The Drum
GenreNews, current affairs, politics
Presented byJulia Baird, Ellen Fanning, Dan Bourchier
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationsUltimo Studios, Sydney
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC
ABC News
Release23 July 2010 (2010-07-23) –
15 December 2023 (2023-12-15)

The Drum is an Australian nightly television current affairs and news analysis program hosted by Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning, and Dan Bourchier. At the time of the program's axing, the program aired in the primetime slot of 6:00 pm weekdays on ABC TV and was aired later on the ABC News Channel at 9:00 pm AEDT.

The program was broadcast nationally across Australia, live from the ABC's headquarters in Sydney, with a special "week in review" episode broadcast on Saturday evening. It was also streamed live on iview, and broadcast in over 40 countries across the Asia/Pacific region on the ABC's international channel, ABC Australia.

The program brought together a panel of prominent experts and high-profile opinion-leaders to discuss the key issues gripping or confounding Australia.

History

The program premiered in 2010 with the launch of the ABC's 24-hour news channel, based on The Drum website.[1] In May 2014, The Drum moved from the ABC News Channel to the ABC's primary channel with a new look, new timeslot of 5:30 pm, and a new 30-minute format.[2]

In January 2019 the program was relaunched again, moving to the prime time slot of 6 pm on ABC TV, ahead of the network's flagship news bulletin. The relaunch was seen as a push to take on commercial rivals in the primetime slot, and the show was given a new set and look, and a new hour–long format.[3][4]

Annabel Crabb, Chris Uhlmann, Hamish Macdonald, Fran Kelly, Peter van Onselen, Steve Cannane, Stan Grant and John Barron have hosted the show in the past.[5][6][1] At the time of the program's axing, the program was hosted by Australian journalists Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning, and Dan Bourchier.[7]

A lighter, more relaxed summer version of the program was broadcast each January, hosted by Adam Spencer.[8]

On 12 December 2023, ABC Managing Director Justin Stevens announced the show would not be renewed with the last episode airing on 15 December.[9][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ABC TV leaps in early, but the big test looms". The Australian. News Limited. 19 July 2010. p. 36. EBSCOhost 201007191036726949.
  2. ^ Knox, David (7 April 2014). "Bumped: The Drum moving to ABC1". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  3. ^ Lallo, Michael (27 January 2019). "ABC takes on commercial big guns with 'steroid'-enhanced panel show". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment. p. 12. ProQuest 2171173421. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  4. ^ Mathieson, Craig (2 May 2019). "The Drum is just what this election campaign needs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment. p. 3. ProQuest 2219942650. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  5. ^ "ABC announces the line-up for ABC News 24". Media Diary. The Australian. News Limited. 21 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ^ Blundell, Graeme (3 July 2010). "24-hour party people". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b Jaspan, Calum (12 December 2023). "ABC axes The Drum; last episode to air this week". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment. p. 13. ProQuest 2900608024. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Summer Drum". ABC Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ "The Drum discontinued as ABC announces News Channel restructure". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
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