6PR has retrenched 40-year media veteran Jon Lewis, replacing his live and local show with an Eastern States program. Lewis has been doing the graveyard shift at 6PR since 1995 but is set to air his final show on Thursday night after being told on Wednesday he was being retrenched. The West Australian reports that the decision — believed to be part of a financial cost-cutting exercise — marks a departure from the “live and local” content the radio station has long promoted.
It is understood that Mr Lewis is upset at the sudden end of his loyal tenure with the radio station, and his listeners will no doubt be angry about losing the popular host.
A long-time friend to insomniacs and shift workers in Perth, Mr Lewis was once described as the “king of night radio.” He has covered everything from politics to gallstones, self-improvement, pocket watches and football.
“Jon is Western Australian born and bred here in Perth,” says the radio station’s website.
“Each weeknight, right through until the sun comes up, Jon and the family of callers cover everything from local politics, world events and amazing stories!
“Jon also throws in his ‘special style’ of whimsical disposable comedy.”
“If it’s happening right now, it’s happening on the air!”
Although I understand the radio station wanting to cut costs, what I don’t understand is why Jon Lewis wasn’t offered a different time slot if it’s just the midnight to dawn show being retrenched??? Jon is such a wonderful presenter and surely after all his loyal years he would have been given a choice. Jon would be wonderful in the earlier time slot and should replace Tod Johnston because although I don’t mind Tod, Jon is so much better. I find Tod Johnston’s show is becoming so repetitive, with the same people calling in, it’s time to change it up. There are a lot of people who want to talk or listen to something with a little bit of intelligence in the programme instead of the same silliness that is Tod Johnston’s show. I am very upset to hear I won’t be able to listen to my favourite 6pr person any more and he should have had an offer after all his loyal years.
This is just the beginning of more and deeper ‘cost-cutting’ sackings by NINE. It costs virtually nothing for NINE to run its Eastern programs, as opposed to paying the salaries of local mediocre presenters who are only working in radio because they couldn’t get a job selling cars.
Expect NINE to be looking for a buyer for 6PR.
Carole Van De Velde said Tod’s show was becoming repetitive with the same callers calling in all the time. Well, Jon’s show had the same callers calling in too, though I only hear the first 90mns because of getting some sleep. But I knew all those regulars by name and voice. I agree with the rest, I don’t listen to Tod’s show, might just catch the last hour, as I’m watching TV. He said no two shows were going to be the same when he first introduced it but it is the same format now.
I think Jon or Fred would have been very good for the mid day show. My wife and I don’t listen at midnight any more. We do like Tod. The next few ratings will be interesting. Unfortunately I think 6PR will lose ground. Karl and Millsy in the morning are our favourites. The Saturday and Sunday morning show is very good too.