Fans of ABC show The Drum that championed ‘diverse’ voices start change.org petition to bring it back or change its format: ‘Deeply concerned’

Fans of an “eclectic and authentic” ABC talk show that has been axed from next year's line-up after 13 seasons have launched a petition asking the national broadcaster to keep it on air.

The final episode of The Drum airs on Friday to the dismay of thousands of devoted viewers who have begged the ABC to reconsider bringing it back in 2024.

On Tuesday, the network confirmed that the panel discussion program will not return next year after 13 years of episodes.

Petition organizer Malechi Clarke said he opposed the “very concerning” cancellation, which ABC News director Justin Stevens said will lead to job losses.

The petition was launched within hours of the show's cancellation announcement and has already collected more than 3,000 signatures, with a target of 5,000.

The Drum was first broadcast in 2010 and Malechi Clarke, who organized the petition, said the petition has served as a valuable public resource ever since.

Mr Clarke, from Melbourne, where the show is filmed, suggested that rather than canceling the program entirely, the ABC should consider changing the timeslot.

“As a devoted viewer, I am deeply concerned about the cancellation of 'The Drum' on ABC,” Clarke wrote.

'To me, this program is not just a show; it is a platform that offers honest and varied opinions from experts and commentators from different fields.

“However, we understand that changes may be necessary to ensure the sustainability of the program. That's why we're proposing an alternative: reformatting “The Drum” into a weekly 90-minute show rather than canceling it entirely.

“Changing the broadcast from every evening to weekly would reduce production costs and “preserve this valuable resource for public debate in our society,” Mr Clarke said.

The petition was addressed to ABC's Director of Audiences, Leisa Bacon, and to Mr Stevens and has yielded more results than $1,000 so far, which Mr. Clarke plans to use to promote the cause.

Dozens of signatories left comments pleading with the ABC to reconsider its decision, which follows other cancellations during the corporate restructuring.

“The Drum is the only venue for wide-ranging discussions without current MPs rotating and always giving voice to diverse opinions (and) experiences (without) shouting,” one fan wrote.

'I am dissatisfied with the direction the ABC has taken. The Drum is one of the better programs and should be kept,” wrote another.

“The loss will shrink the ABC and drive away even more audiences. This is not a thoughtful move by the ABC, nor is it in line with its charter,” a third added.

The ABC also axed controversial chat show Frankly, popular reboot The Wonder Years, and has closed most of its social media accounts in 2023.

Mr Clarke suggested the ABC might run weekly episodes instead of nightly episodes to reduce production costs rather than axing the show altogether (pictured, presenters Julia Baird and Ellen Fanning)

ABC News executive director Justin Stevens announced the cancellation Tuesday, acknowledging it will lead to job losses

In an internal email sent to staff on Tuesday, Mr Stevens described the decision to cancel The Drum as “difficult” and noted it would lead to job losses.

Stevens expressed his gratitude to The Drum for its role in discovering new talent through its diverse panelists.

However, he acknowledged that the show had seen a “relatively small and declining” viewership in recent years.

Despite the programme's axing, co-hosts Julia Baird, Ellen Fanning and Dan Bourchier will continue in new roles at the ABC.

The program launched alongside ABC's 24-hour news channel, but was moved to the main channel in 2014 and given a longer format and a 5.30pm slot.

The show then underwent another renewal in 2019 after it was moved to the 6:00 PM slot and extended to an hour to appear immediately before the 7:00 PM evening news bulletin.

Mr Stevens said the cancellation was not a comment on the show's quality or performance, but rather the network had to make hard decisions about how to deploy resources.