Kyle and Jackie O back on top of breakfast radio, edging out 2GB’s Ben Fordham

Kyle and Jackie O have taken out the top spot in the latest radio ratings survey, narrowly edging 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

FM radio giants Kyle and Jackie O are on top of the rankings once again, narrowly beating out 2GB’s Ben Fordham for the breakfast crown.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Fordham had huge bumps in today’s ratings, but the KIIS FM duo won out with a 16.3 market share, compared to Fordhams 16.2.

2GB is still the number one overall station on 12.4 per cent market share, with KIIS second on 11.5.

Fordham went up two per cent, from 14.2 to 16.2 and Kyle and Jackie O went up 1.6 per cent from 14.7 to 16.3 since the last survey.

It has been a year of much back and forth with both KIIS and 2GB number one in varying survey periods of the GfK 360 radio ratings survey results.

Radio Presenter Ben Fordham was pipped, just. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O were number one. Picture: supplied

Kyle Sandilands was unusually restrained in his on-air celebrations on Thursday.

“Once again, to our own staff, I’ve got to thank you all,” the shock jock said.

“We’ve retained the number one overall position as the largest, greatest, most listened to radio show in the history of Australian radio.

“Also, the biggest radio station in the country, well done to the whole team.”

Fordham thanked the station’s legion of loyal fans for his result.

“It’s been a huge finish to the year and want to thank the 2GB family for tuning in every morning” the 2GB Breakfast host said.

“There’s plenty happening locally and around the world, and people want to find out the latest when they wake up.”

“We’re keen for a big finish to 2023 and an even bigger 2024.”

Ray Hadley recorded his 153rd consecutive win. Picture: Tim Pascoe

In mornings Ray Hadley on 2GB remains the number one show for the 153rd consecutive survey with a share of 15.2 per cent (up 1.5), ahead of his nearest rival, KIIS, at 12.0 per cent (up 1.0). Both morning shows had big bumps from their last survey as well, where they last had 13.7 and 11 per cent of the market share respectively.

Overall Hadley has widened his lead on what has been an increasingly tight race in mornings, strengthening 2GB’s hold on the 9am to midday slot.

2GB is number one station overall with an 12.4 per cent share, up 1.3, and KIIS right behind at 11.5, up 0.6

WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda and ABC’s James Valentine were joint third on 8.4 per cent of the market share

GfK this year began providing accumulative and average audience figures in its initial survey results releases, as well as streaming data. That provides a deeper look at total audience numbers and average audience, which is used by advertising agencies.

2GB, Knight part ways

On Tuesday, Nine officially axed their afternoon radio show host, Deb Knight.

Knight, the only woman presenter with her own show on the conservative talk station, was informed last week that her stint on the afternoon shift was over.

“I have some personal news I would like to share with you,” she told listeners shortly after her program started on Monday afternoon, with this being her final week on air.

Deborah Knight on air at 2GB. Supplied

“I had hoped you would hear it from me first. As you may have seen in the paper yesterday, I am stepping back as host of afternoons.”

It was speculated that Knight had been moved on due to slipping ratings in the sixth radio ratings survey, which saw her slip 6 per cent in market share, down from a 2023 high of 8.9.

Unfortunately, it was Knight’s lowest result to date following her appointment to the role four years ago and well down on the heady 11.4 share results she achieved in her first year in the job, 2020, a Covid year when the radio station was drawing larger audiences across the board.

The seasoned broadcaster is going out on a slightly higher note, earning a 7.1 per cent share of market in today’s survey, which puts her up a whole percentage point.

She leaves the 2GB afternoon helm in fourth place, coming in behind smoothfm on 10.9, WFSM on 10.3, and KIIS on 10.1.

“I’m not, however leaving 2GB,” Knight explained this week.

A key factor that hadn’t yet been revealed that triggered the 2GB host shuffle was that the host of the daily evening program Money News, former Sky News Business anchor Brooke Corte, had told Nine Radio boss Tom Malone that she wasn’t ready to return from maternity leave.