Coronavirus prompts temporary staff reduction at Network 10 after Easter long-weekend

A skeleton staff will be on deck to run the television broadcaster’s news and locally-produced programs.

The closure from April 14 to 17 won't impact its news and locally-produced programs such as Studio 10 and The Project. Picture: Supplied

Australia’s third-ranked free-to-air television broadcaster Network 10 will be run by a skeleton staff after the Easter long-weekend as the ViacomCBS-owned company grapples with the coronavirus crisis.

But the reduced workforce from April 14 to 17 won't impact its news and locally-produced programs such as Studio 10 and The Project or its digital news website 10 daily.

ViacomCBS’s newly promoted local content boss Beverley McGarvey has told staff that "COVID-19 has caused extensive and fast-moving change in the broadcast industry", and it is working to ensure it comes through the crisis "as a stronger, more innovative and more agile organisation".

"Despite more viewers turning to television for the latest news, information and entertainment that we provide, our business has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. It has clearly affected our day-to-day operations, at least temporarily," she told staff in an email on Thursday, seen by The Australian.

"During this time, we must continue to work together to maintain our news functions and broadcast operations, not only for us as a business but for the greater community.”

Beverley McGarvey; chief content officer at the Ten Network, at their Pyrmont offices in Sydney. Picture: James Croucher

Ten’s cost-cutting news comes a day after Seven West Media, which owns Seven Network, said it is looking to access the federal government’s $130bn JobKeeper payment scheme if eligible amid the coronavirus crisis, which has hit advertising spending across the media industry. Seven is also looking to cut jobs and staff pay by 20 per cent.

Australia’s two biggest media companies, News Corp Australia, publisher of The Australian, and Nine Entertainment have also announced cost-cutting initiatives, including streamlining their publishing operations and workforce, and ordering staff to take leave.

Under Ten’s cost-cutting plan, staff with high leave balances or those whose work has been impacted will be asked to take a longer break after the Easter shutdown. From April 20, employees will be “encouraged” to work a nine-day fortnight until June.

“If any employee has appropriate leave balances that may supplement the 10th day with annual leave or potentially long service leave,” Ms McGarvey said.

Ten will also consider temporary part-time requests and increased flexibility around work hours.

McGarvey said its aim is to minimise both the temporary and permanent workforce impacts.

“We are focused on positioning the business for resilience and growth as the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic start to ease.”