Radio ratings: Christian O’Connell is still king of FM breakfast radio

Christian O’Connell is still king of FM breakfast, while there were mixed results elsewhere in the first radio ratings survey of 2021.

Gold FM breakfast host Christian O'Connell has topped the radio ratings again. Picture: Stuart McEvoy/The Australian

Radio host Christian O’Connell has marked a sixth consecutive ratings survey as FM’s number one breakfast show.

The popular Brit grew listeners, going from 7.5 in December’s results, to 8.9 on Thursday in the first ratings for the year.

“The good people of Melbourne have put me there, and I’m nothing but grateful. All I need now is for the Dees to have a good season,’’ O’Connell said.

O’Connell was ahead of equal second on 7.2 — Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and new recruit Nick Cody on FOX FM and Jennifer Hansen and Mike Perso on smoothfm. The latter team posted the highest gain of 1.9.

Nova’s Chrissie, Sam and Browny rose 0.5 to 6.8, while coming in fourth on 6.2 was new Triple M breakfast host Marty Sheargold and KIIS FM’s Jase and PJ.

Sheargold took over from Eddie McGuire and Luke Darcy who bowed out after 11 years following the last survey in December on 6.8.

Triple M breakfast host Marty Sheargold ranks fourth. Picture: Supplied/Triple M

3AW’s Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft are still the big kings of breakfast, despite dropping 2.8 to register a 22.2 per cent share, while ABC was second on 10.7.

GOLD FM was the highest rating on the FM dial in mornings, afternoons and significantly in drive where Gavin Miller gained 2.6 to record 10.4.

FOX FM’s Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little also rose in drive in second place, while Triple M’s Mick Molloy made a slight gain to come in at 6.6 after the departure of co-host Jane Kennedy. 3AW’s Tom Elliott was still on top and the relatively new team of Nova’s Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey rose slightly to 7.7.

3AW was overall the No.1 station on Melbourne radio.

There were only slight changes to the low numbers of SEN, but numbers fell marginally in afternoon and drive.