How Channel Seven staff were told they would lose their jobs while Nine Entertainment workers awaited their fate
Television insiders at Channel Seven have spoken candidly about their ‘cold’ and ‘brutal’ sackings, after a week of massive staff cuts and redundancies.
The revolving door continues to turn at Seven News’ Brisbane studios, just days after 150 Seven West Media staff were also hit.
In a letter to staff, veteran operations manager Craig Dyer has since announced his immediate resignation after more than two decades with the network.
The news comes as Nine Entertainment also announced 200 job cuts across Australia.
Mr Dyer’s sudden departure came in the wake of forced redundancies at Channel 7’s Mount Coot-Tha studios in Brisbane, including staff overseen by Mr Dyer, it reported The courier post.
Among those shown the door were two cameramen, a long-serving technical staffer, a news producer and other behind-the-scenes staff.
One of the cameramen was told he was being fired while on assignment.
Halfway through the shoot, the cameraman was ordered to return to the station, where he was told he was being released.
A cameraman from Seven News Brisbane was suspended while on assignment. Pictured is Channel 7’s Mount Coot-Tha studios
Popular Brisbane weatherman Paul Burt (pictured) was fired in the redundancies, with staff only finding out through the media
Employees whose jobs were safe were informed of the cuts during a meeting on Wednesday.
An insider described the layoffs in Brisbane as “brutal” and “cold” and left the mood sombre at the Mount Coot-Tha studios.
The insider also said that the staff only heard about the ousting of popular weatherman Paul Burt in the media, which was not mentioned in internal communications.
Nine Entertainment also announced last week that it would be cutting 200 jobs across Australia. Concerned employees are still waiting to hear whether their jobs are safe.
Only 38 jobs are expected to be cut from television news and current affairs programmes nationwide, with the network’s ‘Brisbane favourites’ unlikely to be included in the latest wave of job cuts.
The remainder of the job losses are expected to impact digital and head office functions.
Calls have been made for Nine Network’s top earners to take a pay cut, including Love Island host Sophie Monk (pictured)
Talking Point Nine talents are also in the firing line, but not from network bosses.
The announcement of the redundancies prompted calls on social media for Nine’s highest earners to take a pay cut or be made redundant so that other jobs within the network can be saved.
Among the top-earning shows is Today host Karl Stefanovic, who reportedly earns $1.5 million annually.
Love Island Australia presenter Sophie Monk is also coming under scrutiny for her high income, which is around $800,000 a year.
