Sydney radio ratings: Ben Fordham’s mammoth win

Broadcaster Ben Fordham has recorded a huge ratings win in the latest Sydney radio ratings.

Ben Fordham has recorded an unbelievable ratings win in the latest Sydney radio survey despite recently revealing he bawled his eyes out over the pressure of losing listeners.

Fordham has taken out top spot in the early morning timeslot with a massive 18.1 per cent of the breakfast share in the latest GfK survey.

The broadcaster took over from Alan Jones when he retired last year and has often spoken of the pressure he felt after being promoted to the top spot.

Ben Fordham in the 2GB radio studios. Picture: John Feder

“I cried my eyes out,” he told the So, I Quit My Day Job podcast recently. “I was just so scared of what was happening. I just started bawling my eyes out, and I said ‘I don’t know what I’ve done’ … I’d always said to myself that I wouldn’t do it.”

Fordham’s strategy has been to under promise and over deliver. He has previously stated he expected an eight per cent audience share and that he was “absolutely packing it that it was going to be a disaster”.

It is common for figures to fluctuate from survey to survey.

The average rating for 2GB breakfast show over the past five years is a 15.5 per cent share of the market.

Ray Hadley remains top in the mornings shift. Picture: James Gourley/Getty

For the same survey period last year, when Jones was still in the hosting chair, 2GB breakfast came in at 14.8 per cent of the market.

“This is a win for all of our listeners,” Fordham said. “They are the ones who decide these things and all we do is give them a voice. The people of Sydney know if they have a problem, we’re more likely to fix it than their local MP. So that’s what we do.

“We give our listeners instant access and action. We also give them a laugh and a positive vibe as they head into work.

“If you don’t know what I’m talking about, tune in and find out. This really is Sydney’s breakfast show.”

Close behind 2GB in the overall survey results is ABC Sydney with its 12.2 per cent share of the total Sydney market, a jump of 3.7 percentage points. Then came smoothfm at 9.4 per cent, a decline of 0.5, and KIIS 106.5 FM at 7.9 per cent, down 1.8 percentage points.

Erin Molan. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Jonesy and Amanda. Picture: Liam Kidston

Elsewhere in breakfast, following Fordham’s 18.1 per cent share is ABC Sydney at 12.2 per cent (up 2.2), with KIIS duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson coming in third place with a share of 9.8 per cent of the breakfast market, down 1.5 percentage points.

Erin Molan’s steady rise through breakfast radio has continued, with ratings for her 2DAY FM breakfast show alongside Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee going up by 0.2 percentage points to a 4.4 per cent share. Despite being a small increase, it will be cause for quiet confidence at station owner Southern Cross Austereo with most other FM stations going down.

Celebrations were not in sight for Jonesy and Amanda, after WSFM saw a 1.7 percentage point drop in listeners to a 5.7 per cent share.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O.

Taking over the microphone from Fordham at 9am, 2GB’s Ray Hadley remains top in the mornings shift with a 16.1 per cent share (down one).

Hadley was quick to congratulate Fordham on his show this morning.

“It’s been a stellar performance for 2GB in the latest radio ratings. 131 surveys in a row which spans about 17 years,” he said.

“Particular mention to Ben Fordham who was thrust into the breakfast slot. He’s recorded the largest figure that I can remember in breakfast for quite some time. 18.1 per cent. Blitzing them, blitzing them.”

In the afternoon drive shift, ABC Sydney came out on top with a share of 13.3 per cent ((up 5.5), ahead of smoothfm at 8.9 per cent (down 1.9) and Nova’s Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey also at 8.9 per cent (down 0.5).