Is ABC going to axe this TV show soon? Viewers speculate about the long-running show's future
- Replies 11
The television landscape has changed drastically over the years.
While Aussie TV networks continue to innovate and introduce new shows to audiences, several shows have also bid their goodbye from the screens.
After 17 seasons and more than 500 episodes of lively debate and headline-making moments, the curtain may be coming down on ABC's most iconic programs.
If you've ever tuned in to watch politicians squirm, experts spar or everyday individuals ask tough questions, Q+A has become a fixture in Australian TV.
However, strong rumours have been swirling around that the ABC is preparing to pull the plug on the long-running panel show.
According to reports from Capital Brief, sources inside the ABC confirmed that the decision to axe Q+A has already been made.
An official announcement about the show's end could be coming as soon as this week.
The show, which has been on its annual hiatus since after the federal election, was slated to return to its regular Monday night slot by August.
However, with these rumours circulating around, the show's future is uncertain.
Q+A first hit the Aussie TV screens last May 2008.
The show, modelled after the BBC's Question Time, quickly became a must-watch for anyone interested in politics, current affairs, or a good old-fashioned debate.
For more than a decade, the show was helmed by Tony Jones, whose calm but probing style set the tone for the program.
In 2022, Stan Grant took over as host. However, his tenure was cut short after he faced 'grotesque racist abuse' during his coverage of King Charles III's coronation.
Since 2023, Patricia Karvelas has been at the show's helm, bringing her sharp inquiries and thoughtful moderation to the panel.
Since it first aired, Q+A has never shied away from controversy.
Who could forget the infamous 2010 episode when an audience member, Peter Gray, confronted former Prime Minister John Howard about the Iraq War, then hurled his shoes at the then-Prime Minister?
Watch the said moment here:
Source: ABC Q+A/YouTube
Another controversial Q+A episode aired in 2014 when student activists unfurled a banner and chanted at then-Education Minister Christopher Pyne over proposed university funding cuts.
The show also became a platform for passionate clashes—like the 2-15 episode featuring comedian Josh Thomas and Queensland MP Bob Katter over the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in regional Australia.
Lighter moments also graced the show, such as Malcolm Turnbull's memorable solo appearance in a leather jacket, which he later auctioned off for charity.
The ABC has yet to make an official comment, but the speculation has already sent shockwaves through the media landscape.
The media landscape has changed dramatically since Q+A first aired.
With the rise of social media, podcasts, and on-demand streaming, traditional panel shows face stiff competition for viewers' attention.
Q+A's ratings have reportedly declined in recent years, and ABC may be looking to refresh its lineup or invest in new formats that reflect how Australians consume news and current affairs today.
As networks grapple with budget pressures and shifting audience habits, even the most established shows aren't safe.
Whether you loved it or loathed it, Q+A definitely left a mark on Australian media and society.
It's been a place where ordinary people could put their questions directly to those in power, where politicians and pundits were held accountable, and where the significant issues of the day were laid out in front of a national audience.
ALSO READ: Channel 10's The Project receives the chop after nearly 16 years on air.
Did you tune in to Q+A every week, or did you switch off long ago? Does Q+A still have a place in today's media landscape, or is it time for something new? Share your thoughts and any memories of Q+A in the comments section below. Let's keep the conversation going, just like how Q+A did.
While Aussie TV networks continue to innovate and introduce new shows to audiences, several shows have also bid their goodbye from the screens.
After 17 seasons and more than 500 episodes of lively debate and headline-making moments, the curtain may be coming down on ABC's most iconic programs.
If you've ever tuned in to watch politicians squirm, experts spar or everyday individuals ask tough questions, Q+A has become a fixture in Australian TV.
However, strong rumours have been swirling around that the ABC is preparing to pull the plug on the long-running panel show.
ABC's Q+A episodes are available on ABC iView and YouTube. Image Credit: Facebook/Q+A
According to reports from Capital Brief, sources inside the ABC confirmed that the decision to axe Q+A has already been made.
An official announcement about the show's end could be coming as soon as this week.
The show, which has been on its annual hiatus since after the federal election, was slated to return to its regular Monday night slot by August.
However, with these rumours circulating around, the show's future is uncertain.
Q+A first hit the Aussie TV screens last May 2008.
The show, modelled after the BBC's Question Time, quickly became a must-watch for anyone interested in politics, current affairs, or a good old-fashioned debate.
For more than a decade, the show was helmed by Tony Jones, whose calm but probing style set the tone for the program.
In 2022, Stan Grant took over as host. However, his tenure was cut short after he faced 'grotesque racist abuse' during his coverage of King Charles III's coronation.
Since 2023, Patricia Karvelas has been at the show's helm, bringing her sharp inquiries and thoughtful moderation to the panel.
Since it first aired, Q+A has never shied away from controversy.
Who could forget the infamous 2010 episode when an audience member, Peter Gray, confronted former Prime Minister John Howard about the Iraq War, then hurled his shoes at the then-Prime Minister?
Watch the said moment here:
Source: ABC Q+A/YouTube
Another controversial Q+A episode aired in 2014 when student activists unfurled a banner and chanted at then-Education Minister Christopher Pyne over proposed university funding cuts.
The show also became a platform for passionate clashes—like the 2-15 episode featuring comedian Josh Thomas and Queensland MP Bob Katter over the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in regional Australia.
Lighter moments also graced the show, such as Malcolm Turnbull's memorable solo appearance in a leather jacket, which he later auctioned off for charity.
The ABC has yet to make an official comment, but the speculation has already sent shockwaves through the media landscape.
The media landscape has changed dramatically since Q+A first aired.
With the rise of social media, podcasts, and on-demand streaming, traditional panel shows face stiff competition for viewers' attention.
Q+A's ratings have reportedly declined in recent years, and ABC may be looking to refresh its lineup or invest in new formats that reflect how Australians consume news and current affairs today.
As networks grapple with budget pressures and shifting audience habits, even the most established shows aren't safe.
Whether you loved it or loathed it, Q+A definitely left a mark on Australian media and society.
It's been a place where ordinary people could put their questions directly to those in power, where politicians and pundits were held accountable, and where the significant issues of the day were laid out in front of a national audience.
ALSO READ: Channel 10's The Project receives the chop after nearly 16 years on air.
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