Top-rating talk station 3AW* has crushed its rivals in the latest ratings survey, enjoying its biggest lead over 774 ABC since late 2011.
The broadcaster captured 16 per cent of listeners in April and May, putting it 6.5 ratings points ahead of 774. Fighting to stay in second place, 774 dropped to an audience share of 9.5 per cent – just ahead of Fox, now Melbourne's No. 1 FM station on 9 per cent.
The biggest victory belongs to 3AW breakfast hosts Ross Stevenson and John Burns, who grew their share to 21.4 per cent – claiming the title of Melbourne's most popular show. They also enjoy the biggest gap over their ABC rivals; in this case, a whopping 8.9 percentage points over Red Symons (12.5 per cent).
A word of caution: these figures rarely reflect the exact performance of each program.
For instance, the breakfast slot is deemed to be 5.30am to 9am in the ratings survey. Yet 3AW's and ABC's hosts finish at 8.30am. This means 3AW morning presenter Neil Mitchell on 3AW and Jon Faine on 774 ABC are judged by the 9am to midday results – even though they start 30 minutes earlier.
It's near-impossible to chase, then analyse, the precise ratings for every program. Consider these figures as a reliable guide, not the final verdict.
In the morning slot, Mitchell (17 per cent) beat Faine (10.8 per cent) by 6.2 points.
Denis Walter, 3AW's afternoon host (12.5 per cent) out-rated 774's Clare Bowditch (6.5 per cent). In drive, 3AW's Tom Elliott (12.7 per cent) was ahead of 774's Rafael Epstein (8.1 per cent). In evenings, Steve Price on 3AW (16.1 per cent) beat Lindy Burns on 774 (10.1 per cent).
On the FM band, classic hits station Gold lost its top ranking
Now, Fox is the FM leader (9 per cent), followed by sister station Triple M (8.2 per cent), then Gold (8.1 per cent).
Smooth FM took fourth place, with a 7.4 per cent slice of the audience. The station recently turned four, and is reaping healthy advertising revenues. In 2005, it began as Vega, then changed its name (and format) to Classic Rock, then Melbourne's 91.5. Everything failed, until it re-launched as Smooth in 2012.
Eddie McGuire's Hot Breakfast show on Triple M leads the FM pack with 9.5 per cent of the audience, comfortably ahead of his network stablemates, Fifi & Dave on Fox (8 per cent).
The newer breakfast programs are still trying to build their audiences.
In third place, Nova's Chrissy, Sam and Browny grew to 6.4 per cent, followed by Gold's Jo & Lehmo (6.1 per cent); Smooth's Mike Perso and Jennifer Hansen (scoring 5.6 per cent for their music-focused show); then Kiis' Meshel & Matt, who shed 1.2 points to 5.5 percent.
Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, who met at Melbourne University, have secured the No. 1 spot in the lucrative drive shift for Fox (11.7 per cent).
While Nova is fifth on the FM ladder, its Kate, Tim & Marty show punched above its weight again – level on 8.6 per cent to claim the No. 2 position. It's a tie in third place, with Gold's Gavin Miller (7.8 per cent) equal to Triple M's Rush Hour. (Drive is especially tricky to analyse, as multiple shows air in the 4pm to 7pm slot.)
A hefty chunk of listeners (7.3 per cent) seem to prefer Smooth's relaxing music while driving home. The program, hosted by Byron Webb, beat Kiis' Hughesy & Kate (6.9 per cent).
Email Michael: mlallo@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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