Red Symons Suspects ABC's Cost-cutting Led To His Shock Radio Sacking

Red Symons suspects ABC's publicised cost-cutting was a factor in his shock departure from the Melbourne radio's breakfast slot last year. 

Speaking on 3AW in his first on-air interview since leaving his role, the ex-Skyhooks guitarist said he was never offered an explanation from ABC as to why he was moved on from his position after 15 years.

"My GP, who had to answer that question to his patients… I think he's absolutely right. He just said, 'It was cost cutting. That simple,'" Symons said.

He continued, "It’s very clear in the commercial environment what the objectives are and what the measure is, but at the ABC it’s intellectual, of some sort."

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Symons' show rated among Melbourne's top three most-listened to breakfast shows before he was replaced by Jacinta Parsons and comedian Sami Shah.

The 68-year-old admitted he doesn't listen to ABC breakfast anymore.

"But there’s no point in me sitting in judgement on the people who are there now — because it’s actually not about them, it’s about management," he said.

Symons comments come after the Government's budget released earlier this month revealed that the ABC's annual funding indexation will be frozen for three years from July next year, which will see it lose $84 million.