that had been disrupted earlier this year by the rise of other heavyweights like Triple M and KIIS 97.3.

This latest ratings survey signals a return to form for Brisbane’s two traditional radio titans, now locked once again in a battle for supremacy over the city’s airwaves.

“We’ve seen some great results for us in what is one of the closest and most competitive radio markets in the country,” Nova group programming director Brendan Taylor said.

“We’ve come out of two tough surveys, so to come back like this is really pleasing.”

In the breakfast radio race, B105’s Stav, Abby & Matt continue to reign supreme, securing 15 per cent market share and winning the title of Brisbane’s most popular breakfast show for the third consecutive survey period.

B105's breakfast radio hosts, Stav, Abby and Matt. Picture: Supplied

However, Nova’s Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill show are closing the gap, climbing to 12.5 per cent of the market share and closing the gap.

Triple M’s Marto, Margaux & Dan, which had previously held the second spot in the breakfast rankings, saw a dip in this survey, slipping to third place with 10.8 per cent of the market share.

KIIS 97.3’s Robin & Kip came in a close fourth, narrowly missing out on third place by just 0.1 per cent, with a 10.7 per cent share.

Nova 106.9 breakfast hosts Susie O'Neill, Ash Bradnam and David "Luttsy" Lutteral. Picture: Supplied.

These shifts in breakfast show rankings were mirrored in the overall station standings, with Triple M taking third place with 10.7 per cent and KIIS 97.3 landing in fourth with 9.7 per cent. Nova 106.9 also recorded the highest cumulative audience in Brisbane, boasting 657,000 listeners.

Triple M Breakfast hosts Marto Margaux and Dan. Picture: Supplied.

One of the biggest surprises in this survey was the surge in popularity of AM radio during the 9am to 12pm slot.

4BH’s morning DJ Scott Menz captured a remarkable 13.3 per cent of the market share, leapfrogging usual leaders B105 and Triple M to take the top spot in the midmorning timeslot.

In terms of streaming numbers, B105 and ABC Brisbane led the pack, each securing 11.4 per cent of the market share, with 4BH coming in third at 10.4 per cent.

OVERALL WINNERS

Overall FM: B105, 13.3 per cent (-1.1)

Overall AM: 4BH, 10.3 per cent (+1.4)

Breakfast: B105, 15.0 per cent (+0)

Mornings: 4BH, 13.3 per cent (+3.0)

Afternoons: B105, 14.3 per cent (-2.1)

Drive: B105, 17.5 per cent (-0.2)

BREAKFAST RATINGS

B105, 15.0 per cent (+0)

Nova 106.9, 12.5 per cent (+0.8)

Triple M, 10.8 per cent (-1.3)

KIIS 97.3, 10.7 per cent (+0)

4BH 1116, 9.6 per cent (+0.8)

ABC Brisbane, 9.1 per cent (+0.7)

(Source: GfK)