Brisbane FM Ratings Rundown: Nova jumps ahead overall but Hit105 retains #1 Breakfast show

GfK’s Survey #6 delivered plenty of talking points, in a year where radio ratings have once again dominated headlines.

Radio Today‘s ratings coverage continues beyond just survey day. This time we are breaking down all the big movers that you need to know about in each metro market, in our most detailed ratings analysis yet.

The hyper-competitive four-horse market of Brisbane is the next cab off the rank.

Southern Cross Austereo

Hit105 Breakfast team Stav, Abby and Matt have finally shown that it’s possible to pull away from the tightly clustered competition in Brisbane, not only remaining #1 but pulling ahead further to a 13.4% share of listening (+0.3).

They were certainly helped by falls by competitor Breakfast offerings by stablemates Triple M and ARN’s 97.3FM taking small dips in the latest ratings.

The results are no shock to Hit105 content director Mathew ‘Eggo’ Eggleston, who tells Radio Today that Stav, Abby and Matt “are the most consistent brekky show in the market” right now.

“They all genuinely care about the community and the city,” he says. “It really makes a big difference in today’s radio battle – the show that reflects and actually listens to Brisbane is the real winner!”

Despite the good results on Breakfast, Hit lost its spot at the top of the tree overall among People 10+ as it remained steady (-0.1) while Nova had a significant gain (+1.2).

Hit now sits in second place, ahead of stablemates Triple M and then ARN’s 97.3FM, with the gap between all four stations loosening a little after Survey #5 left only 0.4% share of listening between #1 and #4.

It’s still a good result, according to Eggo.

“All we wanted to do this year was be a consistent radio station and most of all have a shitload of fun in the process.

“The fact we took #1 off Nova last book with their well-established drive show and heritage brekky show is a sign of what we have to offer Brisbane.

“We’re more than on the right track to give this market a fantastic radio brand that’s broadcasting to Brisbane for Brisbane.”

Meantime Hughesy and Kate on Drive solidified their place behind Kate, Tim and Marty, finishing last week’s ratings with a 12.5% (-0.1) share of listening.

On the Triple M side of things, there appeared to be a correction following a really strong fifth book, with dips taking place overall among People 10+ (-0.4), in Breakfast (-0.8) and Drive (-1.5).

NOVA Entertainment

Although Ash, Kipp and Luttsy weren’t able to topple their rivals on Hit Breakfast in Survey #6, NOVA Entertainment will be pleased to have regained its market-leading position in Brisbane’s four-horse race.

Among People 10+, Nova 106.9 rose impressively to a 12.6% share of listening (+1.2) as all of its rivals lost ground, a result that NOVA Entertainment group program director Paul Jackson says is “an obvious highlight.”

“A good performance overall. It’s still a very tight race across the workday and the Breakfast shows,” he tells Radio Today.

“We’ve doubled down and doubled our focus on a station that’s traditionally done very well in that market.”

Nova will next turn its attention to catching up with Hit Breakfast, who have maintained their lead for two consecutive surveys now.

Brisbane remains one of Kate, Tim and Marty’s best-performing markets, and in Survey #6 the National Drive team lept even further ahead, securing a 15.7% share (+1.7).

With nearest competitors Hughesy and Kate on Hit holding more than a 3% less share of listening, Drive appears to be Brisbane’s most predictable daypart.

“I [predict] that Kate, Tim and Marty will continue to be pretty dominant at Drive time,” Jackson says confidently.

ARN

Although Brisbane remains the most competitive FM market in the country, ARN has undeniably lost traction this year in the market.

97.3FM has fallen behind the three other key FM stations, as it lost ground overall among People 10+, falling to a 10.9% share of listening (-0.7).

On Breakfast, Bianca, Mike and Bob now have an 11% share (-0.3) and on Drive, Will and Woody have 10.7% (-0.4), but ARN will remain hopeful that some catch-up can take place before the end of the year.

National content director Duncan Campbell tells Radio Today that ARN will roll with the same lineup into 2019 no matter what happens in the final two surveys of the year.

“There’ll be no talent changes at all this year,” he says.

Catch up on Radio Today’s Melbourne & Sydney Ratings Rundowns, and stay tuned for our continuing coverage for Adelaide and Perth this week.