ABC Radio Sydney slumps to worst-ever ratings result

ABC Radio Sydney’s audience share has slumped to its lowest level since records began in the second radio ratings survey of the year.

The network delivered an audience share of 5.1 per cent, down from 5.4 per cent in the first survey of the year, with its significant running order shake-up so far failing to capture listeners.

ABC Sydney’s second survey of the year is its worst on record.

Ratings agency GfK has been compiling radio data since 2004 and makes the numbers public. The ABC confirmed to this masthead that the figures were the worst since the survey started.

The breakfast show, helmed by new host Craig Reucassel, also dropped to its lowest share since 2004, declining to 7.1 per cent from 7.9 per cent in the first survey of the year.

Reucassel replaced James Valentine at breakfast this year.

ABC Radio Sydney had the eighth-largest share in the market. The station’s overall cumulative audience was 510,000, down from 572,000 in the previous survey. The market-leading KIIS FM’s audience was 1.39 million.

The second survey of the year covers February 4 to March 30. It had significant overlap with the first, and GfK’s categorisations for time slots do not always perfectly align with show times.

Valentine’s second survey back in the afternoon slot yielded a minor gain, rising from a 3.5 per cent share to a 3.9 per cent share. Valentine announced in March he would be taking a break from radio after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.

The Drive program with Richard Glover rose 0.7 points to a 4.8 per cent share.

An ABC spokesperson told this masthead the station has implemented a range of changes post-COVID designed to re-engage audiences.

“We’re confident in the changes we have made and expect our new programs will grow their audiences given some time.”

The ABC’s new audio boss, Ben Latimer, signalled changes to the local radio network in late 2023, a response to audience figures trending down post the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re serious about getting ABC local radio back to where it needs to be,” Latimer said in December. “Pre-COVID is where we believe we should be, and we can be.”

While the result is a record low, it is early stages for ABC Sydney, with audience trends usually taking some time to set in. One year ago, the station’s share was 5.5 per cent.

Elsewhere, Sydney’s dominant radio figure Ray Hadley won a 156th consecutive ratings survey in the influential morning slot, marginally beating Nova’s music station SmoothFM.

Hadley, who has hosted the morning show on 2GB for more than 20 years, recorded a 13.5 per cent share, down 0.6 per cent from the first survey of the year.

SmoothFM’s morning share rose to 13 per cent, up from 12.7 per cent, with the station’s overall share rising to 11 per cent (from 10.8 per cent) for equal second spot with KIISFM in the market.

2GB – which is owned by Nine, the publisher of this masthead – led the market with an overall share of 11.9 per cent.

For the breakfast slot, KIIS pairing Kyle & Jackie O topped the market with a 16.1 per cent share, up from 15.4 per cent, ahead of 2GB’s Ben Fordham, who dropped from a 16.6 per cent share to 14.9 per cent.

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