TEN dumps TEN Late News and Sports Tonight double
The long-running late night double of TEN Late News and Sports Tonight will end, but Sandra Sully remains and Sports Tonight is merged into evening bulletins.
- Published by David Knox
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More changes at TEN.
The long-running late night double of TEN Late News and Sports Tonight will end on Friday September 30th.
TEN is dropping the pair, but retaining Sandra Sully for its local Sydney bulletin and merging the Sports Tonight brand within its evening bulletins.
Sports Tonight is also axed as a stand-alone show on ONE.
Sully will replace Deb Knight and join Bill Woods at the TEN News desk in Sydney. This means once again, the rest of the nation will miss out on seeing the popular host who had only recently returned to TEN Late News after the failed 6:30pm local news. That short stint notwithstanding, Sully has been the face of the network’s late news since 1995, famously fronting the live coverage of the 9/11 tragedy.
Sully said: “I’ve enjoyed every moment of my time as anchor of TEN’s Late News, having had the opportunity to break some of Australia and indeed the world’s biggest news stories in that time. I’m thrilled that TEN is serious about investing in quality news programming and I welcome the opportunity to be a part of this next exciting phase.”
The Sports Tonight brand will appear within earlier news bulletins around the country with Brad McEwan presenting in the Sydney News. In the newly-announced 90 minute bulletin Rob Canning will present an extended segment. TEN has also announced Toyota has re-signed as a sponsor of the brand.
The ending of Sports Tonight as a stand-alone show had been rumoured ever since interim CEO Lachlan Murdoch initiated a cost review of the network. Its ending comes the day before TEN’s final AFL broadcast.
It confirms the recent tweet by one of the senior reporters that the show would be ending with the end of the AFL deal.
The change also breaks up the presenting duo of Sully and McEwan whose relaxed banter has frequently been noted by viewers, and featured in fan-made YouTube clips of the pair.
A TEN statement says, “These developments, along with the recent announcement of an extended 90-minute national weekend new bulletin are part of TEN’s on-going strategy to deliver audiences a comprehensive news service of the highest calibre day-in and day-out.”
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81 Responses
From a cost cutting point of view, this is a sensible move and should’ve happened a couple years ago, as what Sports Tonight does, is covered by sports news on One HD. They will probably repeat 6.30 PM or 7 Pm Project.
for those asking “what will they play at 10:30?” well I would think the lower rated shows would go there, instead of just taking them off all together like they have done this year. shows that have a final season to play like Medium, shows they yanked half way through like Blue Bloods and so on. when a show is yanked people do ask “where can it go?” now they have extra room in their schedule, and people say “oh just move it to One, or Eleven” but now they don’t have to!
The way Ten’s going, there will be soon no news to restructure…
I remember working in TV when Sports Tonight debuted. All the editors and cammos would wet their pants over how cutting edge the production quality was. Gee it went downhill very quickly and now it’s ending like this. Very sad, such great potential there.
I’ve watched Tens Late News with Sandra Sully since it started in 1995. It’s a sad to see Ten make such a ridiculous decision. Poor ratings? There’s been occasions over the past few months when the late news has rated over 400,000 – that’s not far behind the Tens News at 5. If programmers would have put the program on at a regular 10:30pm timeslot it would sustained a solid audience as Sandra has a very loyal audience. As for the 90min bulletin – its way too long. Hopefully Deb Knight is retained by the network. She’s a class act.
I think the main story is completely being missed here.
How long has Ten had a late night news service? At least 20 years no?
This is kinda a huge deal – Australia’s last commercial late night news service coming to an end….
I love a news program which has sports news separate, so I can turn it off then!
(Absolutely no interest in any sports)
Often when watching the ABC news I’ll leave the room because of sports news, and then miss the weather.
Very annoying, but thank goodness for live rewind.
Love Sandra on 10 by the way!
What a stupid decision. So TEN axes late news but keeps the woeful 6.30 and 7pm project. I can’t believe this.
I say Sandra should co-host Breakfast next year with Brad as the sport presenter.
Seriously, I can’t say this enough:
Lachlan, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Stop ruining Ten with your bs.
Most days their “news” has a segment where Andrew Bolt comes on and tells us how horrible the ALP/Greens/Immigrants are. How can the claim any credibility?
Sad to see the end of Ten’s late news (and Sandra Sully from the Melbourne screens again). It means from October there will be no late night news on the three commercial networks, and we will have to watch the bulletin on SBS or ABC News 24 instead.
thats a real shame Ten- Sully/McEwan are a pleasure to watch, its my nightly routine to catch the late news,what a stupid decision
that sux, i finish work at 10pm so this was the only news i could watch really.
One of the other networks should jump on this. All these late news viewers aren’t going to want to go to Lateline or ABC News 24.
This is sad, I ofter catch the late news on TEN but I must say since Craig Fergison has been on I’ve been watching that at 10:30, maybe that’s the problem?
So the question is does this bring Letterman forward in direct compertition with Fergison at the same time? Hope not as most nights they have good guests on both. I really wish TEN would replay Fergison after Letterman on the main channel so you get to see both.
And so much for their grand plan of a 24/7 sports channel and extended evening news coverage.
What on earth are they going to replace it with? Law and Order repeats?
Seriously, what content do they have to air at 10:30pm Every weeknight?
yep, and the 90 minute news at 5pm (weekdays) has worked well for Ten this year. And i’m sure that the new 90 weekend edition will sink too.
A shame that the Late News is going to go off air A big pathetic decision by Murdoch and his team of ”big thinkers”.
The big question is – what will they use to fill five hours of prime time slots per week?
I can’t imagine they have any expensive new content planned such as drama or comedy, so it is likely to be more repeats or American lifestyle programs. Sigh…
I love Sandra, her newsreading style, and the way she signs off bulletins… Just last Friday she signe off saying “thanks for sticking around…, cheers”.
And I too love the awkward Sully-McEwan moment!
Will TEN ever stop restructuring there News and Current affairs programs?? Seriously!
So whats happening with Deb Knight? Did she get offered another job?
so will this mean the 10:30 slot would be open to play shows that are lower rated? instead of taking them off all together and play them out if they don’t rate? if so thats great news cause they’ll be like 7 and 9, playing more shows instead of wasting that hour. I don’t reckon Letterman would go at 10:30 since Eleven has Craig Fergison at that time. perhaps shows like Medium and Blue Bloods could go there? or encore shows from the previous nights?
Noooooo…now where will I turn when I need my nightly dose of Sully-McEwan awkwardness?
Its a real shame to see it go. TEN really has lost the plot.
Comprehensive news service of the highest calibre?
Last time I happened to watch Ten’s afternoon/evening news, it was filled with promos for other Ten shows (e.g. 6:30), and some sort of TT/ACA-like exposé story on weight loss or somethingorother. Any actual news (see also: ABC) was very light-on. Highest calibre indeed…