No Sunday Night on new-look Seven as Warburton wields axe

James Warburton has fired the starting gun on the overhaul of the Seven Network.

New Seven CEO James Warburton Picture: Nikki Short

James Warburton has fired the starting gun on the overhaul of the Seven Network and is now in a race to land a newly created chief content officer who will be the key to remaking the network’s program schedule for next year.

The Seven West Media chief executive axed expensive flagship current affairs program Sunday Night from next year’s schedule and announced a drastic cut in the number of executives ­reporting to him as part of a plan to save as much as $20m and refresh its programming.

The restructure, foreshadowed last week in The Australian, is part of a major overhaul of the network, with industry sources expecting several other shows to be cut and some revamped ahead of new programming likely in the second half of 2020.

Mr Warburton’s direct reports will be slashed from 17 to eight ­executives, with five, including head of programming Angus Ross, news boss Craig ­McPherson and Seven Studios’ Therese ­Hegarty, to report through a new chief content officer yet to be announced. Observers said the new role would be the key to reviving Seven’s flagging ratings fortunes, which have leaned heavily on its Sunrise breakfast show, evening news and AFL broadcasts.

Essence Media analyst Steve Allen said the network had the highest share of viewers over 50 years old, who were loyal but less desired by advertisers.

“They are not competing well and are not seen to be competing well in the ratings,” Mr Allen said.

Mr Warburton previously had been critical of the lack of investment in new programming and Seven’s failure to counter the ratings phenomena launched by the Nine Network that damaged long-running shows such as My Kitchen Rules and House Rules.

Mr Allen predicted several shows would be axed but viewers and advertisers were ­unlikely to see Mr Warburton’s stamp on Seven’s programming until the second half of 2020 at the earliest because of the long lead time in approving and producing shows.

The restructure will include big cuts in the Melbourne office aimed at ending duplication. But Melbourne will become the head office for sport, with Lewis Martin promoted to replace Saul Shtein, who left recently, as head of sport.

Mr Warburton is also set to announce a new head of marketing to replace Ana Bacic and a chief digital officer to oversee information technology, broadcast operations and Pacific Magazines.

Mr Warburton was appointed to replace Tim Worner in August, returning to the network he left to be chief executive of Network Ten, V8 Supercars and most recently APN Outdoor. He said on Wednesday the restructure was designed to put content at the heart of the network.

“This new, flatter structure will cement our position as Australia’s leading media group with content at the heart of the business, digital growth maximised, duplication of roles removed in all areas and operating efficiencies implemented,” Mr Warburton said. “We have had to make some tough decisions in order to build the network for the future. I take very seriously any decision that impacts our people and I am grateful for the loyalty and commitment shown by our team over many years.”

Sunday Night, launched as a challenger to Nine’s long-running 60 Minutes, was the first program to go. It failed to consistently overhaul 60 Minutes in the ratings and it has been under a cloud since Mr Warburton’s appointment.