Media Street: Billy Brownless, AFL finals radio ratings, RSN future

While the Triple M team will be beating their chests over the summer, the same can’t be said for SEN. See which radio footy programs are hitting the mark.

Billy Brownless’ interview with Max Holmes didn’t go down well at Geelong.

Talk about living up to your mantra.

Triple M didn’t just rock football in the latest radio ratings, they obliterated their rivals to easily claim the title as the No. 1 footy station.

The FM station, who have some of the biggest names in the game on their team including Brian Taylor, James Brayshaw, Jason Dunstall, Nathan Brown, Luke Darcy, Mark Howard and Ross Lyon, won three of the four football timeslots.

It was comprehensive across the board taking Friday night with a figure of 9.9 to 3AW 8.5, Saturday afternoon was 10.3 to 8.3 while Sunday was a domination, 11.6 to 4.9.

Saturday night was the only time 3AW had a win, 9.3 to 8.1.

The Triple M combination of footy and rock music was clearly what the listeners wanted with the station’s popular show, The Rush Hour, hosted by Brayshaw and Geelong legend Billy Brownless, enjoying a big jump from 6.3 to 8.8.

While the FM boys will rightly be beating their chests over the summer, the same can’t be said for SEN’s big-name call team who finished last in three of the four categories.

SEN boss Craig Hutchison is not a fan of the ratings system as he has other more modern metrics which he goes by, in particular podcast downloads, to measure his station’s audience but he can’t escape how poor the figures are compared to the other AFL stations.

Despite having some of the best in the business like Gerard Whateley, Anthony Hudson and Dwayne Russell on his call team, SEN finished last in three of the four slots. The only time they finished above the ABC was on Saturday nights when they recorded 3.6 to the national broadcaster’s 3.4.

On the traditional Saturday afternoon time slot they only came in with a disappointing 2.6.

Overall Hutchison was claiming that SEN had taken over as No. 1 most listened to commercial AM network for under 50s.

It was the first time they’d come out on top in Melbourne with SEN 1116 having 267,000 listeners under 50 compared to 3AW’s 272,201.

SCA talent, Nathan Brown Daisy Thomas and Ross Lyon. Picture: Tony Gough

WHY ‘ROVING BILLY’ HAD CATS FUMING

As King of Geelong there isn’t much Billy Brownless can do wrong down there.

But we hear the Cats media team were a little bit upset with his ‘Roving Billy’ segment on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show at the family day.

Specifically his brief interview with young Cat Max Holmes who had cruelly missed out on a spot in the grand final because of injury.

To his credit Brownless took the criticism on board.

“At the time I just wanted to acknowledge him because he’s a great kid and a great player,” Brownless said.

“He probably felt uncomfortable with my question but I didn’t mean to do that. All I wanted to do was acknowledge him as being part of everything.”

All was quickly forgiven the next morning when Holmes and his teammates were served up breakfast and a few more beers at Mad Monday which was held at Brownless’ pub the Wharf Shed.

Billy Brownless interviews Max Holmes on Channel 9.

Jed Bews and Billy Brownless. Geelong Cats Mad Monday at the Wharf Shed in Geelong. Picture: Alan Barber

Billy Brownless and premiership skipper Joel Selwood.

RSN SET FOR MAJOR OVERHAUL

Racing station RSN 927 is changing its Saturday format to focus on Victorian and Sydney races.

In a major shift away from having every race around the country going to air, the station has launched RSN Spring Ticket which will be live from the track and run from 10am to 6pm.

This will include interviews with trainers and jockeys plus form experts including guru Deane Lester with the emphasis being on all the big races in Melbourne as the spring carnival gains momentum.

Deane Lester.

Those who want to hear races from all over the country, they will be available on the station’s digital channel RSN Carnival 1.

The new format will run for the next six Saturdays, starting on Turnbull Stakes Day, and during the Flemington carnival will also include Cup Day and Oaks Day.

In other changes at RSN, Michael Felgate’s Racing Pulse show will be extended by an hour and run from 8.30am to 11.30am with a new show Big V Racing, which will focus on all three Victorian racing codes, running from 11.30am to 1pm.