Popular Seven presenter sacked in network’s mass round of redundancies

A fan favourite TV reporter – who once went viral for his heroic live cross – has reportedly been let go by the embattled network.

A popular Seven presenter has lost his job in the network’s mass round of redundancies in an attempt to cut costs.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, weather reporter Paul Burt, who became a fan favourite during his 11-year stint broadcasting for both the Gold Coast and Brisbane stations, has been sacked.

He is just one of around 150 staff who has reportedly been let go from the embattled network in recent days.

Burt was a very familiar face on Queensland television, also hosting his own fishing and adventure show, 7Mate’s Step Outside with Paul Burt.

His television career first launched at Channel 10, before he made the jump to Nine. He ended up at Seven eight years later.

Burt went viral in 2022 after famously interrupting his own live cross to race into the ocean at Surfer’s Paradise and rescue a struggling young boy.

The clip went viral. Picture: Seven

The mass redundancies – part of a wider cost-cutting exercise – were announced this week.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, they were not limited to any single division – with journalists across all sectors, as well as sales and marketing positions, all on the chopping block.

The network’s news leadership team also experienced a major shake-up last week, with a new Director of News in Sydney, as well as new executive producers for both Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise named.

Meanwhile, back in April, News and Current Affairs director Craig McPherson, managing director James Warburton, commercial director Bruce McWilliam, and Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn all exited the company.

Sunrise weather presenter Sam Mac with Burt.

Just days ago, veteran Seven reporter Robert Ovadia confirmed that he’d been sacked following allegations of “inappropriate conduct” towards a woman.

“Yes I’ve been sacked and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time,” Ovadia told The Australian on Friday.

The Sydney-based reporter had worked at Seven for 23 years.

Earlier this month, a network spokeswoman told NCA Newswire that Ovadia was “on leave.”

“Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Ovadia,” the spokeswoman confirmed.

It all comes amid a challenging period for Seven, with the controversy around Bruce Lehrmann’s Spotlight interview dominating headlines in recent months.

It was revealed in court that Seven had paid Lehrmann’s rent, $10,000 in Thai massages and other wild expenses in their bid to secure the exclusive interview.

News.com.au Political Editor Sam Maiden reports that the ABC’s Four Corners is now believed to be preparing a major investigation into workplace culture at the network.

Originally published as Popular Seven presenter sacked in network’s mass round of redundancies