SoâŚwith the results of 2018âs penultimate metropolitan radio survey(s) out tomorrow, how do you think the stations might go?
Hereâs what Iâm predicting might happen in Sydney:
*2GB again being the #1 station on AM and overall, with Alan Jones & Ray Hadley dominating their timeslots - although that goes without saying, doesnât it?
*Kyle & Jackie O as the #1 FM breakfast show, with Jonesy & Amanda dropping back a little.
*WSFM back into the high single digits, with KIIS or Smooth being the marketâs #1 FM station this time.
*ABC Radio Sydney around 4th or 5th - remaining mostly steady.
*Nova, Triple M and Triple J around their usual mid-pack figures.
*2DayFM falling slightly, including at breakfast.
*Macquarie Sports Radio continuing to remain the laughing stock of the market.
And as far as 2CH is concerned, I reckon Bob Rogers will go out on a ratings high (perhaps scoring around 6% between 9am and midday) in his final full ratings survey on the station, while the breakfast show with Indira Naidoo & Trevor Sinclair will probably continue to struggle unfortunately.
As per usual, Iâd be rather interested to hear what others think! 
I have a feeling Smooth might regain no 1 FM in Sydney and WS might drop back a bit.
Iâll be particularly interested in how the Christian OâConnell experiment is going in Melbourne.
In Perth I predict 96fm will continue to struggle.
In Brisbane I have a feeling 97.3 might continue to slide just a little more.
Oh and Macquarie Sports continue to epic fail in all markets.
Gee I did OK with my predictions if I do say so myself
Correct. Now for the next jackpot numbers.
Results of the final survey for the year will be released tomorrow, so here are my predictions for SydneyâŚ
*2GB will once again, be the #1 station on AM and overall as the case (most likely) will always be for as long as Alan Jones & Ray Hadley are still on the air.
*Smooth 95.3 will again be Sydneyâs #1 FM station/#2 overall, followed by KIIS 1065 whoâll probably again take out the #1 spot at breakfast on FM with Kyle & Jackie O.
*ABC Radio Sydney at #4, as WSFM slips further in the ratings from their two decade+ highs around the middle of this year.
*Nova, Triple M and Triple J will probably receive their usual mid-pack figures, while Matthew Johns wonât receive any ratings highs for his final survey as part of The Grill Team.
*2DayFM to again receive slightly improved ratings with momentum continuing to build over Summer. Itâll still be some time before theyâre really competitive though.
*2CH to continue underperforming due to a stunning lack of external promotion. Mornings expected to drop with the departure of Bob Rogers, however the full effects wonât be felt until Survey #1 2019.
*Macquarie Sports Radio to go up in the ratings from 0.6% to 0.8% (or something like that)! May still be Sydneyâs lowest rating radio station behind Sky Sports though, because the survey period will have only covered a few days of test cricket.
âŚand thatâs just about it for 2018. Of course Iâll be interested to hear what others think, seeing the results some time after theyâre released tomorrow and of course, (hopefully) doing it all again next year!
Thoughts on Survey 1 coming out tomorrow everyone??
I foresee no improvement for MSR.
In Melbourne: Gold up, 774 stable, KIIS stable or slightly down. 3AW #1 for the billionth time. Not sure what impact the SEN expansion will have on MSR (surely a negligible difference if that?).
After a long hot Summer, hereâs my predictions for Sydneyâs first radio survey of 2019 with some additional commentary:
1: 2GB 873 - with Alan Jones & Ray Hadley continuing to dominate their timeslots, of course.
2: ABC Radio Sydney 702 - NSW State Election lead-up coverage should result in a ratings boost this survey & next. And of course, long awaited media coverage of THAT court case in Melbourne towards the end of February.
3: Smooth 95.3 - fairly safe and inoffensive of late, but that seems to be what Sydney likes in their music stations.
4: KIIS 1065 - with Kyle & Jackie O remaining Sydneyâs #1 FM breakfast program.
âŚand after that:
5: Nova 96.9
6: WSFM 101.7 - barely beating Nova at the end of last year, I think this is the survey theyâll (temporarily, Homebush Showground promotion should help WS out in April) fall behind.
7: Triple M 104.9 - The more comedy skewed breakfast program (which probably better compliment the drive shows) could receive slightly improved ratings on The Grill Team.
8: Triple J 105.7 - they usually do well around Hottest 100 time, so wouldnât be overly surprised if the Js outrate 2DayFM in the yearâs first survey.
9: 2DayFM 104.1 - despite production coming home, has there been any buzz about their current breakfast team at all?
10: 2CH 1170 (and in stereo on DAB) - the âClassic Hitsâ format + Tim Webster/Chris Kearns started halfway through Survey 1, although it might still be long enough for a ratings boost which IMO, is more likely to have a slightly detrimental effect on WSFM than Smooth.
11: ABC Classic FM 92.9
12: Radio National 576
13: ABC NewsRadio 630
14: Macquarie Sports Radio 954 - more about why I think they might again beat Sky in a moment!
15: Sky Sports Radio 1017
At breakfast (hopefully the presenter lineups are still current)âŚ
1: Alan Jones, 2GB 873 - with the announcement of AJ signing a new GB contract on Wednesday.
2: Robbie Buck & Wendy Harmer, ABC Radio Sydney 702
3: Kyle & Jackie O, KIIS 1065
4: The More Music Breakfast Show with Bogart Torelli & Glenn Daniel, Smooth 95.3
5: Jonesy & Amanda, WSFM 101.7
6: Fitzy & Wippa, Nova 96.9
Personally Iâm not expecting Moonman on Triple M, Indira & Trevor on 2CH or Grant, Ed & Ash on 2DayFM to make much of an impact.
They somehow managed to get ahead of Sky Sports Radio in Sydney at the end of last year, so it wouldnât overly surprise me if 954AM increases by another .2 or .3 but no more than that.
In Melbourne & Brisbane though, Iâm fully expecting asterisks for MSR in most timeslots.
Those who are part of teams with off air acrimony, I hope theyâre having a sleepless night, a consequence of their in fighting.
With the results of Survey #3 out next Tuesday, here are my predictions for the Sydney market.
1: 2GB 873 - with of course, Ray Hadley and the recently re-signed Alan Jones continuing to smash it in their timeslots.
2: ABC Radio Sydney 702 - the Federal Election (and State Election/Federal Budget, still included in Survey #3) coverage should help them.
3: Smooth 95.3 - Iâd expect them to fall back a little due to the political talk elsewhere, but still remain Sydneyâs #1 FM station.
4: KIIS 1065 - with Kyle & Jackie O remaining Sydneyâs #1 FM breakfast show.
âŚand after that:
5: WSFM 101.7
6: Triple M 104.9
7: Nova 96.9 - continuing to fall due to their over-repetitive playlist.
8: 2DayFM 104.1 - pinching a few listeners from Nova, but not enough during the key breakfast & drive timeslots.
9: Triple J 105.7
10: 2CH 1170 (and in stereo on DAB) - continuing to not perform as well as they could due to a lack of external promotion.
11: ABC Classic FM 92.9
12: Radio National 576
13: ABC NewsRadio 630
14: Macquarie Sports Radio 954 - hopefully with a ratings increase after the 0.5% shocker in Survey #2. If they manage to fall even further, Iâll be wondering when theyâll be âWithdrawn from Surveyâ!
15: Sky Sports Radio 1017
At breakfast:
1: Alan Jones, 2GB 873
2: Robbie Buck & Wendy Harmer, ABC Radio Sydney 702
3: Kyle & Jackie O, KIIS 1065
4: Jonesy & Amanda, WSFM 101.7
5: The More Music Breakfast Show with Bogart Torelli & Glenn Daniel, Smooth 95.3
6: Fitzy & Wippa, Nova 96.9
As usual, Iâll probably be only half right! 
So is Lawsy with his footy tips until last week or so when he struck gold with 8/8.
Survey 3 out this morning.
Will be interesting to see how Novaâs slight changes impacts workday in Sydney especially.
Have the changes been in affect long enough yet to give a clear indication?
not really, but theyâll claim it 
Tomorrow, weâll be looking at the results of perhaps the most anticipated Sydney radio ratings survey in five years (what with some of the recent station movement, particularly at 2GB and 2DayFM) so itâd be wrong if I didnât add my predictions for Survey #5!
1: 2GB 873 - I donât expect the recent loss of Chris Smith or the latest Alan Jones controversy to affect them too much this time around, Survey #6 might be a different story though.
2: Smooth 95.3
3: ABC Radio Sydney 702 - Falling back a bit during their first full post-Federal Election survey, but theyâll still be up there.
4: KIIS 1065 - Somehow, Iâm expecting them to have a bigger fall in the ratings than ABC 702.
âŚand after that:
5: WSFM 101.7
6: Nova 96.9
7: Triple M 104.9 - Donât know about the rest of Sydney but aside from Radio Chaser (even then, I generally prefer catching up on that show via the podcasts), this station isnât doing much for me right now.
8: Triple J 105.7
9: 2DayFM 104.1
10: 2CH 1170 (and in stereo on DAB) - With Tim Webster & Chris Kearns likely having the highest rating programs. Wildcard prediction: Indira & Trevor could outrate 2DayFM breakfast during the final full survey of Grant, Ed & Ash on 104.1FM.
11: ABC Classic FM 92.9
12: Radio National 576
13: ABC NewsRadio 630
14: Macquarie Sports Radio 954
15: Sky Sports Radio 1017
At breakfast:
1: Alan Jones, 2GB 873
2: Robbie Buck & Wendy Harmer, ABC Radio Sydney 702
3: Kyle & Jackie O, KIIS 1065
4: Jonesy & Amanda, WSFM 101.7
5: The More Music Breakfast Show with Bogart Torelli & Glenn Daniel, Smooth 95.3
6: Fitzy & Wippa, Nova 96.9
Poor old 2DayFM Breakfast will probably be the lowest rating show on (mainstream) Sydney FM radio and potentially, could be outrated by everyone at breakfast except the sports stations.
The results of Survey #6 for the metro markets will be released tomorrow (on Wednesday, the results of Canberraâs 3rd & final radio ratings survey for 2019 - but thatâs for another thread) and with that, comes yet more questions about how stations will perform in light of recent events. Particularly from a Sydney perspectiveâŚ
*Will there be any major effects on 2GBâs afternoon ratings during the first full survey with Steve Price as the shiftâs regular presenter?
*Will 2DayFM continue to hold the dubious position of having the lowest rating breakfast show on Sydney radio of all surveyed stations except the sports ones?
*Will the ABCâs decision to add most of their radio stations to Digital TV at the start of this month have any impact on the ratings for Local Radio, RN, NewsRadio, ABC Classic & Triple J?
What I am reasonably sure will happenâŚ
*2GB remaining Sydneyâs #1 radio station on AM and overall.
*Smooth 95.3 being Sydneyâs #1 FM station.
*Kyle & Jackie O on KIIS being Sydneyâs #1 FM breakfast show.
*2CH continuing to rate nowhere near as well as they could due to a lack of external promotion.
*Macquarie Sports Radio remaining a cellar dweller. How long will a (most likely) soon to be Nine-owned radio network put up with ratings of less than 1% for a surveyed commercial station in the Sydney market?
As always, Iâd love to hear what others think.
I predict an increase for 2Day Breakfast.
Not because itâs better. But because itâs something different.
Hopefully this time it wonât settle too much & hopefully thisâll be a lasting breakfast strategy for the station.
Thereâs nothing wrong with being different. Especially if it increases listeners.