2GB host Ray Hadley criticises new radio ratings system after many programs suffer big falls in the latest results

Sydney’s 2GB radio host Ray Hadley has hit out at the new radio ratings system after many top programs experienced big falls in the latest results.

Sydney talkback host Ray Hadley has hit out at the new radio measurement system and said “someone better explain” after his station, 2GB, suffered significant falls across many programs in the latest results.

2GB’s top shows hosted by Hadley and Ben Fordham were among those to experience some of the biggest drops in the ratings in the results released on Tuesday morning, but despite this, both programs retained their number one spots in their respective timeslots.

Hadley’s mornings show won the timeslot for the 151st consecutive time, despite his audience share falling to 12.8 percentage points (down 4.2).

Fordham’s breakfast program drew an audience share of 14.6 percentage points (down 3.5 points) and remained ahead of rival program, KIIS1065’s duo of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, which dropped by 3.2 points to 13.9 percentage points.

“I know we have a new methodology, but someone better explain to us in the radio industry how every station in Sydney can go down by such a mammoth amount,” Hadley said on his program.

“Statistically you can’t go down by 4.2, and I’ve gone back through my records over 19 years, and I’ve never gone down by 4.2 … it’s ridiculous.

“I’m not just saying that because it’s me, because we are still number one.

“As a result, just about everyone in the Sydney radio market has gone down by a sizeable amount including this program while our streaming audiences have increased significantly.”

2GB radio host Ray Hadley is questioning the new radio ratings system. Picture: Supplied

The Nine Entertainment station-owned station remained the most popular station in Sydney with an audience share of 11.6 percentage points (down 2.7), followed by KIIS1065 at 10 percentage points (down 2).

In June, official radio ratings firm GfK released a new methodology system Radio 360 for calculating listenership, and it now includes listeners’ streaming data.

The system took three years to develop and is the biggest ratings overhaul for the industry in decades, and the latest results – which is the fifth survey for the year – analysed data for the survey period from May 21 to June 24 and July 9 to August 12.

In Sydney, ABC breakfast host James Valentine’s program climbed by a small amount, up 0.2 percentage points to 7.8 and was equal fourth in its slot.

2GB radio host Ben Fordham in his Sydney studio. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

Commercial Radio & Audio’s chief executive officer Ford Ennals said he has confidence in the new measurement system and there are always share movements between stations.

“We are very confident that the industry measurement system provides a robust and accurate view of listening,” he said.

“The latest radio survey results show a very positive and stable picture of the overall market.

“Commercial radio audiences remain at close to record highs of 12.1 million listeners and people are listening 23 minutes more each week.

“Looking at the overall Sydney market the total commercial radio market is stable.”

In Melbourne, Nine’s 3AW remained the most popular station and had climbs in all its timeslots except afternoons, which has had a rotation of fill-in hosts since the sudden axing of Dee Dee Dunleavy who left in June after her contract was not renewed.

Since her departure the last two surveys have experienced falls and in the latest survey the ratings dropped by 0.8 percentage points to 11.

The station has yet to announce a permanent replacement, but the program has had fill-in hosts including Jacqueline Felgate, Heidi Murphy, Elise Elliott, Tony Moclair and Jimmy Bartel.

Speculation remains around the future of 3AW’s mornings host Neil Mitchell, but his show easily remained on top with an audience share of 20.1 percentage points (up 3).

In the same slot, ABC’s Virginia Trioli’s program had a ratings dip by 0.1 percentage points to 7.5.

ABC Melbourne's radio host Virginia Trioli.

3AW’s breakfast program led by Russel Howcroft and Ross Stevenson remained the most popular station with an audience share of 22.3 percentage points (up 3.1).

In the afternoon time slot, 3AW’s Tom Elliott, who has been the favourite to eventually replace Mitchell on the breakfast program, saw his ratings climb by 0.3 percentage points to 11.7 points.

In Brisbane, 4BC’s breakfast program led by Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine fell again, down 0.1 percentage points to 6.6 and was equal seventh in the slot.

It is well done on the 11.8 percentage points that it started with when the trio started in July last year.

In SA, ABC’s Adelaide station fell in every timeslot which will likely remain a concern for management at the public broadcaster who have been working to overhaul its trouble-plagued falling radio arms across the country.

In Adelaide, Triple M’s breakfast program hosted by Mark Ricciuto, Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan was the number one show with an audience share of 12.6 percentage points (down 2.6) and it remained ahead of FIVEaa’s David Penberthy (also a senior writer at The Australian) and Will Goodings who recorded a 11.5 percentage point share, down 0.4.

In Perth, NOVA93.7’s breakfast show hosted by Natalie Locke, Nathan Morris and Shaun McManus continued to dominate with an audience share of 22.5 percentage points (up 1.7.)