Virginia Trioli to depart ABC News Breakfast and replace Jon Faine on Melbourne radio
Current ABC News Breakfast host Virginia Trioli will take over from Jon Faine next year as the presenter of the Mornings program on ABC Radio Melbourne.
The move means Triloli will cease her television hosting duties on ABC News Breakfast.
Trioli is getting back into radio
Faine announced in January this would be his final year on air after a 23-year run presenting the show.
Trioli has been the co-presenter of ABC News Breakfast since 2008 and also regularly stands in as the host of Q&A.
In the coming weeks it is expected ABC will reveal the new hosts for Q&A, Insiders and the replacement for Trioli at ABC News Breakfast. Prior to the radio announcement, Trioli was tipped to be the new Q&A host when Tony Jones departs this year.
Trioli said she was delighted to take the helm from Faine.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking on one of the most precious radio jobs in the country. Jon and the ABC Melbourne team, for more than two decades, have created an agenda-setting and community-building program that means so much not only to Melburnians, but to anyone who values great conversation and the vital need for the continuing contest of ideas,” said Trioli.
“Radio is in my soul and I’m pinching myself that this once-in-a-career opportunity has come my way. Melbourne – we’re going to make great radio together.”
Judith Whelan, acting director of ABC Regional and Local, said Trioli was the best choice for the role thanks to her extensive knowledge of the topics audiences care about.
“Virginia is one of those rare broadcasters who brings insight and clarity to often complex issues and does so with an openness and good humour that audiences respond to. Virginia knows the issues, knows the subjects and most importantly knows Melbourne,” said Whelan.
“She will take the program on to new heights in 2020, continuing to set the daily agenda in Melbourne, as it has done for the past 23 years. ABC Radio is thrilled to welcome Virginia back as one of our key presenters.”
ABC currently holds 7.8% of the overall market share in radio in Melbourne. The station has struggled since long-time breakfast host Red Symons exited in 2017, with audiences dropping slowly over the past five years. The Morning show is currently the fourth most listened to morning program in Melbourne according to the most recent GfK radio ratings survey, with 11% market share.
Trioli has won two Walkley awards in her career, which began at The Age in 1990. She has been with the ABC since 1999 and presented Drive on ABC Radio Melbourne for five years from 2000 to 2005 and Mornings on ABC Radio Sydney for two years in the mid-2000s.
Is ABC News Breakfast getting ready to go head to head with the commercial TV breakfast shows in 2020 with a new look cast and show?
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ABC News Breakfast, please can you differentiate yourself from the dire commercial TV breakfasts shows. More news, less ‘entertainment’.
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Good luck Virginia, however, saying that I am so sorry you are leaving Breakfast TV , you will be missed greatly.
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Who would have thought the national denigrator would have replaced [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
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I will miss Virginia. ABC News Breakfast is the highlight of my day. Maybe I shall start listening to 774 instead.
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I hope Virginia will still keep her ‘Work Wife’ status on the Pineapple Project podcast!
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You will be missed but it is good to hear that you are doing something that is your passion and enjoy I think when you leave ABC should have Lisa and Micheal as they seem to go together well as while you were on leave they tried different people but they are the best and you would be leaving your position in good hands with Lisa Thanks Gail Sutton
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I thought Virg was leaving in August. Its August! Please hurry up and go so I can starting watching the abc breakfast show again.
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[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
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I can now watch ABC News Breakfast again and enjoy it…I couldn’t stand her fakeness and acting like the show was all about her, like we hung on every word she was going to say. She was more worried about her looks, than providing good light hearted journalism that you need at that time of the morning. She pretended to be so knowledgeable, however she was reading from a cue…crack the champagne…she has gone!!
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That’s Lisa Miller you’re talking about isnt it. Now I’ll stop watching Breakfast
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