Basil Zempilas gives up 6PR Breakfast gig following directive from rival Seven West Media

Basil Zempilas is departing 6PR Breakfast in Perth.

6PR is now owned by Nine, which took control of the former Macquarie Media asset last year. Zempilas, however, also works for rival Seven West Media as sports presenter on its 6pm TV bulletin as well as various commentary roles.

His contract with 6PR was up for renegotiation at the end of the year, but Seven directed him not to re-sign with the network now it is owned by rival Nine.

Zempilas is also in the running to become Perth’s Lord Mayor, the results of which will become clear on Saturday. Nine Radio’s boss Tom Malone had already decided if Zempilas was successful in his mayoral bid, he could not remain on the radio.

Zempilas co-hosted Breakfast with Steve Mills. In the most recent radio ratings survey, 6PR had an 11.2% share in Breakfast, up from 9.0% earlier in the year, and placing it atop the AM pile.

The media personality and mayoral hopeful told WA Today, also owned by Nine, that he will miss breakfast radio “very much”.

“I’ve had an unbelievable time at 6PR and have been very proud of our success and my partnership with Steve Mills,” he said.

A Nine and 6PR spokesperson told Radio Today the network was considering a number of options for next year.

“Baz will finish at the end of the year and leaves with our best wishes,” 6PR’s content manager, Emily White, said. “We’re considering a number of options for the Breakfast show in what’s shaping as an exciting 2021 for 6PR.”