ABC Melbourne radio bleeds listeners in latest ratings drop

The public broadcaster’s flagship Melbourne radio shows are continuing to lose their audience, down once again after last year’s dramatic ratings drop.

ABC Melbourne radio presenter Virginia Trioli will return to the mic later in the year. Picture: ABC

The ABC’s flagship Melbourne radio shows have slumped to a record low in the first ratings survey of the year.

The national broadcaster was down in breakfast (from 8 to 7.3) and mornings (from 7.4 to 6.6) as well as drive (from 6.1 to 5.3).

Virginia Trioli, who was due to return on Monday in mornings, explained her continued absence via Twitter, citing that her focus needed to be on home due to family illness.

Ben, Liam and Belle are the new Nova breakfast team. Picture: Ian Currie

The last survey was the show’s worst rating results of the eight surveys conducted in 2022.

Fill-in host Ali Moore is now expected to be in the chair until after Easter.

Afternoons remained the same at 4.4.

Also recording a concerning slide was SEN, the high profile breakfast slot dropping 0.2 and mornings with Gerard Whateley falling by 1.3 percent — half its audience.

The station will be hoping for footy’s return to draw back some listeners.

Gerard Whateley of SEN. Picture: supplied

Chrissie Swan hosts The Chrissie Swan Show the Nova Network. Picture: supplied

In breakfast, GOLD FM’s Christian O’Connell continued his dominance, rising to 11.5 with FOX FM’s Fifi, Fev and Nick also climbing to 9.9.

Nova’s new team of Ben, Liam and Belle started the year early and have fallen slightly from 7.5 to 7.3. KIIS FM’s Lauren and Jase came in at 7.2, while smoothfm recorded 7.4 and Triple M’s Marty Sheargold marginally improved to 5.2.

Comedian Sammy J helms ABC’s Breakfast radio. Source: ABC

GOLD FM’s Christian O’Connell continued his dominance in breakfast radio dominance. Picture: supplied

3AW’s juggernaut of Russel Howcroft and Ross Stevenson in breakfast was clearly ahead again on 22.7, while Neil Mitchell jumped in mornings to 18.1 and Tom Elliott in drive surged by 3.9 to be overall most listened to on 14.6.

In other drive news FOX FM (10.6) is closing the gap on GOLD FM (11.1) while Nova’s Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel gained some ground on 9.3.

KIIS FM was down in most markets, while former Nova breakfast host Chrissie Swan started in her new afternoons slot down by 0.6 percent.

The first survey was conducted between January 15 and February 25.