Radio Ratings 2021: Nova extends winning streak as 97.3FM launches comeback

Nova 106.9 have continued their ratings winning streak, staying firmly on top in the latest radio survey. But it was the beleaguered 97.3FM that proved the biggest mover.

Nova 106.9 has continued to dominate Brisbane’s airwaves as 97.3FM emerges as a surprise contender following a radio reshuffle.

The results of the fourth radio survey of the year, released today, kept Nova firmly on top in Brisbane, with the FM station topping the list as the city’s most listened to station overall – in both the working week and across the seven days – as well as retaining the mantle in both breakfast and drive, through national show Kate, Tim and Joel.

Local breakfast show Ash, Kip, Luttsy and Susie also won a consecutive survey with an 11.8 per cent audience share – the show having only dropped one survey since ratings returned following the lengthy Covid pause last year.

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Nova 106.9 Ash, Kip, Luttsy and Susie 2020

“As we hit the mid-year mark, we’re thrilled with the result today for the team here at 106.9,” Nova’s group program operations director Brendan Taylor said.

“To maintain and hold our position against some strong competition is testament to our working group.

“The whole team is in such a good rhythm at the moment with some exciting plans to be rolled out across the coming months.”

Nova came in ahead of Triple M’s The Big Breakfast with Marto and Margaux, which recorded the biggest growth in breakfast, increasing 0.8 points to jump to 11 per cent of the audience.

But it was the beleaguered 97.3FM that recorded the biggest growth in the survey, which took in results from April 18 to June 26.

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97.3FM's Robin, Terry & Bob recorded a growth in audience in the fourth radio survey of 2021. Picture: Supplied

The overall race is competitive in Brisbane with just 1.6 points separating the top five stations as the squabble over second spot continued, with four different stations taking the spot this year.

It was 97.3FM’s turn to jump into second place behind Nova, having recorded growth in every timeslot – including a 0.9 point increase to lead mornings.

It pushed Triple M back to third spot overall and previous leaders B105 back to fifth, behind AM rivals 4KQ.

After a challenging year, 97.3 breakfast show Robin, Terry and Bob was given a boost of 0.7 points to put them back into fourth spot.

ABC Brisbane’s Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan came in ahead of them in third as the most popular AM breakfast show.

The rise of 97.3 seemed to come at the expense of stablemates 4KQ as well as B105 – both of which previously topped the results back in survey two – with both stations recording slight losses across the key timeslots.

B105 dropped to fifth overall across the seven days while Stav, Abby and Matt also fell to fifth in breakfast behind 97.3.

Supplied image of 4KQ breakfast team of Mark Hine, Laurel Edwards and Gary Clare

Previous breakfast winners, 4KQ’s Laurel, Gary and Mark, dropped to sixth.

Despite a loss of one point overall, 4KQ remained Brisbane’s most listened to AM station across the seven days.

4BC continued to struggle in the competitive Brisbane market, coming in behind their AM rivals in key timeslots.

Ray Hadley was the exception in mornings, recording a growth of 0.6 points to leapfrog ABC Brisbane.

In breakfast Neil Breen dropped 0.9 points to come in on the bubble in seventh.

Currently on survey break during school holidays, the regular radio programming will return to Brisbane airwaves on Monday.

RADIO WINNERS

Overall FM: Nova, 10.8 per cent (-0.3)

Overall AM: 4KQ, 9.3 per cent (-1.0)

Breakfast: Nova, 11.8 per cent (-0.2)

Mornings: 97.3, 10.9 per cent (+0.9)

Afternoons: B105, 11.4 per cent (-1.6)

Drive: Nova, 14.5 per cent (-0.8)

BREAKFAST

1. Nova, 11.8 per cent (-0.2)

2. Triple M, 11.0 per cent (+0.8)

3. ABC Brisbane, 10.3 per cent (o.o)

4. 97.3FM, 10.0 per cent (+0.7)

5. B105, 9.3 per cent (-0.3)

6. 4KQ, 9.1 per cent (-1.2)

7. 4BC, 7.3 per cent (-0.9)

(Source: GfK)