Canberrans will wake up to different voices next year as ABC Canberra reworks its lineup.
The broadcaster has revealed a new schedule for 2023, with a mix of familiar hosts across the weekdays and two new names on weekends.
Mornings presenter Adam Shirley moves into a new Breakfast show which will run from 6 am to 9 am on weekdays, while Lish Fejer moves to Mornings from 9 am to 11 am, with a focus next year on community stories and local conversations.
Georgia Stynes remains in Afternoons, as does Anna Vidot in Drive.
After a stint filling in, local food photographer Emma Bickley returns to present Saturday Breakfast next year from 6 am to 11 am, followed by local Grandstand with Jono Gul.
Emma grew up in a Croatian family where she says “vibrant conversation” was always a part of her life. The show will continue to feature the popular gardening talkback segment.
Alice Matthews makes her debut as the new host of Sunday Brunch from 10 am to midday. Formerly a Triple J Breakfast newsreader, she has also presented Hack, co-hosted The Feed on SBS and most recently sat behind the mic for Saturday Afternoons on ABC Digital Radio.
ABC Canberra editor Julie Doyle said the reshaped morning lineup would focus the new programs to “better meet the needs of Canberrans”.
“Adam Shirley will do what he does best, using his local knowledge to focus on the agenda-setting news of the day … with key political interviews and discussion of the issues that matter to the ACT,” Ms Doyle said.
“The Mornings’ role will allow Lish to get out of the studio and into the community more. Lish has a wonderful connection with Canberrans combined with a knack for finding great stories.”
The new line up will start on Monday, 16 January.
The move comes on the back of continuing ratings difficulties for the broadcaster. ABC Radio Canberra (666) fell across all shifts in the most recent survey as measured by GfK.
Over four months this year, ABC shared 11.2 per cent of the Canberra radio market from Monday to Friday, behind Mix 106.3 (21.9 per cent) and Hit 104.7 (15 per cent).
ABC Radio National was fourth (9.6 per cent), followed by ABC Classic (8.9) and Triple J (8.4). Of the ABC stations, Classic recorded the most gains. Radio National breakfast was third placed in the Canberra market, ahead of the local program.
In terms of demographics, ABC Radio Canberra’s biggest share was among those aged 65 and over (17.9 per cent). Their lowest was among those aged 25 to 39 (5.2 per cent).