SEN’s expensive line-up change yet to win over listeners

THE first radio ratings of 2018 have been revealed after huge changes to line-ups across most Melbourne stations. Has SEN’s gamble paid off?

SPORTS radio station SEN’s divisive and pricey line-up change has failed to win over listeners.

In the first radio ratings survey of the year FOX FM returned to the top of the FM table, and 3AW retained its stranglehold on the AM dial.

WHO’S MOVED WHERE ON RADIO IN 2018

But SEN dropped by 0.7 points across Monday to Friday despite a series of high-profile and controversial hiring and firings over the summer under the new ownership of Craig Hutchison’s Crocmedia.

Respected sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley’s morning spot — replacing Kevin Bartlett, who has moved to drive — dropped 1.3 points.

New drive hosts Bartlett and Dr Turf — aka John Rothfield — recorded a smaller drop of 0.4 points in the wake of the sacking of popular drive duo David Schwarz and Mark Allen.

Gerard Whateley is SEN’s new morning host. Picture: Stephen Harman

NEW SPORTS STATION TO RIVAL SEN

NO RESPECT FROM HUTCHY FOR SEN DRIVE DUO

The most significant drop came in the afternoon slot, with Andy Maher’s program dropping to a poor 2.1, less than half of the audience of traditionally low rating JJJ.

Fox FM has jumped to the number one FM spot — up 2.7 points, with breakfast program hosted by Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and Byron Cooke also claiming the top FM breakky spot.

KIIS’s new breakfast crew of New Zealand duo Polly “PJ” Harding and Jase Hawkins dropped 1.2 after replacing Matt Tilley and Meshel Laurie, with KIIS recording lower audience numbers across all timeslots.

KIIS suffered it’s most a drop in the evening slot and the Drive slot didn’t perform well following the move of Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek to FOX.

Hughesy and Kate snared the top FM spot after moving across to fill the void left by Hamish and Andy.

Gold FM retained a strong breakfast audience despite sacking high-profile duo Lehmo and Jo.

Melbourne’s top AM station once again is 3AW, who also secured the most listened-to breakfast program with Ross and John and Drive hosted by Tom Elliott.

3AW has taken a hit on weekends — which insiders put down to the station’s cricket commitments, which sources say are unlikely to be renewed.

ABC breakfast suffered a drop of 2.9 under new hosts Jacinta Parsons and Sami Shah following the sudden departure of Red Symons after 15 years.

Triple M’s Drive pair of Mick Molloy and Jane Kennedy scored a 2.2 point boost.