No more Today for Alan Jones

Outspoken talkback commentator Alan Jones is ending his daily stint on the Today Show.

The “mutual” parting will take place after his final editorial on Friday June 15. Frankly, it should have come a lot sooner.

Jones’ may be huge in Sydney radio, but his olde worlde views have stagnated Nine’s show when it needs to rejuvenate against Sunrise. For too long the show has lay criticism at female hosts when there have been other problems on the show (and Jones was not the only one!).

Now the Packer regime is ending, and Lisa Wilkinson is hosting (her radio husband competes with Jones) the two sides are parting ways. Maybe Jones is “leaving” before he is “pushed?”

The Today Show rates strongest in Melbourne where it had 98,000 to Sunrise’s 75,000 yesterday. In Sydney the same figures were 77,000 / 100,000.

Press Release:

After almost 20 years with TODAY, Alan Jones and the Nine Network have agreed to wind up his daily television editorial, with the last one airing on Friday June 15.

The Nine Network’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Garry Linnell, said the decision reflected a new direction for the TODAY program.

“We thank Alan for his contribution to the program over the past two decades,” Mr Linnell said.

“He is a voice of authority and an integral player in the setting of Australia’s news agenda. We wish him well for his continued success in radio at 2GB and other ventures, and look forward to maintaining the Network’s close relationship with him.”

Mr Linnell said TODAY would be introducing several new segments to the show in the coming weeks.