NZME and Partners Retain Auckland Market

NZME and Partners Retain Auckland Market
Commercial Radio Remains Strong

29 November 2018 – NZME and Partners have retained the number one position in the all-important Auckland market, in the latest 2018 GfK independent commercial radio survey. NZME’s chief commercial officer, Matt Headland is thrilled with the result in what he described as a solid survey.

“Radio has experienced significant growth for a number of previous surveys and to have almost 80% of the New Zealand population listening to radio as a medium, bodes well for advertisers.”

NZME’s iHeartRadio continues to grow year on year with another strong 19% increase to just under 820,000 registered users. With a phenomenal 3.2 million listening hours on average each month, (up 18% year on year) audiences are definitely engaging with the digital platform.

“When you consider that NZME’s overall audience across print, radio and digital is 3.2 million people and add iHeartRadio’s reach – it doesn’t matter what demographic you are trying to target, NZME offers a very strong proposition.”

NZME’s talk station Newstalk ZB maintains its very dominant position as the most listened to station overall across New Zealand. Newstalk ZB again retained the number one title for the Mike Hosking Breakfast Show nationally and in Auckland*. Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby** and Marcus Lush Nights are also number one nationally in their time slots***. Leighton Smith’s Morning show is also number one in Auckland^.

"This time of the year is traditionally quiet for talk radio so the fact we have more listeners^^ now than we did a year ago is very satisfying,” says NZME’s Head of Talk Jason Winstanley.

“The Mike Hosking Breakfast never fails to deliver, extending its dominance yet again and I’m particularly thrilled that Leighton Smith bows out as number one in Auckland – what a stunning career he’s had.”

Radio Sport has also increased its audience from a year ago^^, despite a quiet sports period.

“Radio Sport has a huge 2019 with netball, rugby and cricket all gearing up for world cups. It’s going to be particularly exciting for fans being the biggest sporting year we have seen in some time.”

Highlights for NZME music stations include ZM, Coast and The Hits. ZM’s Fletch, Vaughan and Megan share the number one Breakfast spot for the critical 18-34 age group with Mai FM, also increasing market share in 11 of their 12 markets surveyed****.

While Coast remains the number one music station for all people over 35 years, NZME’s group director entertainment, Dean Buchanan says he’s most excited about the changing demographic of the station.

“We’ve deliberately implemented a strategy of targeting younger people to Coast and these latest survey results show its working. Breakfast with Jason Reeves and Bernadine Oliver-Kerby is performing extremely well, increasing their audience and engagement*****. The Hits Breakfast show had an unsettled survey period with both Sarah Gandy and Toni Street away, which makes their Auckland increase in market share^^^ even more remarkable and The Hits Team deserve a mention for all their hard work.”

Buchanan remarked that urban music continues its rise with another strong survey for both Flava and Mai FM, he also paid tribute to MORE FM’s Simon Barnett.

“Similarly to Newstalk ZB’s Leighton Smith, Simon has had an extraordinary career with MORE FM – he can bow out of music radio in Christchurch, on the high of number one. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming Simon and Phil Gifford to Newstalk ZB mid-2019.”

As this is the last survey for the year NZME would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a fantastic holiday season and say, “Thanks mate.” You can access the video here.
ENDS

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