The final radio ratings survey for 2020 has been revealed

The final radio ratings survey of the year produced some surprises, with Triple M’s Hot Breakfast going out on a high.

Eddie McGuire and Luke Darcy have bowed out of breakfast radio on a high, coming in second behind FM king Christian O’Connell.

The pair finished up on Triple M’s Hot Breakfast after 11 years at the end of last month and rose one per cent to record 6.8, behind GOLD FM host O’Connell on 7.5.

Next in the survey eight results were FOX FM’s Fifi, Fev and Byron who jumped 1.6 to 6.6, followed by gains all around from Nova’s Chrissie, Sam and Browny and smooth FM’s Jennifer Hansen and Mike Perso.

GOLD FM breakfast host Christian O'Connell. Picture: Tony Gough

It was also a positive year ender for Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and Byron Cooke, with Nick Cody to replace the outgoing Cooke next year.

The only breakfast shows to drop were SEN, 3AW and ABC, but 3AW’s Russel Howcroft and Ross Stevenson are still dominating the Melbourne breakfast landscape, going from a whopping 28.4 per cent share to 25.0. It marks over 150 consecutive surveys as the No.1 breakfast show.

ABC fell by 1.1, from 13.7 to 12.6, and SEN went from 3.2 to 2.9.

In mornings on SEN Gerard Whateley recorded no change on 2.9 while GOLD FM was strong across the main markets and claimed a win in FM drive.

3AW breakfast hosts Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft are dominating breakfast radio. Picture: Jason Edwards

Triple M’s Jane Kennedy and Mick Molloy won the last survey but dropped 1.4 to come in behind GOLD FM’s Gavin Miller on 7.8, and FOX FM’s Hughesy and Ed, plus Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little on 7.7.

Smooth FM also made gains in drive while Nova’s Kate, Tim and Joel rose slightly by 0.5 to 6.8.

3AW’s Tom Elliott is still well in front overall in drive, as is mornings host Neil Mitchell in his timeslot.

The Gfk ratings system has been forced to operate differently due to COVID-19.

September’s ratings were the first ratings data in Melbourne that had been obtained solely from e-diaries, with paper diaries playing no role due to restrictions and the associated lockdowns.

It was effectively a reset of the survey, given surveys three to five were paused.