Radio ratings: 2GB, Alan Jones lead despite major advertiser backlash

Advertisers who pulled dollars from Alan Jones’ breakfast show in the wake of his controversial comments about the New Zealand PM are the biggest losers in the latest Sydney radio ratings.

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Advertisers who pulled sponsorship from the Alan Jones Breakfast Show are the biggest losers in the latest radio ratings survey.

Macquarie Media owned 2GB held steady across the board with an overall share of 13.4 per cent of the Sydney market to remain the number one radio station across the AM and FM dials.

For Jones in the all important breakfast slot, his show dipped slightly by 0.3 of a percentage point to hold the market leading share of 16.8 per cent, a long way off its nearest rivals being KIIS FM duo Kyle and Jackie O with their 11.6 per cent share of the market (up 0.6).

2GB Radio remains the number one station in Sydney. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Jones and Ray Hadley (pictured) both lead their timeslots in breakfast and mornings. Picture: James Gourley

The win for Jones comes despite dozens of advertisers pulling millions of dollars from his show following his controversial comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The comments were aired in the final two days of the previous radio ratings survey period.

Jones is currently broadcasting his show from Japan during the Rugby World Cup and told Confidential it will take a lot more for his loyal fans to abandon him.

“The listening public have shown you have to get up early to bury me. I have always said if you do the homework you will pass the exam. We keep doing the homework,” he said.

As a result of the advertising backlash, Jones’ 2GB colleagues have taken on extended ad breaks to accommodate for the loss of revenue in breakfast.

This however has made very little impact with the ratings showing diehard listeners are unbothered by the longer ad breaks.

Kyle and Jackie O are second in breakfast.

Interesting to note is Steve Price’s afternoon show had the worst result for 2GB with a dip of 1.1 per cent to an equal lead share of 10.5 per cent with WSFM’s lunchtime music show hosted by Steve Fitton.

Price’s old evening timeslot, now hosted by John Stanley, was the only weekday slot to register a rise at 2GB with an increase of 1.1 per cent to a leading share of 14.5 per cent.

For Kyle and Jackie O, the duo enjoyed a rise although the survey period of July 14 to September 21 doesn’t take into account any backlash from the recent Virgin Mary scandal that has engulfed the pair. That impact, if any, will register in the next survey figures.

Steve Price dropped in the 2GB afternoon slot. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“If there is some kickback against Kyle and Jackie O after the recent Virgin Mary controversy, which seems very unlikely, their ratings increase this survey will position them well against any fall in survey seven,” commentator and Mediaweek editor James Manning said.

Elsewhere in breakfast, ABC Sydney took a hit of 1.3 per cent to a share of 10.2 per cent, ahead of WSFM at 8.2 per cent (steady) and Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa at 7.8 per cent (up 0.3)

In mornings, Ray Hadley on 2GB shed 0.6 of a percentage point to a leading share of 14.7 per cent.

For drive, KIIS and Nova tied for leading share of 10 per cent ahead of ABC Sydney at 9.4 per cent (down 0.4) and smoothFM at 9.0 per cent.

ABC Sydney is also one to note with the station down in all slots and registering an overall drop of 1.1 per cent to a share of 8.3.

Originally published as Radio ratings: 2GB, Alan Jones lead despite major advertiser backlash