Regional Radio Ratings

Tropo conditions received from Shepparton was excitedly talked about in the mid-1980s as we could pick up Melbourne’s EON FM, FOX FM, 3RRR as well as 5MMM in Adelaide (now 3D Radio as 5DDD) and 2CHY in Coffs Harbour on the family stereo.

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Same here, we were excited to get tropo reception 2DAY, 2MMM and 2JJJ in the 1980s.

Mono only - stereo tropo reception was rare in inner Newcastle where I was then.

Without tropo, no reception at all.

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Did you see/hear of the ABC coverage this of poor water quality in Quorn? 730 report and possibly radio current affairs progs too.

Far too saline and one poor soul thought by buying a water softener (more salt to soften), it would reduce salinity.

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It’s been a problem for years and SA Water let alone the government in general just don’t seem interested in solving the problem. Orroroo was successful in getting a low cost desal/treatment plant a few years ago but nothing for Quorn so the fight continues. Most people I know especially those of us from outside of town always relied on rainwater anyway, with bore water for gardens etc.

The State govt intend on spending millions for the so called “Northern Water Project”, which is essentially just an extension of previously built pipelines around the Spencer Gulf and EP to a desalination plant proposed near Whyalla if remember correctly. So again nothing for the eastern / Northern Flinders communities at this time.

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Geraldton has their ratings out today:

Hit remains at #1 with 32.9% (+5.3 from 2021), followed by Triple M with 26.5% (+0.5), and ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt with 19.9% (-0.6).

In the demos, Hit is #1 in the 10-39s, whilst Triple M is #1 in the 40+, only 0.1 ahead of ABC in the case of the latter.

In breakfast, Hit’s Allan & Carly is #1 with 33.4% (+8.6), followed by Triple M’s Todd For Breakfast at 26.7% (-0.5), and ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt’s Bransen Gibson at 20.7% (-0.3). In drive, Hit’s Carrie & Tommy is #1 with 39.6%, followed by Triple M’s Cliff For The Drive Home with 24% (-4.4).

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Once two great, locally owned stations, by the then locally owned newspaper.

Now the barest minimum of local content yet the audience supposedly is listening as there is very little alternative. What a shame.

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It’s like this in most places these days too, sadly

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So true. Pretty much the results we will see if/when the rest of regional AM-FM convert. Bunbury has a little more choice on the radio.

Kudos to MAMA 100.5 Geraldton. They can claim the 7% share unaccounted for.

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Yes Geraldton is miles from the nearest radio market. Would practically be no out of town stations receivable except maybe long distance Perth AM like 6PR, 400 km south.

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When Mandurah’s 6MM was on AM 1116, I was on holidays and visited Cervantes, Jurien Bay and the Pinnacles (rock formation). 6MM was heard in some shops, I checked the radio and there it was. Crystal clear as a mostly water path.

The Perth AM signals don’t reach Cervantes etc anywhere near as good and FM from Bickley/Carmel is difficult.

Perhaps the TAB from the same Mandurah site is equally receivable there and on to at least Dongara and coastal Geraldton?

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Busselton AM into the cosstal northern suburbs of Perth was also very clear for the same reason.

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Today, it’s Mt Gambier’s turn: https://www.commercialradio.com.au/RA/media/General/Documents/Surveys%20for%20Regional/MOUNT-GAMBIER-XTRA-INSIGHTS-PUBLIC-SURVEY-RELEASE.pdf?ext=.pdf

SAFM 96.1 remains on top with 30.5% (-7.2 from 2022), with Triple M, in its first survey since its FM conversion last year, gone up to 2nd place at 19.8% (+9.8), followed by ABC South East SA at 16.5% (-2.1), and JJJ at 10% (-1.7).

In the demos, SAFM tops the under-55s, with Triple M topping the 55-64s, and ABC South East dominating at the 65+.

In breakfast, SAFM’s Bec & Soda from Adelaide dominates with 31.7% (-7.3), followed by ABC South East’s Becc Chave with 20.6% (-1.2), and Triple M’s Ewan Grant with 18.6% (+9.3). In drive, Carrie & Tommy on SAFM dominates with 33.9% (-9.3), followed by Triple M’s Rush Hour with Bernie, Blewey & Jars at 18.9% (+10.8), and JJJ’s Tyrone & Abbey with 12.5% (-0.1).

The “Other Stations” share this survey is at 18.6%, up 1.7% from 2022.

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Triple M up nearly 10% after going from AM to FM - probably says something, doesn’t it. Huge gains in the 18-54 categories who were probably put off by listening to the AM station.

Pity most of their gain was from their sister station though.

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Was there also a bit of a music shift on SAFM? I can never remember where SAFM sits on the Mix/2Day vs Fox/B105 continuum, especially vs where they were when the 2022 survey was done.

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Don’t forget this is the regional SAFM, not the metro.

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I thought they shared a playlist and daytime announcers?

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Definitely. Although the proof is really in the next survey whenever that occurs. With the recent FM conversion there will have been a lot of promotion of the new frequency which will have brought in a lot of new listeners, some of whom will stay, but some will sample for a bit and then leave.

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Local announcer 9-12 and jockless 12-3. Takes the Hit regional log outside of breakfast.

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I thought that had changed. Sorry man.

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Oh wow. I wonder if they need to make any manual adjustments in case the SAFM metro log clashes with the Hit regional music log (so you don’t have the same songs playing just before & just after 9am).

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