Brisbane Overtakes Perth As Triple J’s Strongest Market

The first radio ratings are in for 2015 with mixed results for triple j around the country while Southern Cross Austereo’s dramatic rebrand has failed to arrest the decline of some of its key stations.

One of the key notes from the figures is that a sharp decline in triple j’s Perth weekday share means that their Brisbane weekday hold of 9.7 percent is now their strongest around the country. The survey period ran from Sunday 18 January to Saturday 28 February, so includes the Hottest 100 broadcast on Australia Day — which should have been a boost for the station.

See the metro ratings figures below. Click on an image for larger version.

Sydney

Smoothfm have had a strong start to the year, picking up 1.3 percentage points on last year’s last figures to give them a 7.3 percent weekday share. ABC702 have another strong start – as is typical for the summer period – with a similar 1.3 point jump to 10 percent share.

ABC702 now has the second highest market share, only behind all-conquering fellow AM frequency 2GB, which holds 13.9 percent after a 0.7 point jump. They had strong breakfast, drive and evening slot showings.

Triple j lose 0.9 points to hold a 6 percent weekday share, suffering hits in the morning and afternoon slots – the afternoons now the domain of new hosts Veronica & Lewis.

The January rebrand of 2DayFM to hit104.1 2DayFM failed to grow the listenership immediately, with the once-powerful station now sitting at 3.6 percent weekday share. Their breakfast slot holds a 3 percent share.

Melbourne

Mirroring Sydney’s weekday trends, the market leader 3AW pulls ahead (up 0.8 points to 13.8 percent) and ABC774 has a strong summer to gain 0.8 points and hold an 11.1 percent share.

GOLD took a 1.6 point weekday hit while the rebranded hit101.9 FoxFM is down 0.6 points to 7.8 percent. It still holds the top FM ratings however, despite a charging Triple M.

Triple j began the rebuilding phase with a 0.4 point weekday jump to 5.8 percent, thanks to a strong showing in the 18-24 demographic.

Brisbane

There’s been a change in the weekday market leader, with a 2.8 point jump for 97.3FM (15 percent) enough to take back the lead from NOVA106.9 (down 2.8 to 11.2 percent). NOVA’s now only slightly ahead of ABC612, whose summer strength resulted in a 2.3 point jump to an 11 percent weekday share.

Triple j added 0.4 points to hold a 9.7 percent share, which – combined with losses for the station in Perth – means that Brisbane is now triple j’s strongest metro market. Audiences have reacted well to new afternoon hosts Veronica & Lewis and granted them a 1.8 point gain, up to 11.7 share in that timeslot.

Perth

The biggest weekday loss came for triple j, who shed 2.1 points to hold a 9.2 percent share. In 2013 the frequency made history by being the market’s top station and posted gains in 2014’s final ratings and it has long been their strongest market. A solid showing in Brisbane has seen that go to Queensland’s capital, however.

The losses came from the breakfast and morning slots, with a massive 11.3 percentage point shedding of the 18-24 demographic (down to 21.7 percent) as well.

Another station to take a hit is the newly rebranded hit92.9, which dropped 2 points to 6.1 percent weekday share in what continues to be a tough 15 months for Southern Cross Austereo.

No such problems for Mix 94.5 however, with a 1 point jump giving them a 15.2 percent share.

Adelaide

There’s been a fair redistribution of listeners to start 2015, with MIX102.3 holding the lead with a 13.9 percent share despite a 1.8 point drop. ABC 891 slot into second with a 3.1 point jump to 12.3 percent while FIVEaa lost 1.6 to 10.4 percent.

Hit107 lost 2.1 points to hold a 5.9 percent share (the losses came across the timeslots) while triple j enjoyed a strong period with an added 1.9 percentage points pushing them to 8.6 percent. The afternoon slot was a strong gainer for them.