The ABC is set to can several programs from Radio National’s 2017 schedule, and will also say goodbye to eight of its staff.
According to Guardian Australia, sources say only one of RN’s music programs will remain under the new schedule as the network becomes a talk-only station.
Among the shows expected to be cancelled are RN Afternoons, The Body Sphere, Soundproof, Daily Planet, The Live Set and Sunday Nights with John Cleary.
Guardian Australia reported that the changes are expected to save ABC Radio at least $3 million, which will be spent on its digital strategy.
The redundancies come after ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie told a Senate estimates committee last month there would be no redundancies at RN.
“I can tell you that we are not planning any redundancies on any particular programs at the moment, but I will try to reiterate to you that the programming strategy is not static, nor has it ever been, and we will regularly review our program schedules across radio, across television and across our news output,” Guthrie said.
