Jones socks it to rivals despite the drama

Alan Jones’ audience is down, but 2GB remains Sydney’s ratings leader.

2GB radio broadcaster Alan Jones. Picture: Renee Nowytarger/The Australian

Macquarie Media’s 2GB has been hit by audience decline after a takeover by Nine Entertainment and backlash sparked by breakfast host Alan Jones’s remarks about New Zealand’s Prime Minister­ Jacinda Ardern.

But despite a 0.6 point fall across the station, 2GB remained Sydney’s leader, with 13.4 per cent of the audience.

Jones and his colleagues Ray Hadley, Steve Price and Ben Fordham all had falls in audience during the survey period, from May 26 to June 29 and July 14 to August 17.

The 2GB breakfast slot ended on a 17.1 per cent share, which included­ the day Jones said about Ms Ardern that Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down her throat” and get tough with a “few backhanders”. About 40 advertisers withdrew or paused their spending with the station.

But given that his remarks were made in the final days of the survey period, the audience implic­ations will be clearer when the next GfK survey is released in October.

Morning host Ray Hadley fell to a 15.3 per cent share for the survey­, while in the noon-to-4pm slot newly installed host Steve Price slid to an 11.6 per cent share. From 4 -7pm, which includes part of Ben Fordham's drive-time show, 2GB fell 1.6 points to 8.7 per cent.

The numbers skew differently when looking at the specific air times of Price and Fordham.

However, Nine, which owns 54.5 per cent of Macquarie Media and which two weeks ago made a $1.46-per-share offer in cash to buy the rest of the group, will be pleased with the results.

ABC Sydney reported the biggest growth in breakfast for the Sydney market, up 1.6 points to an 11.5 per cent share, higher than KIIS FM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.

However, the KIIS FM stars remained the biggest breakfast show on FM, on 11 per cent.

In drive, ABC Sydney’s Richard Glover gained 0.7 points to a 9.8 per cent share.

The station’s growth in breakfast and drive helped it to 9.4 per cent overall. Smooth FM remains the most listened­-to FM station.

Southern Cross Austereo’s decision­ to axe its breakfast format­ proved worthwhile, with 2DayFM hit by its worst result since 2015. Breakfast at 2DayFM, hosted by Grant Denyer, Ed ­Kavalee and Ash London until last Monday, fell to 2.4 per cent, its lowest since Sandilands and Henderson defected to KIIS FM.

In Melbourne, 3AW’s Ross Stevenson and John Burn breakfast show and Neil Mitchell’s morning program both declined but still dominated their slots, on 18.6 points and 17.2 points.

FM radio proved more popular in Brisbane. Nova’s Ashley Bradnam, Kip Wightman, David “Luttsy” Lutteral and Susie O’Neill gained 0.9 points in breakfast and remained the most listened-to program, at 12.7 per cent. Nova was also the most popular drive-time station, helping it extend its lead over rivals.In Adelaide, Australian Radio Network’s radio station Mix 102.3 extended its market lead, while in Perth, Nova 93.7 cemented its market position thanks to audience gains by its breakfast, morning and afternoon radio shows

Macquarie Media’s 4BC, which syndicates Jones, fell back 1.1 points to 6.7 per cent share. The breakfast slot fell 1.4 points to a 7.5 per cent share.