ABC moves key news presenters in radio and News 24
Eastley
ABC News has moved AM presenter Tony Eastley to ABC News 24, with Breakfast co-host Virginia Trioli moving over to its flagship current affairs program to fill his place.
Eastley brings more than 35 years’ experience to News 24 as the channel enters its fourth year and Scott Bevan, a senior presenter and reporter on the channel, moves into a new role that will see him lead the evening news broadcast and anchor live news specials across ABC News 24 and ABC1.
Trioli moves to the AM team, led by EP David Burgess, after Eastley hosted the program for ten years.
Trioli
She said it was a “great honour” to be asked to follow in Eastley’s footsteps, but added: “I must admit to mixed feelings, as I leave News Breakfast enormously proud of our five year-old program, the team and especially my colleague Michael Rowland, and our loyal, growing audience, and I thank them. Now that my body clock is permanently set to a 3am alarm, the move seems just right.”
Eastley said he had “absolutely loved” his time at AM, “but new challenges beckon and I really want to be part of the ABC News 24 rolling news coverage.”
Kate Torney, director of news for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said Eastley would be a great addition to the team.
Bevan
“He’s one of our very best journalists and his addition to Australia’s most watched news channel is another investment int he strength of its coverage and its value to a growing audience,” she said.
“2014 is going to be an exciting new chapter in the development of ABC News 24.”
Trioli and Eastley are currently on leave and until later this month and their moves will be effective by March.
The ABC has yet to announce Trioli’s replacement for News Breakfast and its further plans for ABC News 24.
ABC News 24 needs a severe makeover. On weekend mornings, you get half an hour news bulletins, followed by an hour of Big Ideas, Australian Story or Landline, programs that have no place on a news channel.
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I have admired Virginia’s style of presenting for many years and i will miss her on News Breakfast. I find her down to earth approach wonderful to listen to and watch and i have been a fan of ABC News Breakfast since the beginning.
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I’m really sad Virginia is leaving. I’ll miss her fiery interviews and down-to-earth nature. Boo hoo!
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I stop watching News Breakfast when Virginia Trioli is away. No replacement as come within a million miles of her. The current ones better suit the commercial morning shows. Trioli is a journo rather than a presenter. The present summer time mix on 24 of Big Ideas and One Plus One has been a nightmare along with endless repeats. As someone who only watches non-commercial channels pickings have been slim. You have lost a viewer.
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Me too Rip!
I will miss Virginia, I really like her style and you don’t see that much (if at all actually) on Australian TV news anymore.
I do like Tony Eastley though, looking forward to seeing how he translates to TV from radio.
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News 24hs the opportunity to become “Australia’s go to news channel. Currently it is failing.
I few filler spots are ok, a bit of current affiars etc. But their point is to bring us the news.
IMO at least 50 minutes of every hour should be news… Australian, international, local… something.
On weekends even more so not less.
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Talk about ‘much ado about nothing’…
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Scott Bevan … the mystery man? No mention in the story but he gets his picture in the story. Agree about Trioli – top class.
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Clearly, ABC groupthink takes precedence over quality, or bringing in new talent and ideas.
Bring on that May budget!
There’s about $800m worth of savings to be had from Aunty’s glory-box!
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