Network 10 has announced major changes to its news department with stars cut nationwide
Legendary Melbourne newsman Mal Walden has hit out at his former network for not learning from their own mistakes after announcing nationwide sackings. Major casualties of the cuts included Kerri-Anne Kennerley and local weatherman Mike Larkan.
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Legendary news broadcaster Mal Walden has hit out at his former network for not learning from the mistakes of the past.
Walden, who departed Network 10 in 2013, was a newsreader for 26 years and worked in media across 50 years.
“How often does history have to repeat at Ten?” Walden wrote on Twitter.
“No network has suffered so many challenges. No words can adequately reassure former colleagues facing yet another one.”
Walden’s sadness came after a day of devastating cuts for the TV network announced across the country with some big name casualties.
Melbourne’s much loved weatherman Mike Larkan was blindsided by the decision after almost 25 years with the network.
Others leaving include Kerri-Anne Kennerley from Studio 10, Sydney weather and news identities Tim Bailey and Natarsha Belling, plus Perth weather presenter Michael Schultz, Brisbane newsreader Georgina Lewis, Adelaide newsreader Rebecca Morse and weather presenter Kate Freebairn, Brisbane weather presenter Josh Holt, Adelaide sports anchor Will Goodings and Perth newsreader Monika Kos.
Local weather presenters will be replaced with a meteorologist. The changes will come into effect from Monday September 14 with more changes expected for Studio 10 in coming weeks.
A centralised weather presenter, a meteorologist, will be hired and used for each state’s bulletins. Reporters, news crews and operations staff in every city will still have state specific coverage inserted into each bulletin.
From Monday September 14, newsreader Sandra Sully will present a 90-minute bulletin at 5pm to viewers in Sydney and Brisbane and possibly Perth, while current Melbourne host Jennifer Keyte will anchor the bulletins for Melbourne and Adelaide.
Current affairs program The Project, hosted by Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar, is not affected by the cuts. More changes are expected for Studio 10 in coming weeks.
Logie Award winner Kennerley, 66, joined Studio 10 in 2018 while Belling has been with the network for 23 years, and Bailey for 28 years.
Larkan has been with Ten for almost 25 years.
Sarah Harris and Joe Hildebrand are the only remaining original cast members of Studio 10.
A staff email sent on Tuesday at 1pm announced the restructure which is believed to be due to declining advertising revenue.
Network 10’s Network Director of News Content, Ross Dagan, said: “The decision to make these changes was a very difficult one and I want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to our friends and colleagues who will leave the network.
“It is in no way a reflection of their talent, contribution or passion. They are exceptionally gifted people. We are incredibly proud of them and their work. There is no doubt they will be missed.
“These painful changes reflect the state of the media industry in recent years and the need for all media companies to achieve new efficiencies.
“While our viewers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will see some on-air changes, we will continue to produce local news and employ local reporters, camera operators and production staff in those cities,” he said.
“As a result of the restructuring, some on-air presenters, journalists and operations staff will leave Network 10. The network would like to thank those people for their dedication and hard work.”
Beverley McGarvey, Chief Content Officer and EVP, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, said: “These decisions are not being made lightly, however, they are essential to future-proofing our business.
“A redundancy program has commenced in Network 10’s News and Operations department.
No further details are available at this stage.”
Georgia Love, Network Ten reporter who has filled in for Larkan presenting weather, tweeted: “So the numerous times I’ve questioned whether 2020 could get any worse, I didn’t actually want proof that yes, in fact it could.”
In 2017 Network 10 entered voluntary administration. Later that year, US broadcaster CBS, which has since re-merged with Viacom, acquired the network.