Basil Zempilas is leaving his radio gig at SCA’s 92.9 Triple M Perth.
This is the second major change to the line-up in recent months after Jenna Clarke departed and was subsequently replaced with Michelle Anderson.
Zempilas juggles the radio gig with his position as Lord Mayor of Perth and ongoing commentating and presenting commitments with the Seven Network.
He said he now needs more flexibility in his day.
“It’s no secret I’ve been coming and going quite a bit over the last couple of months and between now and the end of the year there’s an extra step up in my travel commitments,” he said.
“As much as I’d like to be in two places at once, the right call is to finish up with Triple M after the AFL Grand Final weekend. I do that knowing that in Michelle Anderson, I leave Xav and our fabulour audience in the best of hands.”
Zempilas added that he was grateful to the tation for being accomodating as his commitments have increased and he will always be connected to the Triple M brand.
He helped launch the station in December 2020 alongside Clarke and Ellis.
At the time, he said he wanted the “Baz, Xav and Jenna” show to be No. 1 within five years.
“Triple M is here to make a big mark, to have the loudest voice, to attract the most attention, to get people thinking,” he said.
“Ultimately, you come into these contests to be number one.”
The show has a ratings share of 7.7% in Survey 1 of 2021. In the most recent ratings, which only partly crossed over with Anderson’s arrival, the show was on 6.4%, behind Nova’s market-leading 20.0% for “Nathan, Nat and Shaun”, Mix 94.5’s 11.2%, 96FM’s 10.0%, 6PR’s 9.3% and ABC Perth’s 7.7%.
Tim Arnold, Triple M Perth’s content director said of the departure: “Basil has played such a crucial role in the launch of 92.9 Triple M. It means Basil is, and will always be, a part of our DNA. He has been the biggest champion of our station over the last two years, and I know he will continue to be a champion for us despite no longer being in the building every morning.”
Dave Cameron, SCA’s chief content officer, also thanked Zempilas for his dedication and passion in launching Triple M Perth.
“Basil is a much loved and experienced broadcaster, and we wish him the very best in his ongoing successful career across media and politics. We are excited to continue to connect the famous Triple M brand with Perth listeners, through Xav and Michelle for breakfast delivering great chemistry and local Perth content,” he said.
Zempilas’ last day will be Friday, Sept. 23.