Triple M has defeated FIVEaa’s long-dominant Drive sports program in the latest radio ratings.
In a development which once seemed unthinkable, Triple M’s drive sports show gained 1.9 points to move to an audience share of 11.5, while FIVEaa’s sports duo of Chris McDermott and Stephen Rowe lost 1.9 points to fall to 10.8.
However, the result may be bittersweet for Triple M, with the station moving its new drive stars Mark Ricciuto and Chris Dittmar to the breakfast shift from this week.
Breakfast presenters Dale Lewis and Nick Gill have joined Andrew Jarman in the 3pm – 6pm slot. They too, had an improved showing in the latest ratings, moving their breakfast numbers up 1.5 points to 7.5 (but still fifth in the shift).
FIVEaa’s drive shift – for years one of the station’s key strengths – has plummeted from equal second in the shift to fourth.
It remains to be seen whether Triple M has cut its own lunch by shifting its history-making team to breakfast.
Long-dominant ABC breakfast duo, Matt Abraham and David Bevan, lost 2.2 points to fall to second in the slot behind Mix’s Jodie Oddy, Mark Soderstrom and Jason “Snowy” Carter.
The FIVEaa breakfast trio of Mark Aiston, David Penberthy and Jane Reilly also lost ground (down 1.0 to 13.2), but maintained their third placing in the key shift.
Both 891 and FIVEaa lost ground in every weekday shift.
Mix and Triple M both picked up listeners.
Source: GFK. Click to enlarge
