Lehmo finds new home at ABC Radio following axing from Gold FM
Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann has joined ABC Radio as the new host of its Saturday and Sunday AFL programs.
Lehmo hosted Gold FM’s breakfast program in Melbourne for seven years, however Australian Radio Network (ARN) did not renew his contract – or that of co-host Jo Stanley – at the end of last year.
Lehmo returns to radio to talk AFL
Stanley and Lehmo had worked together on Golf 104.3FM since 2015.
When the axing was announced, the duo had an audience share of 8.4%, making them the dominant FM breakfast show in the market. In the final radio ratings survey of 2017, Jo & Lehmo slipped, and went out on a 7.4% share, putting them behind rival Nova’s Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang and Jonathan Brown, who had 8.2%.
UK radio star Chris O’Connell has subsequently been announced as the host of Gold FM breakfast in Melbourne, however he is yet to arrive in the country. The breakfast show, currently without permanent hosts, maintained its 7.4% audience share in the first radio ratings survey of 2018.
Lehmo’s new gig will see him team up with sports commentator Angela Pippos on Saturdays to look at the big issues and what’s been happening in AFL that week. On Sundays, he will be joined by the Outer Sanctum’s Emma Race for a review if the week that was and a preview of the upcoming games.
Lehmo said growing up in country Australia in the 1970s and 1980s meant ABC Radio was his connection to the world of sport.
“My dad pretty much had a mini transistor radio stuck to his ear every Saturday of my childhood. For me now to be broadcasting to the ABC’s loyal audience on the station’s flagship sports program is a true honour. I love every element of our great game from the players to the coaches to the fans to the colourful characters and I hope to speak to them all this year. I can’t wait to get started”, he said.
Nick Morris, manager of ABC Sport said he was delighted to be able to bring together such a strong team for the weekend line-up.
“Lehmo, Angela and Emma, supported by our AFL team around the country, will provide great insights and entertainment to our audiences across the season.”
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