ABC Radio National

Radio, Print, and Online ABC & SBS Radio
182

Disappointed it’s not Hamish but Sally is a good choice. Good to boost the profile of the contributors too - hopefully this is a sign that the program is once again becoming a broad hard news show and not 3 hours of federal politics.

Now they just need to make it 7 days a week or at least a consistent format for Saturdays and Sundays.

3 Likes
183

For some reason Hamish annoys me, so that’s a no from me.

Also Saturday Extra is my favourite show in the entire RN lineup. Even though I much preferred Geraldine Dooge over Fran Kelly. But I definitely don’t want any changes to that show.

I might be a minority, but I don’t like the State/local news breaks on RN. I think it’s Radio “National”, so I want national news updates, not news about a traffic accident or house fire in my local city.

184

Sara will present Summer Breakfast from December 16 to January 3.

The complete new line-up will start on air from January 20 every weekday from 5.30am AEDT.

1 Like
185

I guess that’s what I was referring to about a consistent format - the Sunday program should have the same format as Saturday Extra. I also miss Geraldine too.

1 Like
186

Sally’s chat with PK from this mornings program

1 Like
187

Guardian Australia understands the ABC will unveil major changes to the Radio National schedule and style, following the release of a report delivered to the board last month.

188

Fran Kelly’s new show will be called “The Radio National Hour”.

Andy Park will be moving to The World Today.

From the ABC:

Wake up with award-winning journalist Sally Sara hosting Breakfast. Bookend your day with the return of Fran Kelly hosting a new daily 6pm program The Radio National Hour. Join Marc Fennell on an adventure through history with his new program complimented by a new umbrella feed for history content. Media hound Tim Burrowes will host a new program, MediaLand.

189

Will also continue to work at RN, however, no more RN Drive. Thank God It’s Friday will also air on Radio National.

Press Release:

ABC Radio National in 2025: Always Curious

In 2025 a reimagined ABC Radio National will be at the centre of big conversations and create a space where audiences can expand their worldview while engaging with the world’s best thinkers.

Award-winning journalist Sally Sara will lead the day on Radio National Breakfast joined by political correspondent Melissa Clarke, business correspondent Peter Ryan and news presenter Luke Siddham Dundon.

Fran Kelly will make her return to Radio National in a 1-hour weekday evenings program The Radio National Hour from 6-7pm. The program will focus on the big news stories shaping our world.

Fran said: “I’m thrilled to back on Radio National in a bigger way next year.

“This new show is a chance to go deeper into the news of our time, speaking to the best thinkers and creators and opinion shapers every day. And it’s an election year… I can’t wait!”

Current Drive host Andy Park will remain part of the network and become the presenter of flagship current affairs program The World Today.

Joining Fran and Sally on ABC Radio National next year is Nick Bryant as host of Saturday Extra.

ABC Radio National Manager Dina Rosendorff said: “In 2025 ABC Radio National will be at the heart of national and global conversations and reestablish itself as a trusted source of thoughtful analysis and deep thinking.

2025 will see the Network go even further to cultivate a space for profound insight and meaningful conversations with an expanded range of programs and voices across science, technology, the arts, culture, history, religion and set the agenda in current affairs.

“Radio National will cement itself as the ‘go-to’ space where ideas spark, perspectives broaden and inquiring minds find their home.”

The new year sees an emphasis on returning to a live, flow format through the addition of Cassie McCullagh and Hilary Harper as the Voices of Radio National who will thread Radio National’s programming together throughout the day.

Hilary and Cassie will guide audiences through the live schedule across news and current affairs programs into our unmatched range of specialist content.

Program highlights

Also in 2025, Radio National will expand its history offering with new global and Australian historical series and a landmark history show hosted by Australia’s favourite history buff, Marc Fennell.

Richard Glover is leaving the ABC at the end of the year, but his popular show Thank God It’s Friday! will remain, presented by Charlie Pickering and heard on Radio National, ABC Radio Sydney and ABC Radio Melbourne.

The Big Weekend of Books returns in October as ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Books, a countdown in which audiences can vote for their favourite books of the 21st Century. As always, the event will showcase authors around the world talking about their new releases.

We are adding to our roster of specialist content with some of the brightest minds in their field.

Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly host a new program, MediaLand, examining the media landscape in Australia and abroad.

In news to delight the scientifically minded, Lab Notes, presented by Belinda Smith will cast a lens on fresh scientific discoveries and other things we didn’t know last week – from major breakthroughs to surprising curiosities.

Peter Martin hosts a new business program, The Economy, Stupid, and Jonathan Green sinks his teeth into all things food with Every Bite.

Tegan Taylor becomes the new host of Life Matters with Beverley Wang continuing to present Friday’s talkback program. Dr Preeya Alexander joins Norman Swan on The Health Report.

David Marr continues as host of Late Night Live. Daniel Browning presents Arts in 30 a weekly wrap of what’s happening in the world of art and culture in addition to presenting The Art Show.

Rae Johnston steps in to host Australia’s number one technology podcast Download This Show.

Siobhan Marin will host Quick Smart

Scheduling changes (AEDT)

A new early AM and News Daily at 5.30am

PM moves to 5pm

Late Night Live repeat moves to 3pm

Conversations moves to 4pm

The new Radio National Hour will be heard at 6-7pm

The Music Show will move to 10am on weekends

190

Thank God It’s Friday will air from 5pm to 6pm on Fridays. So does it mean PM will not be heard on Fridays?

191

Looks like it unless they chose to air it on delay on RN.

192

Blueprint for Living will not return next year with host Jonathan Green confirming on Bluesky. He will host the new food programme Every Bite instead.

193

there needs some serious rationalizing of programming on RN.

there are too many shows that overlap - heres some examples

The BookShelf and the bookshow

the religion and ethics report, God Forbid & Soul Search

A Big Country (just play the country hour)

even of the shows are somewhat different, is there a need for 2 book shows or 3 religious shows?

should just merge with NR and get it over wiht

4 Likes
194

I still think they’d be better off putting the talk and special interest shows on NR (effectively merging the two), and sending RN off in a new direction - BBC Radio 2.

Listeners particularly in regional areas often have an appallingly limited choice on commercial radio, and often zero choice for adult music programming. Even some metros don’t offer many choices on analogue commercial radio. The ABC needs to step into the adult music space on one of their analogue networks to fill this glaring gap. And I don’t mean Double J. It’s just too niche and random.

3 Likes
195

Yes, I agree. ABC Radio National FM and switch Classic to AM/Digital.

1 Like
196

I think here is the rationale for all the overlaps plus a few other replies:

  • The book show is a features and interview show and the Bookshelf is a straightforward review show. Merging the two would mean less interviews with authors and less coverage of new releases. The bookshelf can easily get through three new books a week and The Book show also has mini docos as well as interviews.
  • The religion and ethics report is a straight news show about the week in religion and ethical issues, God forbid was meant to supplement the axing of the Sunday nights programme with John Cleary that used to be on local radio. I do find it gets a bit lost in the schedule and tone can be all over the place. Soul Search is features, audio documentary and topical discussions around faith, beliefs and ethical issues.
  • I think RN needs to be doing these as it is part of the ABC’s remit and since they cut the book program on tv, the 2 book shows make up for it. Also religion is now just compass and Hymns of Praise repeats from the UK, basically RN is doing the bulk of the ABC’s charter on these specialist topics.
  • I think A big country is a segment from the Saturday 6am Country breakfast program? So it’s just a replay of a segment and I think anytime the abc tinkers with or cuts a rural program all hell breaks loose from the Nats accusing them of bias. I do agree that with 7 local country hour shows, there should be space for a nationalised version that plays the best stories from local Country hours at say 1PM on Radio National. Same goes for the countless Rural Reports that are broadcast in country stations each morning. There should be a National version at like 5am on RN.
  • I think Double J is meant to be the BBC Radio 2, that and the music played on local radio during afternoons and evenings. I think the ABC is never going to go full adult contemporary as they basically seem to always want to be distinctive and Smooth/Gold etc are already popular. Also a lot of RN stations are on AM and it would be awful to have music programs on AM.
197

Yep. Would only need to move Classic from FM to Digital only in metro areas anyway, it could stay on FM in regional areas as RN is on FM in most regional areas already.

198

The only places RN is on AM is the metros and a handful of regional areas. It’s mostly on FM in the regions. The metros have DAB so even if they can’t get it on FM in the metros it’s no problem as it’s on DAB.

If Double J is supposed to be the ABC’s equivalent of BBC R2 it’s an epic fail. Double J is more like BBC 6 Music but even then it’s a big fail. Radio 2 isn’t fully Adult Contemporary, there’s a lot of rarer alternative stuff mixed in. It definitely doesn’t sound like Smooth or Gold.

199

Use to be a separate show on local radio at one point before they cut weekend programming on digital radio - was RN only until they started playing it on a number of regional stations in NSW & the Riverland in SA this year leading into the Saturday Breakfast show.

200

It’s definitely not the same as Radio 2. Sort of like how triple j is not Radio 1. It’s like the ABC always has to be a bit more alternative or not to be seen as too popular to not piss off the commercial market. Unlike the UK where the BBC was a monopoly for so long.

1 Like
201

Great question.