As mentioned in the thread discussing the latest metro radio ratings survey, WSFM got 11.3% of Sydney radio listeners and was the market’s #1 FM station: A pinch over their (as previously mentioned in this thread) Survey #2 1997 results as 2WS-FM 101.7 with 11.2% when they were #3 in the market behind 2DayFM and 2UE but of course as it’s already been pointed out, we’re talking about the days before Nova 96.9 and Vega/Classic Rock/Sydney’s/Smooth 95.3 came onto the scene.
So for comparison purposes, how did 2WS-FM 101.7 and all the other Sydney radio stations do during Survey #1, 1997?
Here is the Sydney radio ratings from the above survey.
Sydney - Survey 5, 2012
#1 2GB: 15.2 #2 ABC702: 10.3 #3 2Day: 8.7 #4 WSFM: 8.4 #5 2CH: 5.9 #6 Nova: 5.8 #7 2JJJ: 5.5 #8 2UE: 5.3 #9 2MMM: 5.0 #10 Smooth: 4.8 (it was just starting up at the time the survey was conducted)
=#10 Mix 106.5: 4.8 #12 ABCFM: 4.1 #13 2RN: 2.2 #14 NewsRadio: 1.6
In breakfast, Alan Jones scored a 18.5% share at breakfast, whilst Ray Hadley scored an 18.1% share in mornings. Still in breakfast, 702’s Adam Spencer was 2nd with a 12.1% share, followed by Kyle & Jackie O on 2Day with 10.6% and WS’s Jonesy & Amanda at 9.2%.
In the demos, Nova was #1 in the 18-24s, whilst 2Day won the 10-17s & 25-39s. In the older demos, WS was #1 in the 40-54s, whilst 2GB won the 55+.
Thanks for that flashback, it’s always quite interesting to look back at even relatively recent historical ratings figures!
2DayFM, 2CH and Macquarie Sports Radio probably wouldn’t mind having their 2012 ratings right now! Although on the flipside, I’m sure Smooth 95.3, KIIS 1065 and WSFM would vastly prefer their 2018 ratings.
Nova 100 was #1 FM, as well as overall, for two consecutive surveys in 2/2002 & 3/2002, and was #1 FM in 7/2004 & 8/2004, as well as for a single survey on 2/2005. More recently, they were also #1 FM in 7/2013.
By comparsion, the last time Nova 96.9 was #1 FM was way back in 5/2005, which was the end of their 13 consecutive survey wins for that position, which included being #1 overall for the first 3 surveys of 2004 before 2GB took over the #1 overall position, which is still unbeaten to this day.
“Other Stations” only had a 5.9% share, as Nova 106.9 were yet to start its test broadcast before officially going to air in April 2005. Also, 4BC was mostly local during the day & night, although they relayed John Laws in mornings from 2UE.
And here’s the Sydney results from that same survey, which was the beginning of 2GB’s now 15-year long reign at #1.
2Day was stuggling for much of 2004 after Wendy Harmer & The Morning Crew stepped down from breakfast, which resulted in them moving Kyle & Jackie O to breakfast in 2005, where they remained until the end of 2013 when they moved to KIIS (formerly Mix 106.5).
Looking at the results of some of these Sydney radio surveys from 2004/05 and comparing them to more recent figures, it’s probably safe to say that the average listener in this market is considerably older than it was 15 years ago?
…although I’d imagine that 2DayFM would love to have “only” 7.7% of the audience these days!
How Bad 3AK got in the Late 1990’s, It’s 1503 Signal and Ratings was’nt Strong as it once was when it was a Beautiful Music Station, Moving to 1116 in 2001 did Little to Improve the Stations Fortunes.
I’m not surprised how far ahead 2GB was in the early 1950s as the Macquarie Network was a powerhouse. 2UW was a strong second as they played some popular daytime serials.
This is a telex of Survey 3 in 1983. It was given to me by someone who worked at 2DayFM at the time, thus the handwriting. Survey 2 is printed - Survey 3 is written on the telex.
At the time:
2UE was flying high with Gary O’Callaghan, John Laws, Ita Buttrose, Malcolm T Elliot, John Pearce and Ian Parry-Okedon.
2KY and 2GB were were gaining relevance with Mike Carlton and Ron Casey
2BL / 702 / ABC was struggling.
2SM’s sole focus was Top 40 hits as “The Power” positioning was starting to bite, it was to become the “Rock of the 80s” in 1984
2UW has lost its way and was about to try its luck as Magic 11
2DayFM and Triple M were becoming more commercial
2WS owned the 25 - 39 demo
2CH was Beautiful Music 24/7
And Madonna and George Micheal were becoming household names.
Although on the flipside, I’m sure Smooth 95.3, KIIS 1065 and WSFM would vastly prefer their 2018 ratings.
