David Schwarz recounts ‘devastating’ sacking from radio station SEN
David Schwarz has opened up about the ‘devastating’ day he and radio co-host Mark Allen were sacked by SEN and says he is shattered by what Craig Hutchison has done to the station.
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David Schwarz has opened up on his “devastating” sacking from SEN with co-host Mark Allen, accusing owner Craig Hutchison of “ruining the station” and driving down its ratings.
Former Melbourne star Schwarz, who now works at 3AW radio, says he has not spoken to Crocmedia boss Hutchison since he and Allen lost their jobs in December 2017.
Allen and Schwarz abandoned a $1 million lawsuit because of former pro golfer Allen’s health battle as he successfully fought stage four cancer.
But Schwarz told the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast a thriving and popular station had become a shadow of its former glory and that staff were “walking zombies” because of their workload.
“Hutchy came in and he bought into SEN or they merged (with Pacific Star Network) and we got our marching orders, which was devastating on many fronts, and then we went over to Macquarie Sport,” Schwarz told Sacked.
“We came off air at seven o’clock on the last day (of the year) and then we were told we had five minutes to get our stuff together and get out of the building, and that was by Cathy Thomas, who was the CEO at the time. She started crying and carrying on, but Hutchy had pulled the trigger. We were out.
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“He has never spoken to us, never contacted us or had any sort of dialogue at all. I did see on a podcast where he said he was going to double the ratings, double the business and double the audience and double the revenue.
“He has lost 75 per cent of the audience, the business is stagnant, the share price hasn‘t changed, and I dare say he has absolutely ruined SEN. He has absolutely ruined it.
“People used to listen to it because it used to be entertaining and informative, now you are listening to it for the ads. He has commercialised it. Go and speak to the staff, they are walking zombies, they don’t like the place, and you ask the audience what they think of it, the audience has dropped off. When you are rating one and a halfs I think that says everything.”
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Schwarz denied he had a grudge against Hutchison, saying he cared for the station and its staff.
“I haven’t got a grudge. Hutchy and I used to be really close mates, so whatever has happened has happened,” he said.
“He has made a bad decision. Not only has he lost the audience and the ratings, we walked out with $3 million of sponsors as well, which was satisfying for us. I hate the fact that I am talking about SEN because I love the place. I loved every aspect of it. I could still tell you every person I worked with by name. I think he has ruined it. I think he has totally ruined SEN.”
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Schwarz said Hutchison had forced out media and football legend Kevin Bartlett after a running battle between the pair in the Richmond’s champion’s last months at the station.
“‘KB’ was the one who gave Hutchy his start (as a producer on Radio 927) and the way he was treated was just disgraceful,” he said. “Kevin would never speak out against it, but I know what Kevin thinks and feels.”
Stay tuned for the new season of SACKED ...
