Radio ratings: 6PR slumps as 96FM triumphs with midday listeners

Nine Radio’s Perth station has been hit with a midday slump, with 6PR’s morning and afternoon programming dropping listeners.

New GFK radio ratings released on Tuesday for the March to May period show 6PR hosts Simon Beaumont and Oliver Peterson both lost 1.2 per cent in their ratings.

Overall, the station’s weekday audience dropped 0.9 per cent to 6.6 per cent, including losing 4.3 per cent of listeners aged 55 to 64 — a key demographic for the station, after a turbulent year.

Both Beaumont and Peterson were shifted as part of a programming overhaul late last year, with Nine’s east coast bosses dumping the afternoon’s show, forcing the pair to cover the space.

Peterson’s ratings of 4.5 per cent are now lower than when Nine dumped former host Julie-anne Sprague’s show.

Once a Drive host from 3pm to 6pm, Peterson was relegated to a 1pm to 5pm shift — now missing out crucial listeners after 5pm, where, 6PR now runs sports talkback into the early evening.

Across town, ABC Perth saw a rise of 0.6 per cent — lead by new Drive host Gary Adshead, who defected from 6PR late last year, who saw ratings grow to 5.7 per cent, up 1.2 per cent.

It follows new ABC managing director Hugh Marks visiting the ABC Perth offices last week, telling staff of a renewed importance of traditional broadcast — such as radio and TV.

On the FM dial, after reaching stratospheric highs last survey, Nova dropped 2.3 per cent as a station, while breakfast crew Nat Locke and Shaun McManus were hit with a 2.2 per cent drop, as speculation continues over the absence of the pair’s partner Nathan Morris.

96FM maintained a solid midday audience between 9am and 4pm, winning a fifth of the market, claiming the title of Perth’s most popular station.

Australian Radio Network chief content officer Duncan Campbell said the 17.1 per cent audience share — 96FM’s highest ever share — was a phenomenal result.

“The station also delivered the biggest audience growth in the market, now reaching over half a million listeners every week,” he said.

“Clairsy & Lisa have continued their strong performance as Perth’s number two overall Breakfast show, increasing their share by 1.5 points and achieving the biggest breakfast audience growth in the market.

“96FM’s dominance extends across the day, holding the top position in Mornings, Afternoons, Drive and Weekends – a huge achievement for the team.”