2GB’s Ben Fordham loses Sydney radio ratings to Kyle and Jackie O

2GB has lost the Sydney breakfast radio ratings for the first time in 18 years with Ben Fordham handing over the crown to Kyle and Jackie O.

2GB has lost the breakfast radio ratings for the first time since 2003 with Ben Fordham handing over the crown to Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson.

The KIIS 106.5 duo reigned supreme in the all important breakfast timeslot, jumping an impressive 2.6 percentage points to a leading share of the Sydney market of 15.5 per cent.

It is their highest radio ratings ever since the duo got together more than two decades ago.

And it comes ahead of 2GB’s Ben Fordham at 13.3 per cent, a drop of just 0.2 of a percentage point.

On holiday in Far North Queensland, Sandilands said: “I’m thrilled at having our biggest result ever in the 21-years that Jackie and I have done the show together.

“The result comes down to the show’s broad appeal with both the young hip listeners and the on-their-way-out oldies enjoying what we’re doing. A special shout-out today to the radio executives that told Jackie and I in 2013 that our show had peaked and would no longer rate. “Thank you to most of our listeners for making this the greatest show in the world.”

Henderson said it was a dream and hard work that has paid off: “I think I’m still in shock. What an amazing result. We always dreamed of this day but weren’t sure it would ever come, well today is the day - 21 years of hard work has finally paid off. What an achievement for our show and the people working on it. I couldn’t be more proud.”

The outright king and queen of Sydney breakfast radio Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O.

True to his gentlemanly reputation, Fordham was graceful in defeat.

“Congrats to Kyle and Jackie,” he said. “When the results came through, I contacted them straight away to say well done. They’ve worked hard over decades and deserve the win. We have no right to expect the number one spot. We’re new in the shift and have to work hard to earn the respect of the audience. But again, today is Kyle and Jackie’s day. They can enjoy a champagne or two on their holidays.”

Fordham had held the top spot since taking over from industry veteran Alan Jones in June 2020, who on his last survey went out with a leading 17.9 per cent audience share.

At that time, Jones had been the number one breakfast host for a record 226 consecutive surveys. Eight survey results are released each year with this latest result coming in the fourth survey period of 2021.

2GB breakfast, before Jones jumped ship from 2UE, was last beaten by Angela Catterns on the ABC in survey eight of 2003.

It is one year since Jones took up his post on Sky News Australia.

Congrats @kyleandjackieo on the win in the radio ratings.

You’ve worked hard over decades and deserve the victory.

CONGRATULATIONS 🥳

— Ben Fordham (@BenFordham) July 5, 2021

Speaking to The Australian this week, the 80-year-old said a return to radio wasn’t off the table.

“What the future holds, who knows,” he said. “Am I interested in radio? I’m interested in the media, I’m interested in the prosecution of ideas, that is why I write and I broadcast on TV, but in relation to radio, who knows? It’s an open field, it’s a fertile field, if someone was interested in discussing something of that kind, I may be interested, I may not be interested. If someone wants to put a piece of paper in front of me I’ll be able to give them a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ in five days.”

Fordham in his studio at 2GB’s Pyrmont headquarters. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Jones declined to comment on 2GB ratings and was careful with his words on talkback softening.

“The cancel culture warriors apparently are very powerful,” he said. “There is a growing media trend which seems to willingly, readily, and too frequently accommodate the Left. There’s a whole viewpoint I think that is not being represented by contemporary media.”

He added: “If there’s been a drift away from talk stations there’s only one explanation, and that is you are saying things people don’t want to listen to.”

The ABC in breakfast also took a dive to 11.9 per cent, down 1.2 percentage points.

Industry commentator and Mediaweek editor James Manning said: “There is a new King and Queen of Sydney radio”.

“It has been a long time since an FM breakfast show ranked number one overall in the market after many decades of dominance by AM news/talk stations 2UE and then 2GB when Alan Jones and Ray Hadley moved over. It is an amazing performance from Kyle and Jackie O and they have not posted their best-ever breakfast share for two consecutive surveys.”

Alan Jones at his home in Sydney. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Manning continued: “Where to for 2GB? Ben Fordham has been on air during the ratings break while most other stations rested their breakfast teams. The station still rules with listeners over 65, but the FM stations continue to chip away at its audiences 55-64 which is more attractive to 2GB advertisers and a demo where 2GB used to rule.”

The second most coveted spot in radio is the drive afternoon shift.

Sports journalist Jim Wilson replaced Fordham in that timeslot when he moved to breakfast. His ratings have steadily declined since that time though and in this latest survey he held a 7.1 per cent share of the market (up 0.6).

By comparison, KIIS drive team Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw rated top in the timeslot with an 11.4 per cent share, up 1.2 percentage points.

At 9am, taking over from Fordham in morning shift is Ray Hadley, who maintained his long-time dominance at 13.7 per cent, down 0.5 of a percentage point.

Hadley said on air he was “happy to report” 2GB is still the number one station overall for the 134th consecutive survey, making it first in the Sydney market for 17 years.

He congratulated Kyle and Jackie O for their win in breakfast.

“Heartiest congratulations to Kyle and Jackie O, they will be celebrating and popping the champagne corks no doubt,” Hadley said. “Overall 2GB is the number one station by about 1.2 per cent from our colleagues over there at KIIS and they would be celebrating their win over there at breakfast, well done to them.”

Hadley noted that his nearest rival in mornings came from smoothFM with its 11.8 per cent share of the market, a drop of 0.5 of a percentage point.

Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor said: “Today’s historic result for KIIS FM’s Kyle & Jackie O proves the formidable duo are worth every penny to Australian Radio Network. But it will come as a blow to 2GB and Ben Fordham, who despite a strong start after Alan Jones’ departure, will be disappointed today. Ben is a stellar broadcaster, but he is up against the best in Sydney now that the true impact of Jones’ exit from the breakfast radio market is laid bare.”