Wallabies legend Matt Burke sacked by Channel 10 after 11 years

Wallabies legend Matt Burke has been handed a brutal blow after making a successful career after his playing days.

Wallabies legend Matt Burke has reportedly been sacked by Channel 10 after being the network’s sports presenter for the past 11 years.

The 51-year-old rugby union legend joined the network in 2013 as an expert commentator for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia before transitioning to the role of sports presenter on 10 News First in Sydney.

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But TV Blackbox reported the former Wallabies fullback was told his contract would not be renewed and that he would finish up at the end of the year.

Burke has been a fixture on the nightly news bulletin for over a decade and obviously brings with him the gravitas of being one of Australia’s greatest Wallabies.

In a career that saw him play 81 Tests and tally 878 points, second only to Michael Lynagh’s 911 points in Wallabies history, Burke was also part of Australia’s 1999 World Cup victory.

Burke was also the first player to player 100 games for the NSW Waratahs and has the side’s player of the year award named after him.

Matt Burke is a Wallabies legend. Photo: David Kapernick

Colleagues of Burke are said to be "gutted". Photo: Instagram

A Channel 10 spokesperson thanked the Aussie great for his service.

“After more than a decade, Matt Burke, sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney will be departing the Network at the end of the year,” the statement reads.

“Matt joined Network 10 in 2013 as an expert commentator for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia and a few months later was appointed as the permanent sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney.

“Matt fronted all of Network 10’s Rugby broadcasts from 2013 until 2019 and was integral in the Network’s live coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

“Matt is one of the most versatile and experienced sports presenters on Australian television and his passion and enthusiasm for sports, but particularly Rugby is remarkable.

“His infectious love of sport, great sense of humour and optimism will be missed in the newsroom.

“Matt leaves Network 10 with our sincere thanks and warmest wishes for the future.”

However, News Corp reported the decision was made due to cost cutting measures.

The report also quoted a senior Ten employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“He’s been treated terribly,” the employee said, “Everyone loves Matty at Channel 10.

“He’s the ultimate television pro and popular throughout the newsroom.

“We’re actually gutted.”

Burke has become a familiar face on the network. Photo: Channel 10

It comes as reports of Channel 10 being in “turmoil” continue to swirl around the company.

In May, Queensland University of Technology Professor Amanda Lotz, who leads the Transforming Media Industries research program, said it could see Australia lose one of the free-to-air commercial networks.

“I would suspect by the end of the decade that we will have two commercial broadcasters,” Prof Lotz said. “It’s just math. We’re now in a death spiral. And eventually, it might be that we just have one.”

Ten’s parent company Paramount was sold in July to David Ellison’s Skydance Media for a reported $US8 billion.

Media analyst and Pearman director of strategy and research Steve Allen had told news.com.au in May: “A new owner of Paramount Global is unlikely to see Ten as an asset worth retaining because the business is in serious turmoil.

“There’s no programming momentum and they haven’t found a really solid anchor for prime time, their revenue looks steady but they can’t seem to significantly reduce overheads, and now there’s upheaval in terms of their US ownership.

“Network 10 is in a real pickle and I don’t see a way out for them.”

Originally published as Wallabies legend Matt Burke sacked by Channel 10 after 11 years