After 26 years presenting ABC Local Radio’s successful Nightlife program, and more than 30 years at the ABC, Tony Delroy is hanging up the headphones to explore his passion for travel.
Delroy told his audience tonight: “An announcement I thought would never happen… I’m in the last few weeks here at Nightlife. I can hardly believe its been nearly 26 years since the show launched in a very humble way to just a few thousand listeners… We’ve come a long way baby.
“We’ve been doing travel spots over the past quarter of a century and boy do I have a hit list, it seems like the prefect time for me to kick start the dream. I don’t talk about ratings very often, but more than a million people now listen… we own the biggest nightclub in the world…
When I started in regional radio at 2BS NSW we were pleased if we could be heard a few kilometres away in Orange, now we get calls and messages from every continent… It’s not just me, we have a dedicated team who turn up every day with the aim of making the best radio in the country.
Delroy went on to thank all his many regular guests and his listeners.
“It’s really important for me to thank you the listener for the extraordinary support you have shown… we have a month to say our goodbyes and I will work hard to make sure we go out with a bang not a wimper…
“Be assured that the ABC has been thinking long and hard about a repacement for me and that will be announced in the next few weeks.”
Tony Delroy has had a long and distinguished career with ABC Local Radio. He developed the Nightlife program and transformed it from a brief session following the parliamentary broadcast to the national four hour show it is today.
ABC’s Director of Radio Michael Mason says Tony’s contribution had been exceptional:
“Tony has built the program and the audience from the ground up over 26 years. He has an extraordinary grasp of the issues that Australians are really interested in, and that’s underscored by his amazing ratings and the genuine rapport he has with the audience. We wish him all the very best for an exciting future.”
Close to 1 million people across Australia regularly join Tony Delroy for his nightly program, and their love and loyalty has him regularly reaching the number one spot in most capital cities.
“The program also has an extraordinary international following, with listeners streaming it from as far away as Antarctica, Mongolia and the Cayman Islands. You can have a conversation with people from every continent, every background and area of interest. It’s become a club where people can regularly connect with each other; I’ll never forget being invited to the wedding of two listeners who had met through Nightlife,” said Delroy.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working at the ABC and I am conscious of the privilege of being part of people’s lives at such an intimate time of day.
“I feel now is the right time to venture off and find new horizons. I’ll miss the listeners and my many regular guests and contributors, but I’m excited by the opportunity to travel and do a number of things that have not been possible until now.”
ABC Radio will announce Delroy’s replacement later this month.
He will present his final Nightlife program on Friday 2 September, but will also be heard over the Sounds of Summer break on ABC Radio, presenting the literary luncheon series.