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Report: John Stephens proposed Programming role

Media reports claim John Stephens at one stage proposed assuming “total responsibility for all things Programming” at TEN.

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Ten LogoThere is more drama behind the scenes than on television lately, with most of it centering on the legal battle between Seven and TEN, concerning veteran programmer John Stephens.

Today The Australian reveals explosive email communications from Stephens to TEN CEO Hamish McLennan, at one stage suggesting he would take control of TEN programming from Beverley McGarvey.

Stephens proposes being in the job for two years until June 2016 and assuming “total responsibility for all things Programming” except News (under Peter Meakin) with Beverley McGarvey to remain “a team player.”

“If I was to accept this role it would be [A]: I love a challenge and [B] would be handsomely rewarded for at least the next couple of years to make up for the loss of lifestyle over that period,” he wrote.

Later he wrote of fixing “following the disappointing debut of Secrets and Lies.”

He later proposed a part time role as Director of Scheduling/Acquisitions with McGarvey “in something like her current position and running everything else Programming.”

The Australian says Stephens also discussed the move with Peter Meakin. It even alleges he proposed working at home “on the quiet” if there was any gardening leave to be served after parting Seven.

He reportedly accepted $400,000 to work at TEN, before Seven tripled his current salary of around $350,000.

The leaking of emails demonstrate the depths that have emerged over the fracas, and contrast dramatically to suggestions Stephens made a quick decision whilst on medication.

Beverley McGarvey is currently on maternity leave from TEN.

Meanwhile Fairfax reports Seven is understood to be securing David Leckie from leaving for another network.

It is believed Chairman Kerry Stokes, who personally lobbied John Stephens to stay at Seven, is determined to prevent any chance of Leckie defecting to a rival beyond the expiry of a non-compete clause in June.

Leckie’s new role is yet to be decided, but sources said he had become more actively involved in the day-to-day running of Seven over the past three months.

8 Responses

  1. Here’s a completely different viewpoint: Do these aging and semi-retired execs, all replaced at Seven anyway, know what FTA TV will look like in 5 years and how the business model will work? They all thrived in an entirely different media environment and I’m not convinced looking back is the solution for TEN. They might be better off looking forward and find the next generation of TV execs. Controversial I know!

  2. @ Secret Squirrel, I very infrequently concur with your annotations but this time I’ve got to hand it to you.

    David Leckie, John Stephens and Peter Meakin are truthfully the unsurpassed television executives Australian media has been privileged to have at the wheel of their own specialties. In June 2012 when it was announced that Don Voelte was taking over Mr Leckie’s role, I was bewildered because some media outlets reported that that Mr Leckie was stood down while others reported that he stepped down. If I could converse directly with Kerry Stokes, I would tell him to pay Mr Leckie five times his existing remuneration and come to the same arrangement he had when he employed him over a decade ago. Mr Leckie’s abilities are inexhaustible.

  3. @maxxdude – yes, it’s perfectly ok for any of the networks to offer to employ people after their contracts expire (or to buy out their contract). It’s also perfectly ok for any of the networks to want to try to hang on to people that they value.

    I don’t know why you feel it necessary to have a dig at Seven on every article that mentions them.

  4. Are the highly paid executives at Seven so doubting their ability to continue to achieve high ratings in a competitive market that they need to triple John Stephens pay to stay and get him to revoke on an already sealed deal with Ten, as well as buy David Leckie out for the rest of his life? Seems excessive really.

  5. What a mess! TEN have every right to be angry, they have a signed contract with Stevens. Seven have ever right to be angry, Stevens told TEN he would work on the quiet for TEN while he was still under contract with them. TEN have every right to be angry, Seven allegedly induced him to break his contract with them. Seven have every right to be angry, Meakin was secretly involved in poaching Stevens behind their backs. Beverley mcgarvey has every right to be angry, Stevens tried to take over her programming job while she was on maternity leave. (lots of potential issues there) The only one that is not angry is Stevens, his salary has tripled but his reputation is in tatters. Everyone is damaged by this, no winners at all! Well possibly Nine!

  6. Shall be interesting to watch if Beverely McGavery wishes to return to Ten given the public shenanigans !
    Image if Stephens does not come over – it may leave Ten without any Programming knowledge and management.

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