ABC Melbourne radio hits dire new ratings low
Former ABC radio host Red Symons has spoken out about the network’s dire new ratings low, saying listeners are turning away from the public broadcaster in favour of better offerings.
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Former ABC announcer star Red Symons has weighed in on ABC Radio Melbourne’s latest ratings disaster, saying listeners are turning away from the public broadcaster in favour of better offerings.
Symons, 75, hosted the station’s breakfast program for 15 years during some of its highest rating periods before he signed off in late 2017.
“Digital radio, whose star performers include Coles Radio – the beat in the background – has splintered the audience,” the Hey Hey It’s Saturday star said on Thursday.
“The audience aren’t turning off; they’re turning away.”
He stopped short of offering solutions to help restore to glory the station where he once dominated the airwaves.
But he did suggest: “Radio should open a conversation with listeners.”
ABC Melbourne’s radio ratings results continue to dive with the public broadcaster slumping to a new ratings low.
The high-profile pairing of former Channel 7 reporter Sharnelle Vella and ex Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy in the breakfast slot have fallen again in the second GFK ratings survey of the year, sliding 0.7 per cent from 6.3 per cent of audience share to 5.6.
The duo, who took over from Sammy J in January, has now shed listeners in each of their first two ratings surveys.
While Raf Epstein on mornings was up 0.1 from 4.5 to 4.6, afternoons with Brigitte Duclos dropped from 3.2 to 2.8 and drive with Ali Moore fell from 4.4 to 3.6.
ABC Melbourne’s 4.4 per cent share of radio listeners across all Monday to Friday timeslots is its worst ever result.
It is down from the 4.8 share posted in the last survey which was the first time the network had fallen below the 5 per cent mark in Melbourne.
Over on the FM dial, there was positive news for KIIS FM’s $200m duo, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, who moved up 0.7 from 5.1 to 5.8 per cent.
Sandilands on Wednesday threatened to quit Melbourne if his show’s ratings continue to slide. But those plans may be on hold with the first real signs of improvement since the show started syndicating locally in April 2024.
GOLD FM host Christian O’Connell was still on top in breakfast at 10.8 despite a slight drop, ahead of Nova’s Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips along with Clint Stanaway, who improved to 10.2.
FOX FM’s trio of Brendan Fevola, Fifi Box and Nick Cody was next best on 8.3, followed by Mike Perso on smoothfm on 7.6 and Triple M’s Mick In the Morning with Mick Molloy, Nick Riewoldt, Titus O’Reily and Rosie Walton on 7.3.
3AW’s juggernaut of Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft took a 1.8 drop but were still well out in front of their ABC rivals on 18.8.
Following on from the Ross and Russ timeslot, 3AW’s Tom Elliott in mornings dropped 3.6 but was still on top with a 15.6 share while Jacqui Felgate in drive took a 1.5 hit to 9.9.
GOLD FM was ahead in drive on 12.1 and in afternoons on 14.2.
Also in drive, Nova’s Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel was 10.1 while Triple M’s Rush Hour with JB and Billy went up again to 9.5.
SEN breakfast saw a little spike of 0.4 in breakfast to 4.2, but it went down 0.5 in mornings with Gerard Whateley to 3.1. Afternoons with Dwayne Russell recorded a 3.
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