Perth radio ratings: 96FM jumps in breakfast despite Fred Bottica mid-survey departure

The sudden change-up of its breakfast talent in the middle of GfK’s second radio ratings survey did not negatively impact ARN’s 96FM, which has gained 1.5 points to land on a 10.4% share.

It was announced in March that stalwart Fred Botica would be leaving his post as co-host of the network’s breakfast show with Lisa Shaw and return to retirement. Bottica’s last broadcast was on 12 March, mid-way through the second survey period which ran from 7 February to 3 April. In his place, ARN pulled Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs out of his own brief retirement from radio – previously the host of rival show on Mix 94.5 from 2001 until late last year.

96FM The Bunch, with Clairsy & Lisa

Botica and Shaw returned to 96FM’s breakfast slot in 2019, taking over from Paul Hogan and Lisa Fernandez’ ‘Paul & Lise’ program which was cancelled during the mid-year survey break. The pair soon returned the network to the top position in breakfast for the first time since 2013 in the second last survey of 2020.