ABC Radio staff and fans are turning against the national broadcaster after several beloved presenters failed to renew their contracts.
The bloodbath includes presenters including Sarah Macdonald, Richard Glover, Simon Marnie and Robbie Buck who were told their contracts would not be extended until 2025.
Replacements for the highly respected lineup with decades of experience have yet to be announced, leaving fans and colleagues scratching their heads.
Staff were surprised as Friends of the ABC president Cassandra Parkinson said listeners need “at least some expectation about the strategy going forward”.
“We need to hear Audio chief executive Ben Latimer explain why the decisions were made,” Ms Parkinson told the Daily Telegraph.
Latimer explained in a statement distributed to ABC staff that the changes were “driven by rapidly evolving audience expectations.”
“Change is never easy and of course the impact on some of our colleagues is difficult,” it said.
He added that decisions for the 2025 roster have been “carefully thought through and discussed” and noted that the ABC is “going through a significant transition period.”
ABC fans and staff have expressed frustration with the national broadcaster after a number of presenters were not given places on ABC Radio’s 2025 roster (pictured, ABC Ultimo office).
However, Latimer’s statement has done little to calm fans’ frustration, with almost 6,000 signing a change.org petition calling for Macdonald to be reinstated as host.
Macdonald announced his ‘disappointment’ at leaving ABC air during his show on November 21 after weeks of absence from ABC Sydney’s Mornings programme.
“Listen, I’m not going to be on the radio with you next year, the ABC has decided not to renew my contract here at Mornings,” he said.
‘I’m proud of what I’ve done. Ratings are up, I’ve published a lot of stories, I had the first interview with the new Governor General, I got the Premier of New South Wales to take his calls regularly, I led election coverage, I managed the move to our studios in Parramatta. ‘
Former Media Watch presenter Paul Barry took to social media to express his disbelief at Macdonald’s departure after decades of service.
‘In my humble opinion (in my honest opinion), she is brilliant, one of the best things about radio. WTAF,” Barry wrote in a post for X.
Morning show rival Ray Hadley also praised Macdonald’s manner.
“I don’t know Sarah Macdonald, but I do know one thing about her: she is a quality broadcaster and I would say quality broadcasters are in short supply on the ABC,” he told listeners.
Among the presenters who were eliminated was Sarah Macdonald (pictured), who her morning show rival Ray Hadley described as “a quality presenter… in short supply on the ABC”.
Beloved presenter Simon Marnie’s emotional final show after three decades of presenting was attended by hundreds of people outside Government House last weekend.
Among those attending were Robbie Buck, whose contract was also not renewed, Governor General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley.
Buck told Marnie “we love you…we’re going to miss you” before quietly announcing that he would also be dropping Tia off on his show later that night.
“I wanted to thank you,” Governor General Mostyn told Marnie.
Mrs Parkinson echoed the sentiment of ABC Radio fans who are worried “about staff leaving”.
“I just hope they’re okay and they’re being taken care of,” he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted ABC for comment.