Network 10 is set to undergo a massive restructure, leaving a number of high-profile journalists out of a job, including Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Natarsha Belling and Tim Bailey, B&T understands.
As first reported on The Sydney Morning Herald, the restructure was announced to staff on Tuesday.
As part of the restructuring, the presentation of the weekday 5.00pm to 6.30pm 10 News First bulletins will be centralised in Sydney and Melbourne.
A Network 10 spokesperson told B&T: “Network 10 today informed staff about a restructuring of its News and Operations department.
“Network 10 will also move to a national weekday weather model. A new national meteorologist will be announced soon.
“10 News First bulletins will remain locally produced and will continue to employ local reporters, news crews and operations staff in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
National weekend bulletins are not affected, while The Project also remains unaffected. The changes are expected to be effective from Monday September 14.
There will also be some changes to the presentation of Studio 10, with some on-air presenters, journalists and operations staff will leave Network 10. It is understood Kennerley and Belling are two of the affected journalists.
Network 10’s Network Director of News Content, Ross Dagan, said: “The decision to make these changes was a very difficult one and I want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to our friends and colleagues who will leave the network.
“It is in no way a reflection of their talent, contribution or passion. They are exceptionally gifted people. We are incredibly proud of them and their work. There is no doubt they will be missed.
“These painful changes reflect the state of the media industry in recent years and the need for all media companies to achieve new efficiencies.
“While our viewers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will see some on-air changes, we will continue to produce local news and employ local reporters, camera operators and production staff in those cities,” he said.
Beverley McGarvey, Chief Content Officer and EVP, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, said: “These decisions are not being made lightly, however, they are essential to future-proofing our business.”
A redundancy program has commenced in Network 10’s News and Operations department.
While 10’s ratings across free-to-air and SVOD have grown during COVID-19, the wider economic impact has seen a 22 per cent dive across TV ad revenue, according to ThinkTV data.
However, a source told the SMH the cuts were not just a result of COVID.
“All media companies have been looking at their cost base over the past five to 10 years to find savings and we’re no different,” they said.
