Radio Ratings: Nova records consecutive Brisbane radio wins in final survey of 2020

Nova 106.9 has ended the year on top of the Brisbane radio wars with the breakfast show well ahead of the pack in the final survey.

Nova 106.9 has taken a firm hold as Brisbane’s preferred radio station, ending the year with back-to-back survey wins as their FM rivals continue to battle the AM dial.

In the final radio survey of the year, released today, Nova grew their audience across each timeslot to be crowned Brisbane’s most listened to station with 12.5 per cent of the audience across the seven day week, while they also won the working week.

Nova breakfast show Ash, Kip, Luttsy & Susie also retained the breakfast crown with a 13 per cent share of the audience, putting them a resounding 2.4 points clear of their nearest rival, Triple M’s The Big Breakfast, on 10.6 per cent.

Nova 106.9's winning breakfast show Ash, Kip, Luttsy and Susie

“Winning the three surveys in a row since the Covid survey pause is huge for the team at Nova and a testament to what a great collaboration they have, both on air and off air,” Brendan Taylor, Nova’s group program operations director, said.

“And to finish with Nova’s breakfast team of Ash, Kip, Luttsy with Susie such a clear number one after such a disrupted year is even better. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The result was a welcome 0.8 boost for the Triple M show, marking the end of Margaux Parker’s first full year in the breakfast chair and the last result for outgoing comedian Nick Cody, who is leaving the station in 2021 to return to Melbourne.

Triple M was also second to Nova overall with 11 per cent of the audience and reclaimed the mornings timeslot from 4BC’s Ray Hadley, who slipped back into second spot.

“Triple M finishes 2020 in fantastic form – more listeners are tuning in and discovering Margaux Parker and loving what they are hearing. The station has been staunch throughout what’s been a challenging year for everyone,” Triple M Content Director Scott Menz said.

It was a challenging year for radio with cuts to staff across most stations during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included an unprecedented five-month in radio surveys.

The pandemic as well as the Queensland election saw a swing towards the AM dial which continued in survey eight today.

While 4BC and 4KQ have seemed to trade audiences since surveys returned in late September it was 4KQ that was the big winner in the final result.

4KQ breakfast team of Mark Hine, Laurel Edwards and Gary Clare recorded the biggest survey growth nationally.

The station was Brisbane’s preferred AM option – fourth overall with 9.4 per cent of the audience behind B105 on 9.7 per cent – while Laurel, Gary and Mark jumped up into third spot in breakfast with 10.5 per cent of the audience, ahead of ABC Brisbane.

The 3.1 point jump was the biggest gain in survey results nationally.

The result was concerning for B105’s Stav, Abby & Matt, which was relegated to fifth spot in breakfast behind the two AM rivals and only 0.2 points ahead of 4BC’s Neil Breen.

After a resurgence in survey seven, 4BC recorded a drop across breakfast, morning and afternoons, but still sat ahead of ABC Brisbane overall.

Breen, who took over from shock jock Alan Jones this year, finished in sixth spot in breakfast with 9.1 per cent of the audience, bettering Jones’ average audience share of 7.9 per cent in 2019.

In a potential death knell for the reinstated 97.3FM team of Robin, Terry & Bob, the show fell to seventh in breakfast with 8.2 per cent of the audience.

97.3 ended 2019 on top in breakfast in what was the final result for axed presenters Bianca Dye and Mike van Acker before Robin Bailey and Terry Hansen returned to the show this year.

Despite the ratings slide the network has recently assured listeners there won’t be changes to the breakfast line up in 2021.

Triple M won afternoons while Nova’s new drive show of Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey dominated in Brisbane with 15.9 per cent of the audience ahead of B105 on 11.4 per cent.

“Seeing the increase in drive for Kate, Tim & Joel by 2.2 points in Brisbane to number one again, also shows Brisbane is really embracing the new drive line up,” Taylor said.

RADIO WINNERS

Overall FM: Nova, 12.5 per cent (+0.6)

Overall AM: 4KQ, 9.4 per cent (+2.3)

Breakfast: Nova, 13 per cent (+0.4)

Mornings: Triple M, 12.2 per cent (+0.7)

Afternoons: Triple M, 13.7 per cent (+1.0)

Drive: Nova, 15.9 per cent (+2.2)

BREAKFAST

1. Nova, 13 per cent (+0.4)

2. Triple M, 10.6 per cent (+0.8)

3. 4KQ, 10.5 per cent (+3.1)

4. ABC Brisbane, 9.9 per cent (-0.4)

5. B105, 9.3 per cent (-0.9)

6. 4BC, 9.1 per cent (-1.5)

7. 97.3FM, 8.2 per cent (-0.8)