ABC Breakfast in turmoil: Who's following Michael Rowland out the door and why?
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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is facing another shake-up as a popular breakfast show host makes a surprising exit.
This departure follows closely on the heels of another well-known presenter's farewell, leaving viewers and fans curious about the future of the morning program.
The recent changes have sparked widespread speculation and discussions about what lies ahead for the beloved show.
Zan Rowe, a ten-year veteran of the show, has been a familiar face and voice for ABC audiences, contributing not only to television but also to radio with her popular Take Five series.
Her announcement follows closely on the heels of anchor Michael Rowland's decision to step down, as well as the earlier departures of co-anchor Lisa Millar and sports presenter Tony Armstrong.
Together, these departures represent a staggering 34 years of experience exiting the breakfast show within just four months.
Rowe's decision to leave was revealed with little fanfare or explanation, leaving viewers curious about the reasons behind her move.
The series of exits began with Lisa Millar's departure in August, followed by Tony Armstrong in September, and now, both Rowe and Rowland will be wrapping up their time on the program by December 13.
The ABC Breakfast audience, known for its loyalty, is now facing a test of faith as they bid farewell to these respected figures.
The industry is also grappling with the broader challenge of declining broadcast viewing audiences, a trend that has affected not only ABC but also its competitors, Sunrise and Today.
This decline has made it increasingly difficult to justify the high salaries often associated with star presenters.
The frontrunner to replace Michael Rowland is James Glenday, a former ABC correspondent and presenter of ABC Canberra's news bulletin.
Glenday, who has also announced his departure from the Canberra role, is expected to take on an ‘exciting new role’ in 2025.
His last day on ABC Breakfast will coincide with Rowland's, marking a significant transition for the show.
ABC has not yet revealed who will take over as the new host for the breakfast show.
The shift from Rowland and Miller to the younger Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman, Bridget Brennan, and the favoured 37-year-old Glenday is anticipated to test the preferences of the ABC's typically older audience.
On Tuesday, December 3, ABC insiders indicated that the consecutive departures of Millar, Armstrong, and Rowland were ‘no coincidence’.
These exits aligned with new chair Kim Williams' initiative to ‘refresh’ ABC's news offerings, shift away from softer news content, and allocate more funding to digital services like iView.
The ABC Breakfast budget was also impacted by a four per cent decline in TV news and current affairs viewership in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23.
On Monday, December 2, Rowland shared with ABC viewers that after 15 years on the breakfast show, he felt like he had been experiencing ‘perpetual low-level jet lag’.
‘I decided that 15 years of 5 AM starts is quite enough,’ he remarked, adding that hosting the program had been an ‘immense privilege’.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts on these changes. How do you feel about the departure of these ABC Breakfast stars? What are your hopes for the future of the program? Join the conversation in the comments below.
This departure follows closely on the heels of another well-known presenter's farewell, leaving viewers and fans curious about the future of the morning program.
The recent changes have sparked widespread speculation and discussions about what lies ahead for the beloved show.
Zan Rowe, a ten-year veteran of the show, has been a familiar face and voice for ABC audiences, contributing not only to television but also to radio with her popular Take Five series.
Her announcement follows closely on the heels of anchor Michael Rowland's decision to step down, as well as the earlier departures of co-anchor Lisa Millar and sports presenter Tony Armstrong.
Together, these departures represent a staggering 34 years of experience exiting the breakfast show within just four months.
Zan Rowe, a respected ABC Breakfast reporter, is leaving the program, following Michael Rowland's exit. Credit: Facebook / Zan Rowe
Rowe's decision to leave was revealed with little fanfare or explanation, leaving viewers curious about the reasons behind her move.
The series of exits began with Lisa Millar's departure in August, followed by Tony Armstrong in September, and now, both Rowe and Rowland will be wrapping up their time on the program by December 13.
The ABC Breakfast audience, known for its loyalty, is now facing a test of faith as they bid farewell to these respected figures.
The industry is also grappling with the broader challenge of declining broadcast viewing audiences, a trend that has affected not only ABC but also its competitors, Sunrise and Today.
This decline has made it increasingly difficult to justify the high salaries often associated with star presenters.
The frontrunner to replace Michael Rowland is James Glenday, a former ABC correspondent and presenter of ABC Canberra's news bulletin.
Glenday, who has also announced his departure from the Canberra role, is expected to take on an ‘exciting new role’ in 2025.
His last day on ABC Breakfast will coincide with Rowland's, marking a significant transition for the show.
ABC has not yet revealed who will take over as the new host for the breakfast show.
The shift from Rowland and Miller to the younger Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman, Bridget Brennan, and the favoured 37-year-old Glenday is anticipated to test the preferences of the ABC's typically older audience.
On Tuesday, December 3, ABC insiders indicated that the consecutive departures of Millar, Armstrong, and Rowland were ‘no coincidence’.
These exits aligned with new chair Kim Williams' initiative to ‘refresh’ ABC's news offerings, shift away from softer news content, and allocate more funding to digital services like iView.
The ABC Breakfast budget was also impacted by a four per cent decline in TV news and current affairs viewership in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23.
On Monday, December 2, Rowland shared with ABC viewers that after 15 years on the breakfast show, he felt like he had been experiencing ‘perpetual low-level jet lag’.
‘I decided that 15 years of 5 AM starts is quite enough,’ he remarked, adding that hosting the program had been an ‘immense privilege’.
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