Ratings rise: What will 2DAY FM do now?

Sydney radio ratings are out – who has come out on top?

Has 2Day FM made the right decision to change its breakfast show line-up after receiving a boost in the latest radio ratings?

That’s the question surely on executives minds at parent company Southern Cross Austereo with the station up overall by 0.5 of a percentage point to a 4.9 per cent overall share of Sydney radio.

In breakfast, Erin Molan, Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee this month called time on their three year stint with the show and for their final ratings have risen 0.6 of a percentage point to a 4.2 per cent share of that timeslot.

Ed Kavalee, Dave Hughes and Erin Molan for 2Day FM breakfast.

At time of her departure from 2DAY FM, Molan told the Telegraph: “In three years we took our Sydney breakfast radio show from less than 200,000 listeners to over 400,000 listeners – that is incredible growth.”

It is still well below market leader Ben Fordham on 2GB, who despite parent company Nine being the broadcast partner for the Olympics, took a hit of 1.4 per cent to a 15.6 per cent share of breakfast.

During the ratings period, 2GB’s exclusive broadcast of the Olympics in the Sydney market was broadcast for 16 nights, and combined with John Stanley’s shows pre-Olympics, the night-time slot increased its ratings to 19.2 per cent (up 0.5).

“We’re always relieved when the ratings are strong because it’s a very competitive market,” Fordham told Confidential.

“We love the support from Sydney and just want to say thank you for the loyalty.”

2GB radio host and Sydney radio no. 1, Ben Fordham, pictured in studio after winning the ratings war. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Fordham’s fierce rivals meanwhile, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson on KIIS had a slight bump of 0.2 to a 14.3 per cent share. That was despite the final three weeks of the show being beset with illness and a rotating line-up to stand in for the superstar hosts.

It was the first full stand-alone survey period for Kyle and Jackie O in Melbourne after the pair’s much hyped move into that market. They rose 0.2 of a percentage point to a 6.1 per cent share overall, making them the seventh ranking show in the market.

“Their rise in share in Melbourne is what we anticipated and reflects what we are seeing in our internal tracking,” ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell said.

“As we’ve said before, building momentum in new markets requires time, and we remain confident in our long-term growth strategy.”

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson.

“Their rise in share in Melbourne is what we anticipated and reflects what we are seeing in our internal tracking. As we’ve said before, building momentum in new markets requires time, and we remain confident in our long-term growth strategy.”

The cumulative audience for the KIIS breakfast slot in Melbourne sits at 491,000, down 11,000 from the last survey period.

Nova 100’s Melbourne duo in contrast rose its cumulative audience to 679,000, up 28,000.

Leading in breakfast there is 3AW with a 21.3 per cent share with Nova duo Lauren Phillips and Jason Hawkins second in that timeslot with a 9.9 per cent share (up 0.3).

Kyle & Jackie O have a long way to go to reach the 7.9 per cent that Lauren and Jase reached at the end of last year when they defected from KIIS to Nova.

“To achieve this just a few months after launching the show is a testament to our hugely talented breakfast team and their connection to Melbourne listeners,” Nova Group Program Director Brendan Taylor said.

Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips from Nova 100.

“And on top of this, having the most listened to breakfast shows in four out of five markets across Australia is the icing on the cake.”

Ray Hadley in mornings on 2GB meanwhile scored a 15.7 per cent share, continuing his two decade dominance in the timeslot.

His show went down by 0.7 of a percentage point however as for 13 days of the survey period Luke Grant filled in while Hadley was in Paris calling the Olympics for the Nine.

Ray Hadley, celebrates his 20th year unbeaten in the morning time slot, at 2GB Radio, Pyrmont, today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

ABC Sydney’s was down overall by one per cent with the daytime and night-time line-ups hit the hardest, but Craig Reucassel only suffered a small drop of 0.2 of a percentage point to 7.9 per cent – equal third in the breakfast slot with Smooth FM’s Bogart Torelli and Ron Wilson.

ABC presenter James Valentine returned in time for the new survey period, and may help the station increase its ratings later this year.