HIT FM and Triple M have maintained their positions at the top of the Border’s breakfast radio ratings, but 2AY has fallen to fourth behind ABC Goulburn Murray.
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The first survey since 2014 showed the FM pair, formerly known as Star and The River, had 21.4 and 21.1 per cent of the early morning audience respectively.
The 2AY breakfast pairing of Sandra Moon and Kev Poulton netted 11.9 per cent, down from 17 in 2014 when the show was hosted solely by Moon.
The ABC’s Joseph Thomsen rated 15.5 per cent, with his predecessor Gaye Pattison having drawn 16.
Ace Radio chief executive Mark Taylor said despite the drop in breakfast ratings, the figure was better than internal data taken before Poulton joined Moon in March.
“We had pretty low numbers in the tracking and Kev came in and I think we’re on the right track,” Mr Taylor said.
He added 2AY’s breakfast was still No.1 with its target audience, those over 45.
Hit went from 22 per cent in 2014 to 21.4, while Triple M rose from 19.7 to 21.1.
The stations’ manager Karen Lyon was cock-a-hoop at the survey result, saying it showed the name switches had been a success.
“What a fantastic achievement from a wonderful group of passionate, enthusiastic radio professionals,” Ms Lyon said.
“We are so proud of being true locals on the Border.
“The rebrand to Hit and Triple M has been a massive success and our long time loyal listeners are the real winners.”
Corryong original Riley-Rose Harper and Adelaide export Seamus Evans took over the Hit FM breakfast show in February from Tom Bainbridge and Oliver Morris who can now be heard on Triple M evenings.
Triple M’s breakfast host Luisa Pelizzari, who was with Poulton in 2014, now broadcasts alongside Matt Griffith.
Exactly 800 listeners partook in the rating period from May 15 to June 3.
Triple M led overall on 22.9 per cent then Hit (21.7), ABC Goulburn Murray (14.4), 2AY (11.4), triple j (8.9), Radio National (2.8), ABC Classic FM (2.0) and ABC News Radio (0.4).