‘Film Buff’s Forecast’ Exits RRR After Mediation Talks Fail

Mediation talks between Melbourne’s RRR radio station and the popular Film Buff’s Forecast program have failed. The show aired its final episode this past Saturday.

RRR Programming & Content Manager, Bec Hornsby, announced in a statement posted to the station’s website that the program would not continue after it and veteran broadcaster Paul Harris could not come to an agreement on a new weekend slot.

“It was never part of the plan to ‘axe’ Film Buff’s Forecast,” the statement reads.

It continues, “The station entered into mediation with Paul, with an accredited independent mediator, because we didn’t want to lose Film Buff’s Forecast altogether and we felt we needed another opportunity for both parties to truly hear each other.

"In this sense, mediation was worthwhile - we discussed many broadcast outcomes for the show, including staying in its existing time slot until a one hour time slot on any other day of the week became available, plus extra content online. Ultimately, however, mediation failed. We were unable to reach a compromise and Paul Harris has decided to wind up the show in preference to the options discussed.”

The statement finishes, “We’d sincerely like to thank Paul Harris for 36 years of dedicated service to Triple R, our listeners and Melbourne’s film lovers and we wish him all the best”. 

The announcement was made despite enormous support from Film Buff’s Forecast listeners, which included over 1300 signatures on a change.org petition and a Save Film Buff’s Forecast Facebook group.