I think being on AM does not help, but then again, I’ve always wondered about these regional surveys.
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It’s because Triple M need to be Boulder (not just rock).
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I wonder what Kam Balda and Cool Gardie think of that?
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I think Cool Gardie thinks they are too safe.
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Today, we go to Ballarat: http://www.radioalive.com.au/RA/media/General/Documents/Surveys%20for%20Regional/BALLARAT-XTRA-INSIGHTS-PUBLIC-SURVEY-RELEASE.pdf?ext=.pdf
Power FM is the #1 station with 28.1% (+0.7 from 2017), followed by 3BA with 21.2% (-0.8). JJJ rates 8.6% (+1.1), with ABC Ballarat at 5% (-0.1).
In the demos, Power is #1 in the under-55s, with 3BA winning the 55+.
The “Other Stations” ratings is at 32.5%, down from 34.4% in 2017. Most of the “Other” figure would be towards Gold Central Victoria, as well as local community station Voice FM, 3CS from Colac, MMM/Hit from Bendigo & the Melbourne stations.
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thank you 
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i know we can get gold central victoria as for 3cs and the other stations except for voice fm we cant really get them here in Ballarat i don’t think
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There’s also Christian station Good News Radio 103.9 FM. But agree Gold, Voice and other stations would be the majority of the “Other” figure.
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the only "other’’ stations are good news radio, gold central victoria, and voice FM . we cant get 3 cs mmm or hit from Bendigo or Melbourne stations
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Surprised how poorly that ABC Local Radio does there, I wonder if that’s just a lot of people just listening to 774 instead?
Results for the ABC seem extremely mixed in all these regional surveys, some markets they get near 20%, others more 10% ish, and then this 5%. You’d think trying the exact same thing in all markets would yield slightly more consistent results…
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You have to wonder if it’s REALLY the exact same thing. Aside from age groups, are they getting a good representation of that community in terms of cultural backgrounds, socio economic factors etc.
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Yes was thinking the same thing. The ABC Local ratings are all over the place in these regional surveys. Something’s not right.
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I think it’s because a lot don’t listen to abc.
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The ABC transmitter is a fair way out of Ballarat too, that probably doesn’t help. It might do better if from Warrenheip where 3BA and Power are.
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But why would Ballarat be so different to other regional markets in that respect?
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because people prefer to listen to either power FM or 3ba
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The overall commercial share in Ballarat is a touch higher than some other markets, but not massively so.
The recent Launceston survey is an outlier in the opposite direction - I’m pretty sure that it’s the same two radio formats on Power/3BA and for Chilli/LAFM, yet ABC Local Radio is near 20% in Launceston and at 5% in Ballarat.
I wouldn’t think the demographics are that different, the main outliers are what out of market stations there are. There’s no talk stations other than the ABC and TAB in listening range of Launceston, while for Ballarat, 3AW and multiple ABC Local Radio options are receivable.
The survey being focused on mostly just trying to give a audience reach of the commercial stations to sell ads would give some credence to it just being a problem of the sample not being representative enough of a typical audience for ABC radio.
Is it just as simple as the ABC need to better promote their frequency?
Breakfast is the highest rating shift so you would assume that the local content isn’t the problem, maybe the lack of it during the rest of the day when it goes to take Melbourne centric programming, but why would Ballarat be more affected by that than a market like Shepparton?
I’m happy to just blame survey methods, but is it really that bad that it alone accounts for the massive variance?
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I go back to my original point, power FM and 3 BA are the most listened to. I have lived here in Ballarat for nearly 4 years. most places that I go to never have ABC on. and that includes the public bus network. It’s either 3 BA or power FM and @Radiohead’s post about the ABC transmitter being a fair way out could also make a difference as well. i know where I am I can get 3BA or Power Fm clearly and cant get ABC radio Ballarat .and I dare say ABC radio Ballarat would be more listened to if it part of the transmitter at Warrenheip
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Just adding my thoughts.
It not transmitter location or ABC content, I think the major driver is being hyper local, almost ridiculously so (“3BA is Redan” or “Power FM is Wendouree’s Hit Music Station”).
The ABC is a hub for the whole of Western Victoria & Triple J hasn’t had local windows since the early 90’s.
Even if it’s pseudo localism, the illusion is good enough
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