2GB’s Ben Fordham dives in radio ratings - The Sydney Morning Herald

2GB host Ben Fordham has continued to dive in the radio ratings, falling to his worst result since taking over the station’s breakfast slot 12 months ago.

The breakfast host saw his audience share drop to 13.5 per cent (down 2.0 per cent) in Tuesday’s third radio survey of the year, his first consecutive loss following his 2.6 per cent drop last survey.

Ben Fordham has suffered another significant drop in the latest radio ratings.Credit:Louise Kennerley

The 2GB host still maintains his lead in Sydney’s competitive breakfast market but the margin against ABC Sydney’s Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck has inched closer, with just 0.4 percentage points now separating the two. Harmer and Buck’s audience share is at 13.1 per cent (down 0.1 per cent).

Tuesday’s ratings marked Fordham’s one-year anniversary as host of 2GB’s 5.30am-9am breakfast slot, after taking over from Alan Jones. Jones left the station in June 2020 with a 17.9 per cent audience share in the timeslot.

“Today’s ratings are a reminder of just how competitive the breakfast shift is,” Fordham says.

“We’re 12 months in after replacing the most successful broadcaster in Australian history and we’re still in that number one spot.

“There’s some tough competition out there and I’ve just got to do my best to stay in front of them all.”

2GB, which is owned by Nine which also owns this masthead, again suffered drops across its programming, but maintained its status as Sydney’s top radio station with an overall audience share of 11.7 per cent (down 1.7), over SmoothFM 95.3 (10.8 per cent; up 1.5) and ABC Sydney (10.1 per cent; down 1.7).

SmoothFM 95.3’s drive host, Byron Webb.Credit:Janie Barrett

SmoothFM 95.3’s strong showing in Tuesday’s survey saw it claim wins in the afternoon (12pm-4pm) and drive (4pm-7pm) slots, which largely take in Simon Diaz’s 1pm-5pm show and Byron Webb’s 5pm-9pm show.

The station recorded increased audience shares of 12.8 per cent (up 2.8 per cent) and 11.1 per cent (up 1.3 per cent) to finish top in the respective timeslots.

It was also a significant survey for Triple J, which saw its overall audience share rise to 7.1 per cent (up 1.6 per cent, the survey’s biggest jump).

The youth broadcaster’s impressive result was driven by audience increases in Lucy Smith’s 9am-12pm morning slot (8.3 per cent; up 2.3) and in the 12pm-4pm afternoon slot (9.0 per cent; up 3.1), which largely takes in Dave Woodhead’s 12pm-3pm lunch show.

Tuesday’s survey covered the ratings periods from February 28 to April 3 and April 18 to May 22.

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2021-06-01 00:05:43Z
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