6PR Breakfast co-host Basil Zempilas to leave Nine Radio and remain faithful to Seven
6PR’s longtime breakfast co-host, Basil Zempilas, will not renew his contract with the Nine Radio station in 2021, choosing instead to remain loyal to his commitments with Seven.
Zempilas is a regular sports commentator for the rival broadcaster. His work with 6PR became an issue when Nine acquired the Macquarie Media radio assets in 2019.
Basil Zempilas [left] will leave 6PR at the end of the year
6PR content manager, Emily White, said he left with the station’s best wishes and that a number of options were on the line to replace Zempilas.
“Baz will finish at the end of the year and leaves with our best wishes. We’re considering a number of options for the breakfast show in what’s shaping as an exciting 2021 for 6PR”, said White.
6PR currently holds an 11.2% audience share in its breakfast slot, as of GfK survey six, making it the third-most-popular breakfast show overall in the market and the top AM breakfast show.
WA Today reports Zempilas may have signed a new contract with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) in Perth. He has previously worked as co-host of the 92.9 FM breakfast program – a role he held for six years before moving to 6PR.
Zempilas, who is also a Lord Mayor candidate and will know this weekend if his bid was successful, wouldn’t comment on whether he was planning to move to the rival radio network.
A Seven West Media spokesperson told Mumbrella Zempilas made the decision alone and was not encouraged by the media company.
“Basil Zempilas will end his employment agreement with 6PR at the end of the current radio year. It’s Basil’s call. Basil is out of contract with 6PR at the end of 2020 and has taken the personal decision not to seek a new contract,” said the spokesperson.
