The ABC has confirmed this afternoon that news panel program The Drum will not return for a new season next year, and will finish up on-air this week.
The show ends it’s run on the ABC after 13 years on-air, with the broadcaster announcing that the change was due to a change in viewership trends. It was also announced that it’s presenting trio of Ellen Fanning, Julia Baird and Dan Bourchier are all set to move onto other roles within the organisation, and expected a small number of redundancies.
Originally launched in 2010 to coincide with the ABC’s news channel, the show was later moved to the primary channel and then in 2019 was promoted to the 6pm timeslot with a new look and hour-long format. However the show ultimately never really made enough of an impression with ratings outside the daily top 20 programs.
The ABC have announced that they intend to try other programming in the 6pm slot as the lead in to the nightly 7pm news bulletins, with the broadcaster having previously attempted other shows in the slot including short lived game show Think Tank hosted by Paul McDermott which aired for one single season in 2018.
It remains to be seen what the ABC has in store for the slot next year, but with Network 10 also moving away from news at 6pm next year and announcing the return of game show Deal Or No Deal it would be surprising if they attempted another game or quiz show at the same time.
Read the full statement from the ABC below:
The ABC has today announced proposed changes that will focus ABC NEWS Channel on its core roles of continuous news, breaking news and news video production, geared to service strong demand from digital audiences, and also expand the role of the Asia Pacific Newsroom as the home of specialist coverage on our region.
As part of these changes, ABC TV program The Drum will not be recommissioned after its current season, meaning this will be its last week on air.
Its three main co-presenters will all move on to key new roles. Julia Baird takes on a new position for ABC News combining writing, podcasting and video. Ellen Fanning will be heard on Brisbane Local Radio as well as presenting out of the Queensland newsroom. Dan Bourchier joins ABC NEWS Channel as a presenter.
It’s anticipated the changes at ABC NEWS Channel will result in fewer than five positions being made redundant.
ABC Director, News Justin Stevens paid tribute to The Drum’s great contribution saying:
“Not recommissioning The Drum is no reflection on the achievements of the team over the years. Stopping things does not diminish their previous value or contribution.”
“Many talented people have worked on this program over the years, on camera and behind the scenes. I thank everyone who has been involved in this program.”
“One of the key successes of The Drum has been unearthing new talent from around Australia, and we thank all the panelists who have appeared. The Drum’s database of interview talent is available to all our teams to call upon.”
The Drum
The difficult decision not to recommission The Drum was informed by long-term audience trends. This change will allow ABC TV to try other programming in the key 6pm timeslot, which is the lead-in to the flagship 7PM bulletin and crucial for determining the main channel audience across the evening.
The important ABC TV audience remains very well-served for news and current affairs with News Breakfast, the 7PM News, 7.30, Australian Story, Four Corners, Q+A, Foreign Correspondent and Insiders, as well as special programming such as our upcoming political docuseries.
Reinvestment
Stevens said that every media organisation locally and globally faced tough choices in how to deploy effort and resources, saying:
“To fund innovation, while keeping our output and workload sustainable, we need to be prepared to stop as well as to start things. The ABC has done this courageously for decades and it’s one reason why after 90 years we’re more relevant today than ever.”
“As outlined in the ABC-wide change proposals in June, we’re constantly grappling with budget pressures and rising costs. This is an ongoing challenge for the entire ABC and means weighing extremely difficult options.”
“The changes announced today are not just about finding savings, they’re also about positioning us for success. What we do is always based on our Audience-First News strategy, so we can make the digital reinvestment required to be able to connect with the public how and when they expect us to.”
Recent ABC News initiatives include: Launching the Indigenous Reporting Team and the Climate Team; adding digital reporting roles in national news, sport and politics; adding specialist reporting roles, including in health; creating more video content from 7.30 to embed in digital stories; producing podcasts such as If You’re Listening for video audiences; and forming a breaking news team at News Digital.
There’s more to come, including plans to bring more of our high-quality current affairs and investigative journalism to digital audiences, build our team of outstanding writers, put resources into the key area of verification and improve our web and app experience for audiences.
ABC News will also be relaunching a digital-first Stateline featuring the strongest state and territory coverage from across our network of regional and metro newsrooms and Local Radio teams, including in-depth investigations, agenda-setting exclusives, long-form interviews and compelling features, across web, app, video, audio and broadcast.
Asia Pacific Newsroom
The reporting lines for all ABC News’ specialist programming related to Asia and the Pacific will now sit in the Asia Pacific Newsroom, where we have specialist resources and expertise.
APN’s content for digital and broadcast channels next year will include the launch of a new weekly news program focusing on the broader Asia region, produced by the team behind The World and The World This Week. Production of the new program will be supported with funding assistance from ABC International Broadcast and Digital Services.
Other upcoming content includes:
– The Pacific, which will be back early next year
– The Price of Progress: Inside Indonesia’s Nickel Rush. A documentary about the impact of the electric vehicle industry on the people and environment of Indonesia
– Indonesia Decides. A three-part video/TV series about Indonesia’s elections in February, largely shot on location by our own Indonesian team
– Special coverage on India’s election. A six-part video/TV series which will be largely shot on location with a network of local journalists
– Providing dedicated, specialist coverage of our own region is a vital part of the ABC’s service and this change enhances our commitment to Asia Pacific coverage.
*This post updates.
That’s a shame, I liked it
It’s been getting a bit ho-hum. I’ll be interested to hear where Ellen Fanning pops up on ABC Brisbane radio – it looks like their slots are all filled. I’d love to see Dan Bourchier anchor the mornings on ABC News. Since Joe O’Brien skipped to early evenings, the mornings have really suffered.
I like the new emphasis on Asia & the Pacific.
Exshellent…. keep going.
sorry Drum is going — used to watch it regularly although it was difficult when i had appointments after 6.30 at night
I can’t believe you would axe such an informative and entertaining show as The Drum. We watch it every night; we enjoy the diverse panel , the discussions on subjects which affect all Australians, the knowledgeable hosts. Please don’t replace it with some reality show, game show. Let’s not dumb down the ABC pleaese.
Well said Janet. The ABC should continue to present this program that provides a platform for the discussion of a wide variety of topics by well informed panel members. It played a valuable service during the pandemic by informing viewers of the issues.
👏👏👏👏👏
They should axe Ita
Good now ABC axe Q&A then defund the ABC then see how long this bias liars last for
Go woke go broke
Bong Crossby always been woke.
Thank fuck
So sad about The Drum going. The diverse range of guests was always stimulating. I particularly loved seeing the young Indigenous guests contributing so articulatingly to discussions.. always enlightening in their perceptions of Australian life.
That’s a shame. I really enjoyed The Drum. The panelists were always interesting and the topics current. The 6pm time slot was the issue for me I couldn’t watch it every day.
I loved Julia and Dan and will miss many of the regular guests but it was losing some oomph and some of the stories were getting repetitive. It had its heyday about 5 years ago.
Drummed out thank god but the two viewers will be upset. Next Q& A
No loss, who watches it anyway
shit show for puppet plebs
Complaints received here https://www.abc.net.au/news/contact
No problem
The whole ABC needs to be axed a TOTAL WASTE of taxpayers money
Angelo Rombola the ABC is the only free to air channels worth watching only morons watch the commercial channels.
Angelo Rombola the ABC is the only free to air channels worth watching only morons watch the commercial channels.
Neica Hall the best that can is Defund immediately the ABC in Australia
Neica Hall the best that can is Defund immediately the ABC in Australia
Angelo Rombola the ABC is the only Chanel that produces Australian drama. If it is OK with you I don’t want my only free to air TV to be full of brain dead bullshit that 7, 9 and 10 are full of
. If you are happy to watch that crap that is up to you but there are intelligent people who dont want our brain cells killed off by garbage TV.
Angelo Rombola the ABC is the only Chanel that produces Australian drama. If it is OK with you I don’t want my only free to air TV to be full of brain dead bullshit that 7, 9 and 10 are full of
. If you are happy to watch that crap that is up to you but there are intelligent people who dont want our brain cells killed off by garbage TV.
Good
Show was bias crap even worse than Q&A
Let’s hope that’s just the start
No more lefty crap to watch!
Sad what was the reason given for Axing the show.
Crap
Leftest show
Merv Kearney yes mate it certainly can be but what about some of the crap served up by Sky they are as bad as each other
Please don’t cancel this last bastion of true, balanced and respectful democratic discourse. Not everything worthwhile is measured in money or ratings. It’s a sad day for this Australian, watching such a fine program being swamped by the emperor who has no clothes. Yours faithfully Kella Mesiti Thurs 14 Dec 2023
Hope that shit after Hard Quiz is next..
They were literally drooling over this announcement on Skynews
What rubbish will I have to watch at 6 pm. Axing one of my favourite shows, it was a nightly conversation with interesting real people discussing interesting subjects. Balanced with people from different backgrounds an political parties,and businesses.this was my wind down time…also Insiders is my Sunday ritual. Please don’t touch that as there will not be much left worth watching.
Hooray, excellent
Best news ever
Sadly missed by family and friends Don’t send Flowers 🌺 more Taxpayers Funding will be enough
About time
Ellen fanning the most over the top neurotic loud presenter she killed it off good riddance Q&A next time
Axe the evil Marxist ABC News
Hopefully the axe the whole channel….. biased bullshiters
Not before time.
Good riddance to bad rubbish
What amazes me is so many people call the ABC biased and leftist and at times that’s a fair criticism but sky news and any publication owned by Murdoch is equally as biased to the right…yet the people who criticise the ABC conveniently forget about Sky and partners who are just as bad. How about journalists from both sides pull their heads in and actually report fairly and accurately…wouldn’t that be a nice change …and no I’m neither a leftie or from the right …I support common sense in politics but that’s been MIA from both sides for some time
Don Burgandy not equally biased to the right more like waaaaaaay more biased to the very, very far right.
Don Burgandy not equally biased to the right more like waaaaaaay more biased to the very, very far right.
Thank fuxk.
Thank fuxk.
Good
Good
Very sad. Seems they get rid of all good thought provoking shows and the replace them with some god awful reality nonsense.
Go Woke Go Broke . But as taxpayer funded will hang around like a bad smell .
What a waste of a billion dollars . To feed a small left minority .