2DayFM has been slaughtered in the year's first radio ratings, losing more than half of its audience share.
Listeners across Sydney deserted the Southern Cross Austereo station, with 2DayFm's overall audience share plummeting to just four per cent - a drop of 4.4 per cent from the last survey of 2013.
The station's massive fall from grace can be attributed to the controversial defection of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O. The pair's new show on the newly named Kiis1065, formerly Mix 106.5, tied with WSFM to win the FM ratings for the breakfast slot with an audience share of 9.3 per cent.
2Day FM's breakfast show, hosted by Merrick Watts, Sophie Monk, Jules Lund and Mel B, recorded an audience share of just 3.8 per cent, a drop of 6.6 points from 10.4.
Both Nova 96.9 (7.8 per cent) and Triple J (4.2 per cent) sit above 2Day FM, figures released on Tuesday show.
Kyle and Jacki O launched their new breakfast show on ARN-owned Kiis 1065 on January 20 after leaving 2Day FM last November.
Kiis FM trumpeted its victory by tweeting a video and photo of the pair celebrating and opening the champagne after the ratings were released.
"They are all amazed but I knew it was the way," Sandilands says in the video.
ARN Chief Executive Ciaran Davis says it's a fantastic day for everyone at ARN.
"Having the No.1 and No.2 FM stations in Sydney has been a key part of our long-term strategy so to have achieved this in survey one is a great moment for the entire ARN team," he said in a statement.
"Acquiring a winning show and partnering with Kyle & Jackie O, combined with the creation of KIIS 1065, was a key move for us so to have this huge No.1 success in Sydney after just a few short months is an incredible feat."
In the overall ratings talkback station 2GB retained its position at the top of the Sydney ratings with 12.6 of the audience share.
2GB's breakfast host Alan Jones remains king of breakfast radio despite his ratings dropping two points to 15.2 per cent.
ABC702 breakfast program fell 2.4 points to 11.1 per cent following the departure of Adam Spencer.
It's better news for Nova in the drive slot. Their team of Kate Richie, Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold is now the No.1 drive program ahead of ABC702 and 2GB with an audience share of 10.6 after gaining 1.6 points.
Tuesday's radio survey figures are the first to be released by GfK after the agency took over from Nielsen who had monitored the ratings for the past 66 years.
SYDNEY RADIO RATINGS:
1. 2GB - 12.6 (down 0.7)
2. ABC702 - 9.6 (down 0.8)
3. Kiis1065 - 8.4 8.4 (up 3.4)
4. WSFM - 8.1 (up 1.7)
5. Nova 96.9 - 7.5 (down 0.2)
6. smoothfm 95.3 - 7.1 (up 0.6)
7. 2JJJ - 5.5 (down 0.7)
8. 2CH - 5.0 (no change)
9. 2UE - 4.9 (up 0.7)
9. 2MMM - 4.8 (down 0.7)
11. 2DAY FM - 4.0 (down 4.4)
12. ABCFM - 2.9 (down 0.1)
13. 2RN - 2.8 (0.2)
14. NEWSR - 1.9 (down 0.2)
* Radio ratings figures supplied by GfK covering the period January 19 to March 1.
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