Channel 9 Adelaide dumps newsreader Kate Collins’ image ripped down from studio building

Kate Collins’ face has been unceremoniously torn from the Channel 9 building this morning – several days after her shock sacking from the newsdesk.

• Why Nine swung the axe on Collins

Kate Collins’ face was ripped from the Channel 9 building on Friday morning following her brutal sacking from the newsdesk earlier this week.

Sign removers arrived at the Pirie Street offices just after 9am and began work on removing the sticker advertising Brenton Ragless and Collins’ nightly news program plastered on the front window alongside advertisements for Current Affair and game show, Tipping Point.

Within half an hour a poster featuring the pair was replaced with an image of a solo Ragless with the same phrase “Your Adelaide, Your News”.

Kate Collins Poster coming down. Picture: Ruby Stewart

Across the road at Nova 91.9 headquarters, Collins took to the mic to speak with Jodie Oddy and Andrew ‘Hayesy’ Hayes about her “tough” week.

“The hardest thing to accept about it is that it was very final and I just had so much to say,” she said.

“For it to kind of finish up very abruptly and then not have that chance to just say ‘thank you’ for having me…has been tough.”

Despite her heartbreak, Collins said her situation is not “unique”.

“People lose their jobs every day. I know I’m not unique in that, I just think I didn’t realise that people would care so much and that has been honestly so humbling and I’m just so grateful,” she said.

The picture of Kate Collins on the sign out front of the Channel 9 studios in Adelaide after she was axed has now been removed. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

The new Channel 9 sign line-up featuring a solo image of Brenton Ragless. Picture: Ruby Stewart

‘It’s been just truly overwhelming ... .just to hear how sad (viewers) are about it and how much its meant to them to have me in their living rooms over the years has just been really humbling.”

The 42-year-old added that she knows “the business (she) is in” and said there was no point being “bitter”.

“There’s no point saying ‘why me’ or playing the victim here,” Collins said.

“I’m just really excited about the next step and maybe this was my time, maybe it was meant to happen for a reason and maybe something better is around the corner.”

Oddy, who also works for Channel 10, and Hayesy, who reads sport for 7NEWS were quick to comfort their “beautiful friend” and even jokingly offered her positions at their networks.

“I don’t want to flag any rumours... the doors alway open, if you know what I’m saying,” Oddy quipped.

“Which door are you going to go through?,” Hayesy added.

“There’s many doors,” Collins said before thanking listeners for their support and finishing up the interview.

Collins broke her social media silence shortly after, sharing a picture of herself dressed in the outfit she wore for the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant on Saturday alongside a statement.

“I’m leaving Nine with a full heart and a deep gratitude for every moment, every person who has been part of this crazy media journey,” she wrote.

“It’s been a huge honour to share your stories and ride the highs and lows, the good, the bad and the inevitable change together.”

Ragless acknowledged her departure on-air for the first time on Wednesday.

Ragless, who has taken over as Nine News Adelaide’s sole weekday newsreader, paid tribute to Collins at the end of Wednesday night’s bulletin.

“Before we go tonight, allow me to take a moment to farewell my close friend and colleague Kate Collins from the team here at Nine News Adelaide,” said Ragless, who has presented the news alongside Collins for the past 11 years.

“Much of Kate’s 19 years with Nine has been spent here at this very desk sharing the news with you at home.

“On behalf of everyone a heartfelt thank you to Kate for everything she’s done and we wish her all the best for the future.”

Kate Collins and Brenton Ragless behind the newsdesk. Picture: Supplied.

Collins was told on Monday afternoon, during a meeting with station bosses, that her contract would not be renewed and she was being removed from the newsdesk effective immediately.

Former weatherman and firefighter Ragless will anchor the nightly news on his own, with Will McDonald and Alice Monfries hosting weekends.

Yet almost 72 hours after Collins was given her marching orders, the much-loved newsreader remained a fixture at Nine Adelaide’s Pirie St studios. Her giant photo, alongside Ragless, was – until Friday morning – still emblazoned on the building, next to other big-name Nine personalities Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo, Todd Woodbridge and Ally Langdon.

Collins’ photo and profile has also been removed from the front page of the Nine News Adelaide website, but she still has her own page detailing her career and journalism credentials.

Kate Collins's photo and profile on the Nine News Adelaide website.

Kate Collins's photo and profile on the Nine News Adelaide website.

There’s growing speculation that Collins has already been sounded out by rival networks for a new role though she has so far declined to comment.

“I don’t know what’s next but I hope I’ll be back telling more South Australian stories, in some form, soon,” she told The Advertiser on Tuesday.

It comes as TV experts suggest Collins’ was made a “scapegoat” for Nine News Adelaide’s ratings struggles.

So far in 2025, Nine News has averaged 74,000 viewers for its 6pm bulletin across the full week – well behind the top-rating 7News Adelaide with 110,000 viewers, latest VOZ figures show.

Nine has denied the claims, saying the changes announced in Adelaide this week were “unrelated to ratings”.

An internal email sent by Nine News director Jeremy Pudney to staff on Wednesday afternoon said it was a “difficult decision” to let Collins go.

“Kate has been with Nine for 19 years and this decision is in no way reflective of her talent, skills or dedication. I’d like to personally thank Kate and wish her the very best for her future,” Pudney wrote.