Lockdowns favour talk radio ahead of FM music stations

The extended lockdowns across Sydney and Melbourne continue to favour talk radio ahead of FM music stations.

Ray Hadley, the veteran host of 2GB’s morning show, increased his audience share to 20 per cent, but conceded the survey was skewed in favour of talk radio, given the citywide lockdown.

The extended lockdowns across Sydney and Melbourne continue to favour talk radio ahead of FM music stations, as listeners tune in for the latest updates on Covid-19 issues.

The latest ratings survey, which covered the period from July 11 to September 18, returned strong results for talk radio stations such as Sydney’s 2GB, Melbourne’s 3AW and the ABC.

Ray Hadley, the veteran host of 2GB’s morning show, increased his audience share to 20 per cent, but conceded the survey was skewed in favour of talk radio, given the citywide lockdown.

Outgoing ABC breakfast duo Robbie Buck and Wendy Harmer. Picture: Supplied

“I guess we could say it’s on the back of the pandemic, there’s no escaping that, but I don’t care what it’s on the back of,” Hadley told his listeners on Thursday morning.

Outgoing ABC breakfast duo Robbie Buck and Wendy Harmer recorded their highest ever ratings, with a 15.7 per cent audience share, up 1.7 points from the previous survey.

The pair announced last week that they were leaving the show at the end of the year, and the ABC is expected to announce their replacement in coming days.

Buck and Harmer still trail 2GB’s Ben Fordham, who jumped 2 points in this survey to record an 18.8 per cent audience share.

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

The high-profile FM pairing of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson, who snatched top spot from Fordham in the ratings survey released in early July, have seen their show on KIIS1065 slip to third place in the timeslot, now sitting on a 10.8 per cent share.

In Melbourne — where the current lockdown has been in place since August 5 — the ABC’s breakfast show, hosted by comedian Sammy J, slipped 1.4 points to 14.6, well behind the timeslot’s leaders, 3AW’s Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft, who boosted their audience share to 23.8 per cent.

The duo’s high-profile 3AW stablemate, morning host Neil Mitchell, enjoyed a 3.4 per cent spike to record a 20.7 per cent slice of the market.

In Brisbane, Nova106.9 FM’s breakfast team consisting of Ash, Kip, Luttsy and Susie (Ashley Bradnam, Kip Wightman, David Lutteral and Susie O’Neill) continued their dominance, holding on to top spot with ratings of 13.1 per cent (up 1.8 points).

In Perth, Nova 93.7’s breakfast trio of Nathan, Nat and Shaun (Nathan Morris, Nat Locke and Shaun McManus) won their 17th consecutive survey, recording an audience share of 14.6 (up 0.3 points).

At 92.9 Triple M Perth, the breakfast program hosted by the city’s lord mayor Basil Zempilas, Sky News host Jenna Clarke and former AFL player Xavier Ellis notched a 5.1 share (down 0.3 points) and was in 7th spot.

The morning show on Perth’s 6PR, hosted by Liam Bartlett, fell from fourth to sixth spot, with a ratings return of 7.8 (down 0.8 points).

In Adelaide, ABC’s Ali Clarke maintained top spot in the breakfast timeslot with an audience share of 17.9 (up 1.7 points), ahead of 5AA’s pairing of David Penberthy (also a senior writer at The Australian) and Will Goodings who recorded 11.2 (down 2.4 points).