Sydney's radio landscape underwent a significant shift in the final ratings survey of 2025, with Smooth FM emerging as the city's top station. Owned by Lachlan Murdoch's NOVA Entertainment, Smooth FM secured a 13% share of the Sydney radio market, a notable increase from the previous year. In contrast, 2GB, a talkback station owned by Nine, experienced a decline in its market share from 13.8% to 11.2%. ABC Radio Sydney also remained stagnant at 5.5%.
The survey period, spanning October 5 to December 13, marked a pivotal moment for 2GB. Following the departure of veteran Mornings presenter Ray Hadley at the end of 2024, the station underwent discussions regarding a potential sale of its radio assets. Mark Levy, who replaced Hadley, saw a slight decline in his share from 15.8% to 13% in the final survey. However, Ben Fordham, the breakfast host, maintained his dominance with a 14.9% share, despite a minor drop of 1.9 percentage points.
The Kyle & Jackie O Show on KIIS FM secured the second spot in the breakfast slot with a 12.7% share, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous survey. Despite their strong performance in Sydney, their national rollout faced challenges, with their performance in Melbourne dropping to its worst result. Nine's Greg Byrnes praised 2GB and 3AW for their dominance in their respective markets, emphasizing the network's focus on reconnecting listeners with familiar presenters and introducing new voices.
ABC Radio Sydney, which also experienced a year of change with the departure of long-time Drive host Richard Glover, ended the year with a 5.5% share, unchanged from the previous survey. Craig Reucassel's breakfast show saw a slight increase from 6.7% to 7.7%. However, Chris Bath, Glover's replacement, announced her departure after just one year, sparking discussions about the station's male-dominated lineup for 2026. ABC Classic was the only ABC station in Sydney to grow its audience, rising from 3.2% to 3.3%, while Triple J, Radio National, and NewsRadio experienced minor declines.
The survey results highlight the dynamic nature of the Sydney radio market, with Smooth FM's rise and 2GB's decline indicating a shift in listener preferences. As the industry continues to evolve, the competition for audience attention remains fierce, with stations adapting to meet the changing demands of listeners.
