The latest radio ratings are out for Survey 2, 2026, and it’s good – and bad – news for ARN.
The radio industry is looking through the latest radio ratings to see the new trends, but all eyes are on Sydney to see the fallout of the axing of Kyle and Jackie O.
You can watch a video version of this article in the player below:
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SYDNEY
People 10+ — Mon–Sun 5:30am–12midnight (share %)
StationThisLast+/–smoothfm 95.313.313.5-0.22GB13.312.2+1.1KIIS10658.79.0-0.3NOVA96.97.87.7+0.1GOLD101.77.67.5+0.1104.9 Triple M5.55.1+0.4104.1 2DAY FM4.74.4+0.3ABC Sydney4.35.1-0.8ABC Classic3.53.50.02JJJ3.24.0-0.82UE 9542.72.70.0ABC NewsRadio2.12.0+0.1SEN 1170am1.51.2+0.3SKY Sports Radio1.41.40.02RN1.11.2-0.1
Smooth has come out as Sydney’s favourite station, once again, although this time they’ve had to share the top spot with 2GB. KIIS only suffered a minor drop but remains in third place.
Matthew O’Reilly, SCA’s Head of Broadcast Content, said:
“In Sydney’s shifting landscape 2Day FM and Triple M continues to build momentum with share and audience growth overall and in Breakfast. These results across the country reflect the hard work, creativity and commitment of our teams, and our consistent approach to our brands and shows.”
The cumulative audience in Sydney (CUME) is 4,682,000. That’s virtually flat compared to survey 1.
Breakfast — Mon–Fri 5:30am–9:00am (share %, P10+)
StationThisLast+/–2GB16.816.6+0.2KIIS106511.712.7-1.0smoothfm 95.310.910.1+0.8NOVA96.99.08.4+0.6ABC Sydney5.97.1-1.2GOLD101.75.56.1-0.6104.9 Triple M5.55.0+0.5104.1 2DAY FM3.93.6+0.32JJJ3.33.4-0.1ABC NewsRadio3.33.4-0.1ABC Classic2.82.0+0.8SKY Sports Radio2.42.0+0.42UE 9542.21.5+0.7SEN 1170am1.30.9+0.42RN1.31.5-0.2
All eyes will be on breakfast, especially KIIS, to see the fallout of the axing of Kyle and Jackie O.
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This survey period runs from February 8 to April 4. The big argument between the pair happened on February 20 and the show was suspended on 3 March. Kyle was officially terminated 14 days later on 18 March.
So, there’s still a crossover period with the show on air, which makes seeing the fallout difficult.
So far, though, it’s softer than ARN might have feared – down only 1.0% to 11.7.
Many wondered (including myself) whether Kyle and Jackie O listeners would simply turn off the radio and go somewhere else. So far that has not been the case.
Breakfast listening has actually increased by 102,000 people, with a cumalitive audience of 3,634,000.
The real carnage is at Gold 101.7, where Christian O’Connell has dropped another 0.6% in breakfast (6.1 to 5.5). Two surveys in and O’Connell has now shed 4.2 share points in Sydney breakfast. The combined ARN Sydney breakfast loss across KIIS and Gold is now enormous.
Ben Forham on 2GB remains number 1 in breakfast, a fact often ignored by media writers who only focus on FM results.
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MELBOURNE
People 10+ — Mon–Sun 5:30am–12midnight (share %)
StationThisLast+/–3AW14.213.8+0.4GOLD104.313.012.5+0.5smoothfm 91.59.99.4+0.5101.9 FOX FM8.98.6+0.3NOVA 1008.48.7-0.3105.1 Triple M7.16.5+0.6KIIS10115.25.1+0.1ABC Melbourne3.95.4-1.53JJJ3.63.60.0SEN 1116am3.12.7+0.4Magic 12781.91.6+0.3ABC Classic1.61.7-0.13RN1.61.2+0.4ABC NewsRadio1.31.2+0.13MP 13771.21.6-0.4
It’s not about ARN in Melbourne, the story is the soft numbers for the ABC, which continues to lose station share. ABC dropped -1.5%, falling behind KIIS.
3AW remains at the top, slightly growing for a 14.2% share.
GOLD, Smooth and The FOX all saw gains of +.5% while NOVA slipped slightly.
Melbourne total CUME is essentially flat at 4,783,000 vs 4,765,000.
Breakfast — Mon–Fri 5:30am–9:00am (share %, P10+)
StationThisLast+/–3AW18.918.90.0GOLD104.310.510.6-0.1NOVA 10010.311.1-0.8101.9 FOX FM9.68.8+0.8105.1 Triple M7.56.8+0.7smoothfm 91.56.56.8-0.3KIIS10115.45.1+0.3ABC Melbourne5.06.6-1.6SEN 1116am4.24.0+0.23JJJ4.13.1+1.03RN2.42.40.0ABC NewsRadio1.71.9-0.2ABC Classic1.61.5+0.1Magic 12781.31.0+0.33MP 13770.91.0-0.1
Another emphatic victory for the 3AW breakfast team on a massive 18.9% share.
Christian O’Connell experienced a minimal drop of -0.1% to claim the number 1 spot on FM.
FOX FM saw a strong rise of +0.8% while NOVA lost the same amount of audience, although managed to stay in front of FOX.
The early wins by NOVA’s Jase & Lauren, after they were sacked by KIIS, haven’t been maintained at their new station. That will be the story to watch going forward
BRISBANE
People 10+ — Mon–Sun 5:30am–12midnight (share %)
StationThisLast+/–104.5 Triple M13.313.1+0.2KIIS97311.111.7-0.64BH 111610.910.6+0.3B10510.410.9-0.5NOVA106.98.68.0+0.6ABC Brisbane5.96.0-0.14JJJ4.65.4-0.84BC 8824.64.2+0.4ABC Classic2.42.3+0.1ABC NewsRadio1.91.2+0.74RN1.61.4+0.2SENQ 693am0.70.5+0.2
Triple M takes the crown again as Brisbane’s number 1 station, followed by KIIS and 4BH.
The result by 4BH is extraordinary, considering it is a low-cost station with presenters working from home. The station is actually owned by 4BC but leased to another company, which is spending a lot less and getting better results.
Brisbane total CUME is essentially flat at 2,259,000 vs 2,263,000.
4BC has seen an increase, which will bring some relief to executives.
Breakfast — Mon–Fri 5:30am–9:00am (share %, P10+)
StationThisLast+/–104.5 Triple M14.014.00.0KIIS97312.112.3-0.2B10511.812.1-0.34BH 111610.811.2-0.4NOVA106.910.39.3+1.0ABC Brisbane7.08.3-1.34JJJ4.64.7-0.14BC 8823.83.4+0.4ABC NewsRadio2.61.7+0.94RN1.92.0-0.1ABC Classic1.61.5+0.1SENQ 693am0.50.4+0.1
Triple M has claimed the top spot at breakfast but the sacked-and-then-rehired team of Robin, Kip & Corey has managed to retain second position, despite a small drop of -0.2%.
B105’s former claim to being Brisbane’s favourite breakfast team has certainly come undone, with the show in third spot.
NOVA continues to try and recover from the Ash Bradnam disaster, and still well below his pre-sacking levels. I’m sure his twin brother Luke will make more noise about the fact the station wanted to ‘go in a different direction’.
ADELAIDE
People 10+ — Mon–Sun 5:30am–12midnight (share %)
StationThisLast+/–5MMM12.212.5-0.3NOVA91.911.410.9+0.5KIIS102310.29.6+0.6SAFM10.09.1+0.9CRUISE13238.68.8-0.2ABC Adelaide8.17.6+0.5FIVEaa7.07.9-0.95JJJ4.65.5-0.9ABC NewsRadio2.02.1-0.1ABC Classic1.91.4+0.55RN1.21.5-0.3
No major changes in the overall rankings in Adelaide.
Triple M takes line honours over NOVA, KIIS and SAFM.
When it comes to CUME, there has been no movement with a total audience of 1,160,00 in both Survey 1 and 2.
Breakfast — Mon–Fri 5:30am–9:00am (share %, P10+)
StationThisLast+/–5MMM13.914.4-0.5ABC Adelaide11.611.3+0.3FIVEaa10.811.7-0.9NOVA91.910.29.7+0.5SAFM10.28.9+1.3KIIS10239.08.0+1.0CRUISE13236.37.0-0.75JJJ5.05.1-0.1ABC NewsRadio2.53.1-0.6ABC Classic2.22.0+0.25RN1.81.9-0.1
The newly installed team of Ben & Liam on the newly rebranded KIIS have experienced an increase of +1%.
Triple M continues to be the #1 choice for breakfast with ABC Adelaide jumping into second spot.
FIVEaa remains a strong competitor in 3rd place with a 10.8% share.
PERTH
People 10+ — Mon–Sun 5:30am–12midnight (share %)
StationThisLast+/–NOVA93.715.616.1-0.5MIX 94.512.111.6+0.5GOLD 96FM11.411.6-0.292.9 Triple M8.28.5-0.36PR7.87.80.0ABC Perth7.46.3+1.16JJJ5.66.9-1.36iX4.75.0-0.3ABC Classic2.22.0+0.2ABC NewsRadio1.51.3+0.26RN0.90.90.0
No changes in terms of rankings when it comes to the overall performance of each station. While MIX, in second spot, saw a slight increase of +0.5%, NOVA, GOLD and Triple M all fell slightly.
ABC Perth was the big mover, up +1.1%.
Perth total CUME down slightly at 1,864,000 vs 1,870,000.
Breakfast — Mon–Fri 5:30am–9:00am (share %, P10+)
StationThisLast+/–NOVA93.717.517.6-0.1MIX 94.512.611.3+1.36PR10.811.2-0.492.9 Triple M9.59.7-0.2GOLD 96FM9.19.7-0.6ABC Perth8.87.6+1.26JJJ5.46.5-1.16iX3.94.2-0.3ABC Classic2.82.0+0.8ABC NewsRadio1.71.3+0.46RN1.31.0+0.3
Just like station rankings, there are no changes in the top spots in breakfast.
NOVA continues to hold a commanding lead on 17.5%, followed by MIX on 12.6%.
Talk station 6PR has delivered a 10.8% share, despite a slight drop of -0.4%.
There will be a special edition of MEDIA McKNIGHT Friday at 6pm AEST to cover the court hearings of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O, happening that day.
Just go to YouTube.com/@mcknighttonight to watch.
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