ABC Melbourne hits new low in latest radio ratings
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ABC Melbourne's radio ratings results continue to dive with the public broadcaster slumping to a new ratings low.
The high-profile pairing of former Channel 7 reporter Sharnelle Vella and ex Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy in the breakfast slot have fallen again in the second GFK ratings survey of the year, sliding 0.7 per cent from 6.3 to 5.6.
The duo, who took over from Sammy J in January, has now shed listeners in each of their first two ratings surveys.
While Raf Epstein on mornings was up 0.1 from 4.5 to 4.6, afternoons with Brigitte Duclos dropped from 3.2 to 2.8 and drive with Ali Moore fell from 4.4 to 3.6.
ABC Melbourne's 4.4 per cent share of radio listeners across all Monday to Friday timeslots is its worst ever result.
It is down from the 4.8 share posted in the last survey which was the first time the network had fallen below the 5 per cent mark in Melbourne
Over on the FM dial, there was positive news for KIIS FM's $200m duo, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, who moved up 0.7 from 5.1 to 5.8 per cent.
Sandilands on Wednesday threatened to quit Melbourne if his show's ratings continue to slide. But those plans may be on hold with the first real signs of improvement since the show started syndicating locally in April 2024.
GOLD FM host Christian O'Connell was still on top in breakfast at 10.8 despite a slight drop, ahead of Nova's Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips along with Clint Stanaway, who improved to 10.2.
FOX FM's trio of Brendan Fevola, Fifi Box and Nick Cody was next best on 8.3, followed by Mike Person on smoothfm on 7.6 and Triple M's Mick In the Morning with Mick Molloy, Nick Riewoldt, Titus O'Reily and Rosie Walton on 7.3.
3AW's juggernaut of Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft took a 1.8 drop but were still well out in front of their ABC rivals on 18.8.
Following Ross and Russ, Tom Elliott in mornings dropped 3.6 but was still on top with a 15.6 share while Jacqui Felgate in drive took a 1.5 hit to 9.9.
GOLD FM was ahead in drive on 12.1 and in afternoons on 14.2.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sydney Morning Herald
30-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Twenty years on, is Sydney's ‘Bloods' culture at risk of fading away?
On Saturday, the Sydney Swans will mark the 20-year anniversary of their drought-breaking, identity-forging 2005 AFL premiership – the moment that their 'Bloods culture' went from being an internal concept, barely spoken about outside the club, to a very public ethos, mythologised in footy folklore and proudly etched into the club's DNA. At half-time of Sydney's clash with the Adelaide Crows, players from that famous grand final win will do a lap of honour at the SCG, and thousands of fans will show their appreciation for them and the achievement that set up the enviable era that followed. At no point in the past two decades has that culture – built on discipline, selflessness, unity and commitment, revered and feared by their rivals – appeared more vulnerable than right now. If nothing else, the Swans of 2025 are clearly undisciplined. Skipper Callum Mills will miss Saturday's clash through suspension, and he's far from the only culprit; no team this year has had more players rubbed out than the Swans. And those other qualities, for so long non-negotiables at this club, just aren't sticking. After last week's hollow defeat to Melbourne – the Swans' first match at the MCG since last year's grand final, their second belting on the game's biggest stage in the space of three years – former Western Bulldogs champion Bob Murphy diagnosed their issues in perhaps the most Bob Murphy way imaginable. 'Well, the thing about the Bloods,' he said on ABC Radio. 'Blood needs to pump, and the thing that pumps your blood is your heart, and I feel like they've played with broken hearts for most of the year.' All the players who built the Bloods culture are gone; in fact, so much has changed that the bloke who kicked the ball that Leo Barry marked is now the coach. Paul Roos is long gone, and so too is his successor John Longmire; though he's still technically around, in his new upstairs role at the Swans, the football department is no longer his domain. Like the Ship of Theseus, if all the parts have changed, and all the hands which put them there are different, is it still the same? Recent history would suggest that yes, that culture has been successfully preserved: only three times since 2005 have the Swans missed the finals, and most would agree that they probably should have won more than one of their four grand finals in that time. And the brand of footy they have played throughout is - or was - still based on the same fundamentals.

The Age
30-05-2025
- The Age
Twenty years on, is Sydney's ‘Bloods' culture at risk of fading away?
On Saturday, the Sydney Swans will mark the 20-year anniversary of their drought-breaking, identity-forging 2005 AFL premiership – the moment that their 'Bloods culture' went from being an internal concept, barely spoken about outside the club, to a very public ethos, mythologised in footy folklore and proudly etched into the club's DNA. At half-time of Sydney's clash with the Adelaide Crows, players from that famous grand final win will do a lap of honour at the SCG, and thousands of fans will show their appreciation for them and the achievement that set up the enviable era that followed. At no point in the past two decades has that culture – built on discipline, selflessness, unity and commitment, revered and feared by their rivals – appeared more vulnerable than right now. If nothing else, the Swans of 2025 are clearly undisciplined. Skipper Callum Mills will miss Saturday's clash through suspension, and he's far from the only culprit; no team this year has had more players rubbed out than the Swans. And those other qualities, for so long non-negotiables at this club, just aren't sticking. After last week's hollow defeat to Melbourne – the Swans' first match at the MCG since last year's grand final, their second belting on the game's biggest stage in the space of three years – former Western Bulldogs champion Bob Murphy diagnosed their issues in perhaps the most Bob Murphy way imaginable. 'Well, the thing about the Bloods,' he said on ABC Radio. 'Blood needs to pump, and the thing that pumps your blood is your heart, and I feel like they've played with broken hearts for most of the year.' All the players who built the Bloods culture are gone; in fact, so much has changed that the bloke who kicked the ball that Leo Barry marked is now the coach. Paul Roos is long gone, and so too is his successor John Longmire; though he's still technically around, in his new upstairs role at the Swans, the football department is no longer his domain. Like the Ship of Theseus, if all the parts have changed, and all the hands which put them there are different, is it still the same? Recent history would suggest that yes, that culture has been successfully preserved: only three times since 2005 have the Swans missed the finals, and most would agree that they probably should have won more than one of their four grand finals in that time. And the brand of footy they have played throughout is - or was - still based on the same fundamentals.


West Australian
28-05-2025
- West Australian
Nick Riewoldt says AFL players union's opposition to tougher drug policy exposed in Bailey Smith controversy
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has criticised the AFL Players Association for its stance on the controversy surrounding Bailey Smith's 'nose beers' social media post, citing the league's lax drug policy. The 24-year-old has been cautioned by the AFL for the post, and the league has informed Geelong that their superstar recruit—according to 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary — is 'on his last warning.' Smith has been a headline magnet since entering the AFL, but the hype has intensified this year in his first season with the Cats. In 2022, Smith was banned for two matches after admitting to using an illicit substance. A fan commented, 'nose beers after the game mate,' to which Smith replied, 'na bro, after the flag maybe tho.' 'Nose beers' is slang for cocaine. The comment was later deleted, but not before it was widely circulated. Outgoing AFL Players' Association CEO Paul Marsh defended Smith as a 'breath of fresh air' for the AFL due to his unfiltered comments, while AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said Smith was a role model and that his flippant comment was not up to the standard expected of the league's stars. Riewoldt said the AFL's lax and secretive drug policy was partly to blame for the Smith controversy. 'I find myself torn by this. The AFL, from what I'm told, is pushing for a stricter drug policy, which aligns with Andrew Dillon's comments. The AFLPA is railing against that, so Paul Marsh supporting Bailey is consistent with what we've seen,' the Channel 7 AFL analyst said on Triple M's Mick in the Morning. 'The AFLPA essentially protects and condones players taking 'nose beers' — cocaine — under the current drug policy. There are so many loopholes in it. 'Until we get a stricter drug policy that comes down harder — particularly on players who take drugs recreationally, not because they have a problem — then spare me the fake outrage over social media posts. 'Paul Marsh said we're potentially only a few weeks away from a new code, but the AFLPA is reluctant to go harder due to concerns about leaked information and targeted testing. But again, spare us the outrage until you take real action.' Marsh said that Smith made an 'error.' 'What I will say about Bailey is that I think he's a breath of fresh air for the industry. The industry is crying out for players to show their personality, and people flock to him,' he said. 'Sometimes players make errors of judgment — Bailey's made one here.' Dillon said the AFL don't 'want to see it again'. 'Bailey is a role model and needs to be aware of that when engaging publicly or on social media,' he said. 'He made the comment, issued an apology, and I absolutely don't condone it. Drug use is serious and shouldn't be joked about. If he had his time again, I doubt he'd do it.' Since joining Geelong in a blockbuster trade last off-season, he's been in the spotlight but has largely let his football do the talking. The midfielder has surged into Brownlow Medal contention and looks set for his first All-Australian blazer. However, he has also been fined multiple times for obscene gestures, including flipping the bird in consecutive weeks. With 7NEWS