★★★★★ 0/5

David Mott quits Network TEN

“I am proud of the bold programming decisions we have made .....It’s been a great ride, and I’ve loved every second of it."

87
Leave a comment

Statement from Network TEN:

TEN Programming Chief David Mott has resigned after 16 years with the network.

The move follows the repeated failure of new programmes and TEN’s ratings falling behind the ABC last week.

“David has had an extraordinary career at TEN over the past 16 years,” Network Ten Chief Executive, James Warburton, said.

“He has been a fantastic asset for the network and we are sorry to see him go. David’s legacy at Ten includes landmark television programs such as MasterChef, Australian Idol, Rove Live, The Biggest Loser, Thank God You’re Here, The Project and Big Brother, and – more recently – Offspring, Puberty Blues, MasterChef All Stars and Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms.”

Mott said: “It’s a sad day when you say goodbye to friends and colleagues, and leave a place you hold so dear. But it’s a great day when you take stock on what has been achieved over 16 fantastic years.

“I am proud of the bold programming decisions we have made at Ten over that time, because without risk there is less chance of success.

“In a job where you live and die by the numbers, perhaps I’ve been luckier than most. It’s been a great ride, and I’ve loved every second of it. I leave behind a focused and committed creative team and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Mott had always been perceived as the public face of TEN, despite other CEOs including Grant Blackley above him, regularly quoted in media interviews alongside other network CEOs.

His ability to create bold programming reached a peak with shows like MasterChef when the industry questioned a cooking show as a replacement for Big Brother.

But in the last 18 months a new board and new management has challenged TEN’s programming direction.

Mott remained at TEN under new CEO James Warburton and acting CEO Lachlan Murdoch despite an overhaul of executives across the last 12-18 months.

Beverley McGarvey continues as Head of Programming and assumes Mott’s responsibilities on an acting basis.

This post updates.

87 Responses

  1. Mr Mott is a good guy. Was a bold programmer but was pressured and hamstrung from those above him really pulling the strings.

    Will Warburton and Murdoch step down? Will the board of TEN step up

    As predicted:

    TEN 85 August 21, 2012 at 9:17 pm –

    The honeymoon is over for L.M. Surely the past 12 months has demonstrated he has no credibility or ability to run a television network. He should step down.
    Mr Warburton’s probation is also passed. Great potential, but no runs on the board in over 8 months.
    However neither will be leaving soon.
    A scapegoat will emerge in the next week or so.
    The blurb will read “xxxxxxxx has left to pursue other opportunities……..etc etc”
    Watch this space

  2. I am probably gonna have my say restricted for my views, however, i think it was time to go.

    He had 16 years to make TEN a power house and never did. Ok he had some hit shows, but in 16 years there are not too many.

    I know its not just him its everyone at the Network but still.

    Ten are a very very average network lead by very average people.

  3. This is a sad day at Ten!
    Doesn’t anyone realise ever since lachlan murdoch took over Ten has totally bombed?? I think he should be sacked A.s.a.p!

  4. Also…..David Mott was an early supporter of TV Tonight, taking on board reader comments when others dismissed social media role (and trust me, some still do). Acknowledged several times in several interviews.

  5. David Mott did good thing’s at TEN but i think he was pushed by CEO Lachlan Murdoch who has no idea how to run a network properly.
    Remember Murdoch did not want AFL so he axed it & now missed out on NRL rights. Breakfast is a waste of time & should be replaced with cartoons for the kids at least more people will be watching.

    Shame Lachlan Murdoch shame

  6. Had to happen. Sure he’s had some success, but even when Ten has a good thing going for them the programming department managed to turn them into failures. TBYG and NCIS come to mind.
    Your Gen was a hit before being moved between timeslots and days. NCIS has been repeated to death and now a timeslot change plus holding back episodes after initially fasttracking. Even Masterchef, the decision to split the finale and put the Renovators in between was a monumental stuff up and both shows suffered. The lure of Masterchef has now waned.

    And the crap Ten has been putting up lately should never have even made it to our screens. The Shire, Lara Bingle, Everybody Dance Now, Don’t Tell The Bride, I Will Survive, YTT…He’s responsible for these and any person could have seen they would flop.
    The Bolt Report and Breakfast were probably a little out of his control. He had to go, but Warburton and Murdoch are as much to blame for what’s wrong with Ten.

  7. In a week or two’s time, I’d like to read a one-on-one interview with David Mott where he turns off the spin, cuts the BS, and finally gives it to us straight.

    To the people who are saying that the current programming problems are not his fault but that he deserves all of the credit for the past decisions that worked – you can’t have it both ways. Either he is fully responsible for the good and the bad, or he is partially responsible for both.

    He may have had less cash to burn and been hamstrung by people above him but he’ll be remembered for stupid things like wedging The Renovators into the MC final and premiering EDN on the last day of the olympics and then not being brutal enough to fix it.

    Murdoch has a lot to answer for but Ten’s slide started before he came on board and took to it with his razor.

  8. Given that most of Ten’s decline only occured once James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch bought into the company, dismissed the previous management and then Murdoch became acting CEO and then Chairman of the Board and then embarking on such initiatives as hiring Bolt and Henry (and his wife)… perhaps it is unfair to let go the one executive who has been there 16 years and been there through a more successful time and could probably have taught Murdoch and co. a thing or two.

  9. Maybe they saw the margin abc1 bean ten by last night, this morning and that was the last straw. We sack you or are you going to quit?

    Most of the stuff we have loved about ten was during his 16 years. Then the multi digital channels arrived it all changed. TEN HD, ONE HD. Bad for business

  10. For most of Mott’s tenure Channel 10 ran a successful targeted low cost network that was the most profitable of the three commercial networks.

    In recent years they have made mistakes trying to grapple with the changes and increased costs that digital technology has brought. One HD sports, moving Neighbours to 11 and trying to go up against 7&9 in evening News and Current Affairs (apart from The Project) all failed.

    This also provoked Lachlan Murdoch to take over and start cost cutting, ending competition with Foxtel and instead trying to go head to head against 7 & 9 at Breakfast and with reality TV in evenings during the current US summer. Which has failed badly in the last month.

  11. Murdoch will be probably ask his dear friend who knows more about every topic than any other living person, (Andrew Bolt) to head programming .Then they could show hours of shows dedicated to the Liberal Party.

  12. @ outtheback, I’m also with you.

    To actually think Ten CEO James Warburton was seriously going to be Seven Network CEO at one point is crazy. I thank TPTB for that never happening because the damage that could have been inflicted would be beyond irreparable.

  13. It all started going downhill when they tried to do that 2.5 hrs of news. Then came the pile of trash TV commonly found on Seven and Nine.

    I liked TEN when it was more youth oriented, although ratings weren’t as high, at least it had a point of differentiation.

    Their attempt to become another Seven/Nine failed miserably. It was a good attempt but viewers were already invested in other programs.

  15. I know this is a tough comment’s crowd, but the grave dancing and sweeping generalisations here make me a little queasy. One man alone doesn’t make or “kill” a channel. I don’t know David Mott personally, but believe he is a ripping bloke, who was subject to the same whirlwind of politics and earth shifts that any other programmer has to face.

    Sure he’s made a series of errors that have had massive consequences of late, but was also responsible for some major hits and innovations over a long tenure.

  17. I completely agree with you David, Ten’s woes extend beyond Mr Mott. At this present time however, it seems like DM is the only expendable person. Mr Mott shouldn’t be the only person punished because of sins of the fathers.

    In due time we will find out whether a new programming chief can remedy the problems of Network Ten.

  18. I look forward to his book about what has been going on at Ten for the past two years. I am also keen to see what he might achieve with a decent budget and a competent board behind him.

  19. I agree with you David. Mott was not the only person making decisions over at Ten.

    Mott was at Ten for 16 years and responsible for super hits like Idol, BB, TBL, Rove and MCA.

    But in the past 18 months we’ve seen Ten go overboard with reality shows aimed at the 16-39 market.

    With the exception of MCA, all of them have been dismal failures one way or another.

    Renovators, EDN, Shire, Bingle, DTTBride, IWS, Class of….all have failed in the ratings.

    And let’s not forget one reality show that didn’t even get off the ground – Don’t stop believing and I dread to think what Recipe4Riches and The Audition are going to be like.

    Someone’s head should have rolled over the past 18 months of disasters at Ten – and that person IMO should have been Murdoch.

    I’ve stated this before but the last company Murdoch was in charge of was OneTel.

    ’nuff said.

  20. Good riddance, 16 years in one place in this industry is way too long. Poor decisions followed by public comments lacking credibility come back to bite you hard. Lets not forget that he was primarily responsible for the failure of The Renovators and EDN, thats around $40m of errors….simply unforgiveable. To survive in this game “you are only as good as your last result”

  22. I worked under David Mott for nine years. He is the most approachable, creative, forward thinking, hard working tv exec around. A truly decent bloke in a world of sharks. I hope Motty is remembered for what he brought to the industry & not for the last week of ratings. The people he inspired, the everyday tv office workers – those he took the time to acknowledge, involve, and give praise to when it was due (rare in this industry) – are grateful. I wish him well in his next endeavour. Susie Riddell

  23. Disappointed. I suspect David Mott was actually the only good thing left at Ten.

    David, I will very much miss your interviews with David. They were always fascinating.

  24. Hi David, that was the point of my post..

    There’s been a lot of interesting decisions going on over there and i would think not all programming decisions vested with the Ten programming team.

Leave a Reply