Show was launched as flagship for the comedy channel on ABC2, but ran into criticism from Coalition figures over byelection sketch

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The ABC has axed the daily comedy show Tonightly with Tom Ballard a year after it launched as the flagship show for a new comedy channel.

The ABC didn’t give a reason but said it was “time for a fresh approach”.

“Getting the chance to host Tonightly has been an absolute honour and privilege, even though we never got to be on Media Watch,” Ballard said.

“I feel so proud of the ‘work’ we made and I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by laughter and stupidity for an entire year. My sincere thanks go to the brilliant Tonightly team, the ABC and the fans of Cory Bernardi.”

Tonightly’s ratings have been relatively low, 32,000 viewers on Monday night, and production costs for a daily show would be considerable.



But the decision came as a surprise because the ABC appeared to be committed to nurturing new talent and producing challenging material when it launched the original format last year.

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“Attracting younger audiences requires bold approaches and we continually experiment with new content and new formats particularly on digital platforms,” the ABC said in a statement.

“We remain committed to exploring and developing projects that connect with different demographics.”

Ballard and executive producer Dan Ilić won plaudits for satirising political and media issues such as Sunrise’s panel about removing Indigenous children from their families. But it was very unpopular with conservative politicians.



Dan Ilić (@danilic) When I took the job of showrunning @tonightly I made it my mission to turn the show into the number #1 daily satirical comedy television show in the country, AND WE DID.

But sadly like powerhouse comedies before us, like Fawlty Towers, we are duty-bound go out on top.

Last week the media watchdog failed to uphold complaints of offensive language and harm from communications minister Mitch Fifield and Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi.

Fifield and Bernardi had been highly vocal in their criticism of a segment about the racist past of the grazier John Batman and the Australian Conservatives candidate in the byelection for the seat of Batman, Kevin Bailey.

Fifield accused the ABC of crossing a line: “Vitriolic abuse of this kind has no place on the national broadcaster and I will be asking the ABC to investigate. The ABC should also immediately offer an unreserved apology to Mr Bailey.”

Bernardi said the attack went “far beyond satire”.

Bhakthi (@bhakthi) Tonightly cancelled. Does the ABC think cutting comedy is the way to ingratiate itself to this govt? https://t.co/3L5JFZLYTX

The ABC said Tonightly deliberately pushed boundaries to inform and entertain.

“We are proud of the program and its role in supporting some of Australia’s best emerging comedy talent.

“The ABC will continue to develop innovative content on broadcast TV and digital services, through comedies such as Back in Very Small Business and Get Krack!n’, and live shows such as the Splendour in the Grass TV special on Rage and the upcoming Triple J One Night Stand and One Night Stand Up on ABC TV and iview.”



Tonightly will air for the last time on 7 September.

