Sydney Weekender axed as James Warburton’s Seven shake-up continues

Twenty-five years on air wasn’t enough to save a Seven institution from management cost cutting.

Former test bowler Mike Whitney has been the face of Sydney Weekender for more than two decades. Picture: Supplied.

Sydney Weekender and a number of state-based travel programs are the latest to be axed by Seven West Media as part of a major cost-cutting exercise.

Melbourne’s The Great Weekend, Queensland Weekender, The Great Day Out and Creek to Coast in Brisbane and Sydney Weekender will all cease broadcasting, as Seven looks to focus its resources on “where they will make the most impact”.

The decision comes days after Seven axed its current affairs program Today Tonight in Adelaide and Perth and two months after Seven cancelled flagship program, Sunday Night.

It marks the end of an era for Sydney Weekender and longstanding host former cricketer Mike Whitney, who has been hosting the show since it began 25 years ago.

Seven West Media managing director and chief executive James Warburton, who was appointed to his role in August, said all programs had made a valuable contribution to Seven.

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“The programs that are not continuing have all made a valuable contribution to Seven, particularly Sydney Weekender which has been a Sydney weekend institution for 25 years,” Mr Warburton said.

“However, we will continue to make decisions that support our content led growth strategy and focus resources where they will make the most impact.”

Episodes already produced will continue to run through 2020 but no new episodes will be made.

Since Mr Warburton’s appointment, the company has made a number of decisions relating to its structure, programming and assets. Mr Warburton cut his direct reports from 17 to eight, while his broader business restructure estimated to have resulted in about 180 redundancies.

Outside of axing the travel programs, Today Tonight and Sunday Night, Seven has entered an agreement to sell its magazine arm, Pacific, to German-owned Bauer Media. Seven is also looking to buy regional broadcaster Prime Media and sell and its Western Australian radio assets Redwave to Southern Cross Media. All acquisitions and sales are subject to regulatory approval.