The two local bosses of Paramount – the US company that owns Network Ten – have blasted suggestions the broadcaster is on the brink, and say it is instead about to report its strongest earnings result in years despite airing no top-tier sports.

Despite there now being no top-tier sport up for grabs until 2027, and after a slew of shows that flopped and landed the network behind the ABC in the overall audience television ratings last year, Jarrod Villani and Beverley McGarvey say they can get competitive audiences and advertising revenue from programs other than sport.