Sydney radio ratings: 2GB's Ben Fordham beats ABC, Kyle and Jackie O

Ben Fordham has thanked his critics for giving him the drive to push through with his breakfast radio show at a time he could have “spat the dummy”.

Ben Fordham has thanked his critics for giving him the drive to push through at a time he could have “spat the dummy”.

Fordham triumphed in the latest GFK radio ratings survey results with a whopping 18.8 per cent leading share of the all-important breakfast market.

“When we went down in the ratings, I didn’t get angry or jealous or spit the dummy, I used it as an opportunity of self reflection and figured it would be good for us in the long run,” Fordham told The Daily Telegraph.
“Success doesn’t come easy for anyone and, like I tell my kids, falling over isn’t a problem, the only thing that counts is getting back up.”

King of the radio ratings Ben Fordham with his children Marigold, Pearl and Freddy. Picture: David Swift

There are eight radio ratings surveys released each year. Two surveys ago, in the fourth survey period, Fordham fell to second position behind KIIS FM duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson.

He rose in the fifth survey and again today, with 2GB overall enjoying its highest ever result since the current ratings system came into play in 2004, with an overall station share of 16.4 per cent, a jump of 1.2 percentage points.

2GB’s Ben Fordham has taken out the latest breakfast radio ratings. Picture: Gaye Gerard

KIIS FM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O.

“The critics, trolls and haters will never understand how much they have helped me,” Fordham said.
“My determination burns strongly and every time someone attacks me they are just throwing another log on the fire. I reckon that has played a role here. Everyone has challenges. I’d be a hypocrite if I told my kids one thing and then did another in my own life.”

Outgoing ABC Sydney breakfast duo Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck also enjoyed a cracking result, jumping 1.7 percentage points to a 15.7 per cent share of the market.

On FM breakfast, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson came in third in the GFK figures with a 10.8 per cent share (down 1.3).

ABC’s Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck.

Across all stations, behind 2GB was ABC Sydney at 13 per cent (up 1.1), while KIIS FM and SmoothFM both came in with an eight per cent share.
That was down 0.7 of a percentage point for KIIS and down 0.4 for Smooth.

In mornings, Ray Hadley smashed the timeslot with a 20 per cent share, up 0.1 of a percentage point, well ahead of his nearest rival, ABC Sydney at 12.6 per cent (up 1.4).

“I’ve got to say I am a little bit stunned by it all,” Hadley told listeners.
“2GB in Sydney has a share of 16.4 per cent and I am told by management that that is the best ever survey result since I arrived here in 2001, for the station. We have never got to 16.4 outright previously.”

Hadley described Fordham’s result as a “runaway number one” and added that it was just the fourth time in his 20-year career with the station that his morning show had “topped the 20 per cent mark”.

It marks the 136th consecutive ratings win for his show.

“Twenty per cent is practically unheard of in modern day radio between sunrise and sunset,” he said, surmising that the figures were boosted by the pandemic.
“I guess we could say it is on the back of the pandemic and there is no escaping that but I don’t care what it is on the back of, these are record figures for a radio station that has dominated the Sydney market for god knows how long.”

Ray Hadley smashed his timeslot with a 20 per cent share.

In the afternoon shift at 2GB, Deb Knight secured a 12.2 per cent share while in drive from 3pm to 6pm, Jim Wilson drew a 9.2 per cent share.

In FM drive, from 4pm to 6pm, smoothFM scored a 9.4 per cent share while Nova’s Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey scored a 7.9 per cent share of the market.
The Kate, Tim and Joel show is syndicated across the country and came in as the number one drive show nationally with an overall share of 9.7 per cent.

“You know it’s a rough survey when the only FM music format station in Sydney not to tumble in breakfast is 2DayFM,” Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor said.
“2GB bosses will be high-fiving this week. It’s evident that 2GB’s Ben Fordham is the number one choice for Sydneysiders who want to stay informed of what’s happening amid the pandemic and political upheaval.”