ABC is moving Q+A back to its time slot of Mondays at 9:35 pm, two years after moving the program to Thursday nights.
On Friday, The Guardian reported the show’s executive producer told staffers about the scheduling move after airing on Thursday.
The move back to Monday nights is set to restore the former news and current affairs program schedule of Australian Story, Four Corners, Media Watch and Q+A.
A spokesperson said in the report: “Looking ahead to next year’s schedule, we want to ensure the program is given its best chance to garner the strongest audience it can.”
“The Q+A team will continue to explore new ways for the program to best meet evolving audience needs.”
Q+A first aired in 2008 on Thursdays at 8:30 pm with Tony Jones as the host until it moved to Monday nights at 9:35 pm in 2010.
Jones announced his departure from the show in 2019. Hamish McDonald replaced him in 2020, and the show was moved back to its original spot at 8:30 pm on Thursday in early 2021.
Former Q+A host Tony Jones
According to the publication, the move to Thursday nights was an attempt to try its luck in prime time, but audiences complained over it after a long tenure in the Monday slot.
McDonald hosted the show for 18 months until 202. Following him were three rotating hosts: David Speers, Virginia Trioli and Stan Grant.
News of Q+A’s return to Monday nights comes after ABC director entertainment and specialist Michael Carrington left the corporation in July to return to the production sector.
Carrington was responsible for programming. Jennifer Collins stepped in as acting director entertainment and specialist during the transition period, helping drive E&S content development, commissioning, and distribution forward. Carrington’s role has yet to be replaced.
This week ABC managing director David Anderson announced the appointment of Judith Whelan to the role of editorial director, effective in February 2023.
Whelan is ABC director of regional and local, and one of Australian media’s most respected editorial leaders, bringing more than thirty years of journalism experience to the role.
See also: ABC announces the appointment of Judith Whelan as editorial director