Melbourne Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 8, 2019

• Ross and John partnership lives as 3AW and breakfast team win again
• Gold again #1 FM, but Chrissie, Sam & Browny new FM brekky #1
• Fox on the run: Hit Network flagship records lowest share in years

UP: SEN +0.5
DOWN: Gold 104.3 -1.5

3AW 15.6% (15.2%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 15.6% (13.9%)
Best breakfast 20.6% (17.3%)

Despite the station plans to drop one of the team mid-2020, the record-breaking run of ratings success enjoyed by breakfast hosts Ross Stevenson and John Burns continues. The station equaled its year-best this survey. Neil Mitchell and Denis Walter were both up ahead of Walter’s move to evenings. Evenings dropped 2.3 to 12.4% which Walter should help correct next year.

Gold 104.3 11.0% (12.5%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 12.5% (9.0%)
Best breakfast 9.5% (6.8%)

Despite suffering the biggest fall in the market, Gold continues to rank #1 FM with the best share and cume. Christian O’Donnell surrendered breakfast leadership though as share lowered from 8.7% to 6.7%. Most listeners departing this survey were aged 25-39.

smoothfm 91.5 8.5% (9.1%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 11.0% (8.5%)
Best breakfast 9.5% (6.7%)

The year has ended with the lowest station and breakfast shares for 2019. Evening bucked the trend with share up 1.1 to 9.6%. Station cume dipped below 900,000.

101.9 Fox FM 7.3% (8.6%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 10.4% (7.3%)
Best breakfast 10.5% (6.7%)

Significant change here at the longtime market leader where even Triple M breakfast now does better. We can’t remember a Fox breakfast share of 6.7%, where the station only outrates KIIS, and only by 0.3. Station cume is also under 1m which hasn’t happened for a while.

Nova 100 7.2% (7.1%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 7.5% (7.1%)
Best breakfast 8.6% (7.5%)

Breakfast share only lifted by 0.1, and was the best for the year, but Chrissie, Sam and Browny are #1 FM breakfast. The New York breakfast trip seems to have been ratings gold. Only daypart that rates higher is Kate, Tim and Marty in drive where they are now #2 FM behind Gold. Station cume was steady on 1.068m.

105.1 Triple M 6.8% (6.5%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 7.6% (6.2%)
Best breakfast 8.4% (5.5%)

As Wil Anderson signs off from The Hot Breakfast, the lowest breakfast share for ages has improved 1.5 to 7.0% where it now outrates Fox. Morning performs best with 8.5%.

KIIS 101.1 FM 5.7% (5.5%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 6.7% (4.8%)
Best breakfast 7.2% (4.9%)

Breakfast with Jase and PJ jumped 1.0 and is only 0.3 of a point behind Fox. Morning is holding back the station average with a drop of 0.8 to 4.1%. Station cume is holding just above 900,000.

SEN 3.6% (3.1%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 4.5% (2.4%)
Best breakfast 4.8% (2.9%)

The biggest improver in the market this survey, but still short of the year’s best. Improvers were morning up 0.9 to 4.1% and afternoon up 1.1 to 4.0%.

Macquarie Sports 1278 0.4% (0.4%)

2019 results: Best/worst
Best 10+ 0.4% (0.1%)
Best breakfast 0.4% (0.2%)

The station seems to be simulcasting a lot of UK radio station TalkSport when not covering local live sport. Drive team Ox & Marko remained on air until Friday December 13.