Alan Pearsall sacked from 3AW after 29 years at the station
A familiar voice will no longer be gracing the AM airwaves after almost 30 years behind the mic. It is just the latest sacking as 3AW continues its shake up.
Confidential
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A popular 3AW broadcaster has been sacked as the station continues to shake up its overnight programming.
Alan Pearsall, who hosted 3AW Weekend Overnight for 29 years, parted ways with the station after a meeting with management on Thursday.
A disappointed Pearsall said he wasn’t given the chance to farewell listeners.
“I did ask whether I could do the weekend shift (to say goodbye), but they said they were going to find a little spot for me to say farewell,” Pearsall said today.
“I said that wasn’t going to be enough, so I left it be.”
He added: “I’ve been there for a long time. After 29 years, you make a lot radio friends. Even though you don’t know them personally, you feel like you’ve become part of their lives, and in many ways too, they’ve become part of my life.
“The people who call into all-night radio are a friendly mob, and they’ve given me a lot of joy for many years.”
Pearsall’s departure follows 3AW’s decision to scrap popular Melbourne show Nightline, hosted by Philip Brady and Simon Owens, after 30 years on air, two months ago.
Nightline has been replaced by a network show, Nights With John Stanley. Brady and Owens still host 3AW show, Remember When, on Sunday nights.
Pearsall was philosophical about the changes happening in radio.
“Networking is inevitable with radio. It’s happened in FM radio, they network all over the place. The ABC is network in the evenings through to breakfast,” he said.
“But I do believe Sydney and Melbourne are very different groups of radio listeners.”
Pearsall said Macquarie Media bosses met with him on Thursday.
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“My future was talked about a few weeks ago. I was told the change could be to my benefit or disadvantage, and as it turned out, it was to my disadvantage.”
The Sunday Herald Sun has contacted Macquarie Media for comment, and details of Pearsall’s replacement.
“I don’t know who’s replacing me,” Pearsall said. “I’m not listening to the show because I don’t want to get caught up emotionally.
“I’m keeping my head up. You never know what might come up for me to chuck my hat in the ring for.”