Channel 10 staff slam ‘unfair’ executives after Studio 10s

Channel 10 staff have hit out at an “emotionless and cold” email sent from a network supremo informing them a flagship program was getting axed, less than a year after the departure of former host Sarah Harris.

Studio 10 has been axed.

Channel 10 staff have hit out at an “emotionless and cold” email sent from a network supremo informing them a flagship program was getting axed.

Network News Director Martin White emailed staff just after 1pm Tuesday explaining Studio 10 would be canned from December 22.

The show has been on air for more than a decade and has been hosted by a raft of popular media personalities including Sarah Harris, Joe Hildebrand, Jessica Rowe, Ita Buttrose and Kerri-Anne Kennerly.

A senior Channel 10 staffer said multiple employees described the abrupt email as “emotionless and cold”.

“Just two weeks ago Studio 10 was celebrating its 10th anniversary on air - now the team isn’t even being thanked for its hard work or successes,” one staff member said.

The email sent to Channel 10 staff members.

Studio 10 hosts Tristan MacManus and Angela Bishop announce the show's axing.

“For management to blame it on a ‘change in viewing habits’ rather than poor decision making at the top is unfair.”

Staff also hit out at the introduction of a 3.30pm news bulletin on Network 10 - with employees calling the addition “random” and questioning if people will watch at that time.

The email, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, said the network would also be making changes to its morning programming.

“In 2024 there will be a new morning lineup with an increased focus on news and current affairs throughout the day,” the email stated.

“We will be welcoming some members from the Studio 10 team into the news team. No news jobs will be impacted because of this change.”

Ratings have suffered since Sarah Harris left the show for The Project. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Current Studio 10 hosts Angela Bishop and Tristan MacManus took to Instagram Tuesday afternoon and shared their disappointment.

“It’s a tough day for the whole Studio 10 family, because we have loved bringing you the show for the last 10 years,” said Bishop in the video.

“We’re all really proud to be part of it.

“To finish up, I’m going to pinch a quote: Don’t cry ‘cos it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Studio 10 has suffered dwindling ratings in recent years, which worsened after Harris left to join The Project earlier this year.

The show recorded its lowest viewership in March with just 10,000 viewers on the final Monday of the month.

Kerri-Anne Kennerly was at the centre of plenty of controversy on the show.

Even with Harris at the helm, Studio 10 averaged just 31,000 viewers in 2022.

The show had its share of controversy over the years, with Kennerly in particular making headlines during her stint on the panel.

She was involved in a heated racial debate with Yumi Stynes in 2018 when she claimed babies, mothers and sisters were being raped in Indigenous communities.

The following year she suggested climate protesters should be used as “speed bumps”.

Just two months later she was accused of slut-shaming colleague Antoinette Lattouf for wearing a playsuit on-air, asking her “did you forget your pants today?”.