The Drum (TV program)
Former Australian panel TV series
title: "The Drum (TV program)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["australian-broadcasting-corporation-original-programming", "abc-news-and-current-affairs", "television-shows-set-in-sydney", "australian-english-language-television-shows", "2010-australian-television-series-debuts", "2023-australian-television-series-endings"] description: "Former Australian panel TV series" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drum_(TV_program)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Former Australian panel TV series ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | The Drum.png |
| genre | News, current affairs, politics |
| presenter | Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning, Dan Bourchier |
| country | Australia |
| language | English |
| location | Ultimo Studios, Sydney |
| runtime | 60 minutes |
| network | ABC |
| ABC News | |
| first_aired | |
| last_aired | |
| :: |
| image = The Drum.png | genre = News, current affairs, politics | creator = | developer = | director = | creative_director = | presenter = Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning, Dan Bourchier | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = Australia | language = English | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = | producer = | location = Ultimo Studios, Sydney | cinematography = | editor = | camera = | runtime = 60 minutes | network = ABC ABC News | first_aired = | last_aired = | related =
The Drum was an Australian nightly television current affairs and news analysis program that was hosted by Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning, and Dan Bourchier and broadcast from 2010 until its cancellation in 2023. At the time of the program's axing, the program aired in the primetime slot of 6:00 pm weekdays on ABC TV and was aired later on the ABC News Channel at 9:00 pm AEDT.
The program was broadcast nationally across Australia, live from the ABC's headquarters in Sydney, with a special "week in review" episode broadcast on Saturday evening. It was also streamed live on iview, and broadcast in over 40 countries across the Asia/Pacific region on the ABC's international channel, ABC Australia.
The program brought together a panel of prominent experts and high-profile opinion-leaders to discuss the key issues gripping or confounding Australia.
History
The program premiered in 2010 with the launch of the ABC's 24-hour news channel, based on The Drum website. In May 2014, The Drum moved from the ABC News Channel to the ABC's primary channel with a new look, new timeslot of 5:30 pm, and a new 30-minute format.
In January 2019 the program was relaunched again, moving to the prime time slot of 6 pm on ABC TV, ahead of the network's flagship news bulletin. The relaunch was seen as a push to take on commercial rivals in the primetime slot, and the show was given a new set and look, and a new hour–long format.
Annabel Crabb, Chris Uhlmann, Hamish Macdonald, Fran Kelly, Peter van Onselen, Steve Cannane, Stan Grant and John Barron have hosted the show in the past. At the time of the program's axing, the program was hosted by Australian journalists Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning, and Dan Bourchier.
A lighter, more relaxed summer version of the program was broadcast each January, hosted by Adam Spencer.
Eliza Harvey became the program's executive producer in December 2022.
On 12 December 2023, ABC Managing Director Justin Stevens announced the show would not be renewed with the last episode airing on 15 December.
References
References
- (19 July 2010). "ABC TV leaps in early, but the big test looms". [[The Australian]].
- Knox, David. (7 April 2014). "Bumped: The Drum moving to ABC1".
- Lallo, Michael. (27 January 2019). "ABC takes on commercial big guns with 'steroid'-enhanced panel show". [[The Sun-Herald]].
- Mathieson, Craig. (2 May 2019). "The Drum is just what this election campaign needs". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
- (21 July 2010). "ABC announces the line-up for ABC News 24". The Australian.
- Blundell, Graeme. (3 July 2010). "24-hour party people". The Australian.
- "Summer Drum". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Baird, Julia. (12 December 2023). "The Drum's co-hosts Julia Baird and Ellen Fanning pay tribute to a show that changed journalism". [[ABC News (Australia).
- (12 December 2023). "The Drum discontinued as ABC announces News Channel restructure". ABC News.
- Jaspan, Calum. (12 December 2023). "ABC axes The Drum; last episode to air this week". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
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