News boss happy to walk away from Warren Tredrea’s $216k, four hour a day contract, affidavit reveals

Warren Tredrea’s Nine boss was questioning the footy legend’s compensation for his four hours per day on the job, a court has heard.

Ex footballer Warren Tredrea arriving at court for his unfair dismissal case against Channel 9. Picture: NCA NewsWire.

Sports presenter Warren Tredrea was being paid more than $216,000 a year for under four hours work a day, leading his boss to consider the AFL great was “compensated too highly for his work”, court documents reveal.

Mr Tredrea is suing Channel 9 for unfair dismissal after his contract was terminated in January 2022.

Channel 9 argue that Mr Tredrea was dismissed for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine as well as comments on multiple radio shows which were considered to be “damaging” to his brand.

An affidavit by Channel 9 news director Jeremy Pudney released by the Federal Court to the Sunday Mail shows concerns about Mr Tredrea’s contract predated the covid pandemic.

Former Channel 9 sports presenter Warren Tredrea arrives at the Federal Court for his unfair dismissal lawsuit. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Pudney took the helm as news director May 2018 and begun a process of reviewing all on-air “talent”.

The affidavit shows that Mr Tredrea was paid $216,411 a year as part of a two years employment agreement which begun in December 2018.

“(Mr Tredrea) was performing work typically five days per week from approximately 3.30pm until around 7.15pm which included reading sport news on the 6pm bulletin and recording segments,” Mr Pudney said in his affidavit.

“I formed the opinion that (Mr Tredrea) was compensated too highly for his work, especially considering the relatively low numbers of on-air hours he performed compared with other on-air new presenters who had greater commitments and worked longer hours.

“My concern was not merely the cost, but the relativity between presenters.”

Channel 9 news director Jeremy Pudney arriving at Federal Court where ex footballer Warren Tredrea is suing for unfair dismissal. Picture: NCA NewsWire : Naomi Jellicoe

In 2020, Mr Tredrea’s contract was once again up for renegotiation and Mr Pudney voiced his opinions that he was “in my view, paid too much for a presenter who starts work at 3.30pm”.

Mr Pudney offered a new agreement where Mr Tredrea would be paid less and required to work more hours, including presenting the midday sports segment.

“The view I held at that time was that if (Mr Tredrea) chose to walk away I would be okay with that,” he said.

However, Mr Tredrea’s significant public profile gave Mr Pudney pause.

“I did however have to balance those issues of remuneration and performance against Warren’s reputation,” he said.

“He was the Port Adelaide Football Clubs only premiership captain. He had, and still has, a significant public following and a public profile.”

Mr Pudney said he considered whether there would be a “backlash” from viewers in Mr Tredrea’s contract was not renegotiated.

In January, 2022, Mr Tredrea’s contract was terminated. Mr Pudney said in his affidavit that he believed the 2020 employment agreement was likely to be Mr Tredrea’s last with Channel 9.

Mr Tredrea on the other hand said he was expecting to spend more than 20 years with the broadcaster.

The trial continues.