Channel 10 sacks chief sports presenter and Wallabies icon as turmoil continues at Australian broadcaster

Channel 10 has said goodbye to Australian rugby legend Matt Burke.

Amid the media furor that has engulfed Australian sport of late, it appears Channel 10 is also making changes to their broadcast teams and has fired the former Wallabies legend.

It comes as Channel Seven and Channel Nine have both made changes to their AFL broadcast teams, with Leigh Matthews joining the exodus at Nine, while Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson have also moved from Channel Nine to Channel Seven.

According to the Daily TelegraphBurk, who won the Rugby World Cup with Australia in 1999, learned of his decision last Friday and his role as chief sports presenter ends in December.

It will end his 11-year spell at the broadcaster, after Burke first joined Channel 10 in October 2013, initially presenting 10 News First in Sydney.

Burke has been presenting sports news bulletins on the network ever since.

“After more than a decade, 10 News First Sydney sports presenter Matt Burke will leave the network at the end of this year,” a Channel 10 spokesperson said.

‘Matt joined Network 10 in 2013 as expert commentator for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia and a few months later was appointed as the regular sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney.

‘Matt fronted all of Network 10’s Rugby broadcasts from 2013 to 2019 and was an integral part of the Network’s live coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.’

“Matt is one of the most versatile and experienced sports presenters on Australian television and his passion and enthusiasm for sport, but especially rugby, is remarkable.

‘His infectious love for sports, great sense of humor and optimism will be missed in the editorial office.

“Matt leaves Network 10 with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future.”

Burke reportedly declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Telegraph.

The outlet reports that it has been in contact with a senior official at the broadcaster, who had claimed on anonymity that Burke had been mistreated and that colleagues were “upset” by his departure.

‘He was treated terribly. Everyone loves Matty at Channel 10,” the source told the Daily Telegraph.

‘He is the ultimate television professional and popular in the newsroom. We’re basically devastated.’

More to follow…