Radio ratings: More trouble for ARN after Kyle & Jackie O, SCA’s Hit secures growth in metro breakfast shows

ARN, the network that terminated Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson, has yet another headache to deal with, with the first ratings of 2026 spelling trouble in Sydney.

The network, which in Sydney has stations KIIS 106.5 and Gold 101.7 (formerly WSFM), has haemorrhaged listeners across both brands.

Survey 1, one of eight for the year, conducted by Gfk, covers listenership from January 18 until February 28. Across those six weeks, ARN breakfast shows in Sydney lost a combined 134,000 listeners: Kyle & Jackie O losing 60,000 and The Christian O’Connell show losing 74,000 from the 5.30am - 9.00am time slot with people 10+.

Kyle & Jackie O’s on-air bust-up, which saw network executives tear up both Henderson and Sandilands’ contracts, occurred on February 20, inside this survey book.

Southern Cross Austero (SCA) won the audience that matters most, the lucrative 25-54 demographic most desired by advertisers.

SCA secured a national 27.3 share of the key demo, up 2.3 points, for the 37th consecutive survey.

The broadcaster’s Triple M network ranked number one with men 25-54 for the 25th consecutive survey, securing a 15.3 share, while the Hit Network was number one with women aged 25-54 at a 16.8 share.

SCA’s total people aged 10+ cumulative reach jumped by 5.1, now totalling a massive 9,095,700.

For SCA, which recently merged with Seven West Media and now combines TV, radio, podcast and print, the results were strong under HIT and Triple M brands, with executives pleased at the strong breakfast growth in all metro markets and solid results in the drive race.

“Both the Hit and Triple M networks are performing strongly across the country, with the Hit Network securing audience growth in all breakfast shows throughout Australia and pleasing results for Carrie & Tommy in Drive,” SCA’s head of broadcast content Matthew O’Reilly said on Thursday.

“Triple M’s leadership in Brisbane and Adelaide highlights the strength of our brands, which drive our dominance in the audience that matters.”

Sydney

Nova Entertainment’s Smooth FM in Sydney is the #1 station for Survey 1, holding a 13.5 share of the market, followed by 2GB (12.2), KIIS 1065 (9.0), Nova 96.9 (7.7), and Gold 101.7 (7.5).

Government-owned Triple J climbed to 4.0, up 1.6, while SCA stations 104.1 2DayFM climbed to 4.4, up 0.7, and Triple M to 5.1, up 0.6.

In breakfast, 2GB’s Ben Fordham maintained his crown for king of Sydney breakfast with a 16.6 share, but it may be Melbourne’s ‘breakfast golden boy’, Christian O’Connell, who has been hit with the most disappointing result.

Broadcasting to Sydney, from Melbourne, the newly installed breakfast host saw Gold 101.7 drop from 9.7 to 6.1 between 5.30am - 9.00am, a brutal (and the largest drop in the time slot) of -3.6.

The Hit Network’s 2Day Breakfast with Nath & Emma climbed to 3.6, up an impressive 0.7, and Beau, Cat & Woodsy on Triple M Breakfast climbed to 5, up an entire share point (1.0).

SCA’s Mr O’Reilly said the hard work in Sydney, with two relatively new teams on 2DayFM and Triple M Sydney, was starting to reap rewards.

“It’s also encouraging to see the hard work and investment from our Sydney teams starting to translate into results on 2DayFM and Triple M. Huge credit to Nath & Emma and Beau, Cat & Woodsy — we’re building strong foundations, and there’s plenty more to come.

Melbourne

3AW in Melbourne held firm as the number one station for the city, but the station saw a loss in breakfast.

3AW Breakfast with Ross and Russ dropped -0.9 to 18.9. Nova’s Jase and Lauren, the show axed by KIIS to make room for Kyle & Jackie O in Melbourne, secured 11.1, up 2.3, something ARN executives may be very unhappy seeing today.

In Melbourne, the now no-longer Kyle & Jackie O show went from a 5.0 to 5.1, continuing its struggle to cut through in the market.

Beloved 101.9 The Fox breakfast show Fifi, Fev and Nick jumped an impressive 1.6 in breakfast, now holding an 8.8 share of the breakfast slot, adding an additional 82,000 Melbournians to their cumulative audience.

Triple M Breakfast show Mick in the Morning, hosted by Mick Molloy, Nick Riewoldt, Titus O’Reily and Rosie Walton, rose 0.4 to 6.8, adding an extra 40,000 listeners.

Melbourne listeners continued to love home-grown Carrie & Tommy on the Hit Network, jumping 1.3 to a 9.7 share in drive and adding 63,000 listeners, with Gold losing -1.2, falling to 12.

Triple M’s The Rush Hour with JB & Billy has won it’s key demographic (men 25-54) for a 21st survey in a row on a 12.8 share.

Brisbane

Triple M Brisbane held strong as the cities number one station with a 13.1 share. The station also won the breakfast slot, with Triple M Breakfast with Marto, Margaux & Dan jumped 2.2, securing a 14.0 share, gaining 61,000 listeners.

B105 Breakfast with Stav, Abby & Matt secured a 12.1 share and has the highest breakfast show audience with 387,000 listeners, up 25,000.

It was bad news for Nova in breakfast, with Nick, Luttsy and Susie O’Neill dropping -3.6 to 9.3

In drive, Carrie and Tommy are number one in Brisbane, dominating with a 14.8 share, up 40,000 listeners at the start of 2026.

In another loss for Nova, the network’s drive offering dropped -2.4 to 10.4, possibly a result of sudden line-up changes.

Perth

The Hit Network’s Mix94.5 Perth gained 0.3 in breakfast, adding 10,000 listeners to the breakfast slot, with Nova 93.7 falling in breakfast by -0.1 to 17.6.

SCA’s 92.9 Triple M Perth gained 25,000 in cumulative audience in Survey 1, 13,000 in breakfast with Xav and Katie securing a 9.7 share.

Nova came out of Survey 1 as the number 1 station, with ARN owned Gold 96.5 seeing an uncomfortable drop of -1.8, falling to 11.6.

At 12pm on Thursday, after ratings were released, Southern Cross Austero’s share price was $0.58, while ARN was at $0.34.