Also worth looking at the workday results. Star morning and afternoons basically doubled. Even if it’s inflated numbers, those shifts saw insane increases of 16 and 19 points respectively.
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The ARN Classic Hits AM stations are taking a bit of a hit in QLD. Time for an FM conversion and maybe modernised the format a little.
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*Sample size is less than n=75 for marked demographic in at least one daypart - read with caution
Gee, you have to wonder why ARN and SCA bother subscribing to surveys any more when they can’t even get 75 people aged 18-24 to listen to the radio in all dayparts.
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I suspect advertisers won’t buy spots without some data on how many people they’ll reach.
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There is so much variability in these regional surveys that I’m not sure you can glean anything from them
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Doing them so infrequently can’t help.
But I’m not convinced the methodology is right either. Some truly incredulous double-digit swings in demos and dayparts coming out of both Xtra Insights and the GfK provincial books this year.
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Absolutely! Which makes it all the more baffling that ARN haven’t even submitted an expression of interest to convert 4CA, 4MK, 4RO, 4CC or 4BU as part of ACMA’s program to convert AMs in competitive markets. It’s incredibly bizarre. But my guess is they dropped the ball on those when they thought they were buying Triple M. Yet another ARN blunder due to hubris.
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I thought the ACMA were only looking at the solus markets at the moment, competitive markets to come later?
No they’ve got a process started for competitive markets with operators able to express interest, then the next stage is to get “in-market agreement”, which some markets have already got apparently, including Canberra and Toowoomba.
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When Prime Radio had the stations they were pushing for a FM conversion on all their AM stations.
I agree. I don’t understand why ARN have not put a interest in.
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Yeah I’m pretty certain it’s because they were convinced they were getting their hands on Triple M in those markets. They were trying to reduce/delay competition on FM in those markets effectively. Under the takeover scenario they would likely have ended up with Star and Triple M in Mackay and Cairns, Anchorage would have gotten Hit and 4CA/4MK. They wouldn’t want them on FM to complete with Triple M. Or at least if they hadn’t started the process they could delay it (eg the “in-market agreement” part). Typical small-thinking by ARN without considering the risk of them not acquiring SCA.
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Today, we’re off to Wagga Wagga:
Hit remain on top with 33.3% (-0.2 from 2022), followed by ABC Riverina with 9.4% (-2.1), Triple M with 9.3% (-0.3), and JJJ with 6.6% (-0.4).
In the demos, Hit is #1 in every demo, even beating ABC Riverina & Triple M in the 65+.
In breakfast, Hit’s Jess & Ducko is a very clear #1 with 34.3% (+1.3), followed by Triple M’s Jamie & Leigh with 9.8% (-0.2), and ABC Riverina’s Sally Bryant with 8.1% (-3.6). In drive, Hit’s Carrie & Tommy dominate with 35.3% (-4.0), followed by Triple M’s Rush Hour with 10.5% (+2.7).
The “Other Stations” share this survey is at 36.7%, up 3.8 from 2022. Most of that ‘Other’ share would be toward the local community radio station, 2AAA.
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Time for Triple M to convert to FM.
AM us dying in the regional areas. Even worse than metro areas because at least in the metro areas they have DAB to supplement them.
ACMA need to pull their finger out on the FM conversions. Although in this case it’s SCA that need to pull their finger out.
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It begs the question - how would the ratings compare if it were still 2WG?
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Let’s rewind back to 2016, which was the first Xtra Wagga Wagga survey conducted:
#1: Star FM: 32.4
#2: 2WG: 17.3
#3: ABC Riverina: 14.3
#4: JJJ: 6.8
#5: 2RN: 2.6
#6: ABC Classic FM: 1.9
#7: ABC Newsradio: 0.4
Other Stations: 24.3%
As you can see, compare to 2016, 2WG/Triple M’s audience share fell by 46%, whilst Star/Hit was relatively steady, with its audience share up by 2.8%, and the “Other Stations” share (mainly 2AAA) was up by 51%.
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Yep, FM community stations are often the winners if legacy stations stay on AM. Listeners are abandoning AM in the regions. Another example is 4SB in Kingaroy. That audience has moved to community Crow FM
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And also increasing disenchantment from networked programs, loss of localism eg.
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Yep I agree this is a factor, but I don’t think people are even looking for AM radio anymore. They jump in their cars and just flick around FM stations. Home amplifiers and alarm clocks rarely even have AM
Even with all the networked stuff Triple M still does well in regional areas where it’s on FM.
Does anyone know why SCA haven’t converted 2WG?
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You are right about the lack of AM part seeing how I have a table DAB+/FM radio/Bluetooth/CD Player in the bedroom as well the Sony DAB Radio that after I got the TEF has been reassigned as Kitchen Radio. Of course those two do not have AM Radio at all, not to mention the RF noise from LED lights and other electronics in an average modern home and that explains the lower ratings for 2WG compared to Hit. I guess you are right that 2WG is overdue for a switchover.
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Yep that’s me. Being a music person, I find it hard listening to music on AM. It doesn’t sound right to my ears.
I remembered reading somewhere that SCA has put in a interest in converting 2WG, 2RG and their WA AM stations to FM.
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