New programs revealed for next year.
ABC RN will introduce a new daily Arts offering: The Hub. Presented by a different specialist at 10am each weekday with contributions from an ensemble of artists, makers, writers and critics, and delve into the creative worlds of the visual arts, theatre and performance, literature, film and TV as well as popular culture.
ABC RN’s Arts, Culture and Society Editor Dina Rosendorff says “The Hub is an exciting evolution for Books and Arts because it will allow our expert presenters and producers to really home in on their respective specialties.
“Current presenter Michael Cathcart will spearhead this new model each week and is incredibly excited about concentrating on his passion for theatre and all that it encompasses. Sarah Kanowski will continue to be heard on RN as she will share presenter duties with Richard Fidler on Conversations in 2018.
MONDAYS: The Stage Hub. Michael Cathcart will explore all the news from the world of theatre, opera, dance and musicals. With contributions from choreographer Gideon Obarzanek, actor Kate Mulvany and soprano Emma Matthews.
TUESDAYS: The Book Hub. Claire Nichols will share all the literary news and author interviews. With contributions from authors Annabel Crabb, Tara Moss and Michael Robotham.
WEDNESDAYS: The Art Hub. Musician Eddie Ayres will return to radio presenting. With contributions from art critic Sebastian Smee, visual arts specialist Daniel Browning and artist Ben Quilty.
THURSDAYS: The Screen Hub. Jason Di Rosso’s half-hour film digest The Final Cut will evolve to an hour-long program, covering film and television. With occasional guest contributions from film critic David Stratton.
On FRIDAYS, The Hub will present Stop Everything!, Beverley Wang, Benjamin Law and Dr Lauren Rosewarne’s savvy, critical take on popular culture. Their conversations will be a sophisticated analysis of what our cultural products and predilections say about our world right now.
Also on Fridays, Kate Evans and Cassie McCullagh will get together for a chat about the books they’re reading and loving on The Bookshelf. Kate’s program BooksPlus wraps up at the end of 2017 as she moves onto The Bookshelf.
Earshot, and its diverse array of documentaries heard twice a week, will evolve to one contemporary (on Mondays) and one historical (on Tuesdays) documentary a week. New history program The History Listen takes the Tuesday 11am timeslot. With audiences responding to history told in contemporary ways, The History Listen’s social, political, family, and predominantly Australian stories will connect with current and new audiences.
Bringing together the best of the stories told across RN each week, In Case You Missed It with Rudi Bremer is a curated catch-up, featuring the week’s most impactful stories from RN Breakfast, RN Drive, The Drawing Room, Saturday Extra and Sunday Extra.
RN will also broadcast a new 25-minute regional current affairs show on weekdays at 7:30pm. The new conversational-style program will analyse the latest regional and rural news from around Australia and will also provide information on the key local stories from around the nation. More information about the program including the presenter will be announced in the new year.
Click the LINEUP CHANGES tag below to see other ABC lineup changes announced today.