For years, Mix was unchallenged as the top rating station, but lost the outright crown late last year to ABC Radio Adelaide and, in survey six this year, to Nova 91.9.

However, in the survey seven data released today, Mix has jumped back to the top, thanks to increases across most of its line-up.

In the crucial breakfast shift, though, its listener share was unmoved.

After some wild fluctuations, the breakfast battle has stabilised, with FIVEaa’s David Penberthy and Will Goodings the clear winners for the second survey in a row.

The ABC’s team of Nikolai Beilharz and Stacey Lee, who led for most of the year, remain in second spot.

Both FIVEaa and the ABC increased their breakfast ratings, but Penberthy and Goodings gained more and now lead their talk rivals with 15.2 per cent of listener share to 12.8.

Nova’s breakfast team dropped 1.6 percentage points to fall behind a surging Triple M in third place. More challenges await for Nova, with their breakfast team of Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton, with producer Belle Jackson, moving to the network’s Melbourne station. They’ll be replaced next year by Jodie Oddy and Andrew Hayes, but will remain broadcast in Adelaide from 6am to 7am.

Over at Oddy’s old station, Mix, there will be celebrations about taking back top spot overall, but also some consternation over its breakfast performance.

The breakfast team, led by Ali Clarke, was unchanged on 8.3 per cent of listener share, only ahead of Cruise among the local stations.

However, Mix put on listener share in every other shift, most notably in Drive and Evenings.

Overall audience share, survey seven 2022. Source: GfK radio ratings, taken from August 14 to September 17, and September 25 to October 29.

In the morning shift, Mix has extended its lead. Likewise in afternoons.

In Drive, Nova leads over Mix. Notable in this shift is the growing strength of FIVEaa’s Drive sports show, with the addition of Port Adelaide SANFL hero Tim Ginever alongside Stephen Rowe in August appearing to bring immediate dividends. The beginning of the survey period coincided with the AFL finals, but fellow football station Triple M’s drive show didn’t see a similar increase.

In Evenings, FIVEaa maintained its dominance.

Overall, Mix is in top spot, followed by Nova, FIVEaa, SAFM, ABC Radio Adelaide, Triple M and Cruise.

FIVEaa’s resurgence has been one of the most marked stories of the past few surveys. Only two surveys ago, FIVEaa was last among the local stations.

Audience share, broken down by shift. Source: GfK radio ratings, taken from August 14 to September 17, and September 25 to October 29.

The final survey of the year, due on December 13, will be closely watched.

Last year, survey seven showed a surge for FIVEaa and a drop for the ABC, but the national broadcaster’s local station came back strongly to take top spot in December.

Looking back on survey seven in 2021 also tells an interesting demographic tale for FIVEaa, which may change the story for the commercial talk station going into next year.

Back then, the station only attracted 0.7 per cent of listeners aged 18-24. Almost inexplicably, the station now attracts 8.2 per cent of those listeners.

FIVEaa now attracts slightly fewer of the oldest demographic – aged over 65 – but has improved significantly in the 55-64 bracket.

While the ABC retains its dominance among those aged over 65, its performance with the 55-64-year-olds is considerably lower compared to 12 months ago.