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In 3AW’s first radio ratings survey without Neil Mitchell in three decades, the station has lifted its overall share in the Melbourne market, with his successor Tom Elliott besting Mitchell’s final survey.
Elliott’s first survey as Mornings host netted a 16.8 per cent share, up from 16.3 in the final survey of 2023, according to figures from ratings agency GfK in the period from January 14 to February 24.
Neil Mitchell was replaced by Tom Elliott on 3AW Mornings.Credit: The Age
The former Drive host on the Nine-owned talkback station was up against a familiar voice in Raf Epstein, formerly Drive host on ABC Radio Melbourne who moved to Mornings in September. Epstein’s first survey outing in 2024 netted a 7 per cent share, a decline of 0.9 percentage points. Nine also publishes this masthead.
Elsewhere on ABC Radio Melbourne, Ali Moore’s first survey as permanent Drive host delivered a marginal gain of 0.2 percentage points, up to a 5.8 per cent share. Jacqui Felgate’s first survey as Drive host on 3AW delivered an 8.2 per cent share, down 2 points overall.
On the FM dial, The Christian O’Connell Show made a strong start to the new year, rising 2.9 percentage points to land on an 11.9 per cent share; however, it remained some distance behind slot leader 3AW’s Russel Howcroft and Ross Stevenson on the AM dial, the Nine pair on 19.6 per cent.
Sammy J’s 8.1 per cent share – down 0.1 per cent – was good for the fourth spot at breakfast, behind Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, the show growing to a 10.8 per cent share.
Incoming: Sydney’s ratings-leading Kyle and Jackie O will land in Melbourne next month.
O’Connell signed a new five-year contract in late 2023, keeping him at ARN through to 2029. It’s widely considered that listeners might hear the British expat on Triple M at some point, should a prospective takeover deal for Southern Cross Austereo assets be successful. An initial offer was rejected by Southern Cross shareholders last week.
While not applicable for this survey, former KIIS hosts Jase & Lauren launched on Nova this month after the pair were dumped by their former employer ahead of the launch of Kyle & Jackie O into Melbourne next month on April 29. The Sydney-based show will be syndicated into a second market for the first time after moving into a new studio in North Sydney last week, signing a 10-year contract extension in 2023 worth $200 million overall.