Top presenter rumoured to be moving from ABC to FIVEaa

The brekky radio rumour mill is in overdrive with the ABC’s Stacey Lee rumoured to be changing stations and shifts after FIVEaa’s Jade Robran quit in October.

ABC Radio Adelaide breakfast presenter Stacey Lee.

ABC Adelaide breakfast radio presenter Stacey Lee is believed to be moving to rival station FIVEaa to host its afternoon shift.

FIVEaa station manager Craig Munn would not confirm that it was hiring Lee.

“There’s been no commitments made,” Mr Munn said.

Former Sky News reporter and newsreader Lee currently holds third spot in the radio ratings with ABC Adelaide co-host Nikolai Beilharz.

In the most recent ratings they had a market share of 10.5 per cent but finished below FIVEaa’s breakfast kings David Penberthy and Will Goodings, and Triple M’s Mark ­Ricciuto, Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan, who were tied for first place on 12.2 per cent.

In June, Lee called the national broadcaster’s decision to abolish state-based Sunday night news bulletins a “real shame”.

The last time a commercial rival poached an ABC breakfast host, it wasn’t a successful move. Ali Clarke’s show on Mix 102.3 has languished in the ratings this year, dropping back to sixth place in the most recent survey after a short-lived ratings rally.

But radio insiders have been saying for months that the ABC needs to shake up its breakfast show, which has fallen from the top of the ratings to perennial third place.

Stacey Lee and Nikolai Beilharz have presented the ABC Radio Adelaide breakfast show since the start of last year.

ABC radio ratings have been in decline across the nation, with some industry analysts blaming a lack of political balance.

“If breakfast isn’t gelling, it’s really hard for the other shifts to do the heavy lifting. It really has an impact. If you turn off for breakfast, you turn off for the day,” an industry insider told The Advertiser a few months ago.

“I think it’s a good show but they need to understand that radio is so different to television, where Stacey has come from.

Jade Robran has announced her departure from the FIVEaa afternoons show.

“You don’t need to be the attack dog. Be measured, don’t be forceful. Be a great interviewer, allowing people to communicate their side of the story and not just take the soapbox and cut them down because that’s your opinion.”

FIVEaa afternoons host Jade Robran stepped aside in October and the show is currently hosted by Angie McBride. Its ratings are lower than other FIVEaa shows, recording just 4.3 per cent to languish in eighth spot in the most recent survey, behind even national youth station Triple J.

In comparison, FIVEaa’s other timeslots typically attract a market share of at least 8 per cent.