By Calum Jaspan
2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley marked 20 years as number one in the coveted mornings slot with another ratings win on Tuesday.
His 16.4 per cent share, up 1.1 points on the previous survey, was more than enough to beat his rivals and maintain his place as the top rating morning show for the 158th consecutive survey, dating back to 2004.
2GB morning host Ray Hadley has been number one in Sydney for 20 years.
Hadley joined 2GB from a near two-decade stint at 2UE in 2001. His show went live in 2002, with his streak at number one starting two years later. He turns 70 this year.
He said personal progression, including his children growing up and providing him with grandchildren, has trumped professional success over the two decades.
“Those little ones usurp any commercial success,” Hadley said.
“A wise old broadcaster once told me: ‘Be yourself, get in before anyone else and work public holidays’. The formula seems to have worked.”
He also thanked his wife Sophie and former boss and advertising executive John Singleton “for having faith in me all those years ago”.
Nine’s radio boss Tom Malone called Hadley’s milestone an extraordinary achievement.
“As far we know, no individual broadcaster has been number one for 20 years, without a blip. It’s the perfect scorecard. It all comes down to Ray’s work ethic and his commitment to his listeners,” Malone said.
2GB is owned by Nine, the publisher of this masthead.
Elsewhere in the Sydney market, Hadley’s colleague Ben Fordham posted a 17 per cent share at breakfast, beating The Kyle and Jackie O Show in the slot once again.
The KIIS pair dropped 0.6 percentage points to a 14.1 per cent share. Meanwhile, their launch into the Melbourne market in April is yet to find a significant audience.
After dropping share in their first survey, Sandilands and Henderson remained on a 5.9 per cent share in the Victorian capital, the first step in a national rollout.
The fourth survey of the year measures the period spanning April 14 to June 22.
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