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TEN axe falls on Ron Wilson, Bill Woods, Craig Smart.

Updated: TEN is discussing the future for Brisbane's Georgina Lewis as it moves towards solo-hosted News bulletins.

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More key names have been sacked by TEN as the network moves towards solo-hosted News bulletins.

Ron Wilson, who has been with TEN for thirty years, was given notice today. He joined as a newsreader on Good Morning Australia in 1982 but is best known for his TEN News presenting. He has most recently been presenter of TEN Morning News.

Bill Woods has been with TEN since 1989 including on Sports Tonight, RPM, Thursday Night Live and TEN News.

On the weekend TEN denied Bill Woods had been sacked -but it was an ominous  sign of what was to come. Woods also said at the time nobody had discussed his departure with him.

A TEN spokesperson today said, “As a result of changes in TEN’s News and Operations division, Ron Wilson and Bill Woods are leaving the company.

“Both are highly regarded and respected news presenters and reporters, and have been a key part of the TEN team for many years.

“Both Ron and Bill leave TEN with our best wishes. We sincerely thank them for their significant contribution to the company.”

Meanwhile TEN News presenter in WA Craig Smart will also exit, after joining from ABC late last year.

“As a result of the changes in TEN’s News and Operations division, Craig Smart is leaving the company,” a Network TEN spokesperson said.

“Craig is a highly regarded and respected news presenter, and has been a key part of the TEN team.

“Craig leaves TEN with our best wishes and sincere thanks for his significant contribution to the company.”

Earlier today TEN announced both Breakfast and TEN Morning News would wrap on November 30.

UPDATED: The Age reports: “Ten is still in discussions with Georgina Lewis (Brisbane) about her future role.

87 Responses

  2. That is it I swear to god that I am never watching ten news after what they have just done to Ron wilson I will also be putting it on my Facebook encouraging my friends to share it on their Facebook and encouraging them to not watch ten news anymore I will also be also saying on tens Facebook page how disgusting it is what they have done to Ron wilson one of the best news readers this country has ever seen and please everyone here please never watch ten news again

  4. That’s Crap!!!

    Ron Wilson was one of the Best!! I hope he joins the Ch9 news team. Please Ch9 sign him to a contract so he can do the Nine Morning News or Nine Afternoon News. He is easily one of the Best! news presenters out there!!

  5. If only Ron Wilson could read this – honestly its a blessing in disguise for you, Ron! My fingers are crossed that you’ll get the recognition you deserve.

    Hopefully Seven scoop him up and make him the 6.00pm presenter for Seven News, he would no doubt increase their ratings. Its about time we had another Ian Ross-esque newsreader at Seven.

    Bill Woods would do great on FOX Sports. Never really liked his newsreading.

  6. Despite the cut and paste job done on their releases, at least Ron, Bill and Craig were publicly thanked for their contribution to the network. Better than what poor Helen copped on Friday. Did these guys also get their security passes and computer logins cancelled today or will they be allowed to thank the audience on air who’ve loyally watched them and leave with some dignity?

    It’s no surprise that TEN are now the number four rated network behind Seven, Nine and ABC. I think they should start getting used to it. Sadly, nothing good coming out of there in any form any time soon.

  8. Wake up Ten. You gave the younger crowd “the keys to the study” in the form of Late News and that’s hardly been a success story. Now you cull virtually all your experienced presenters and reporters? Pathetic. Viewer loyalty towards presenters is a massive thing when it comes to news. A vast majority of viewers watch because of a presenter not the stories.

  9. Why would you axe the presenter of yourSydney 5pm bulliten which is more often than not the top rating night for the network and I s a long serving well respected presenter. It makes no sense!
    As for breakfast, that was the right decision!

  10. So sad. One-Tel all over again. There are a few very, very smart people on the board just watching all this happen. Maybe the independent directors could get some grown ups back in to run Ten like it used to be run – as a business, not a mini mogul’s play thing.

  11. “Woods also said at the time nobody had discussed his departure with him.”

    That’s what happens when you’re being made redundant, the person being cut is usually the last to know. 🙁

    Very sad days for all concerned, not just for those who have been sacked but those who are left behind to try and hold together what’s left.

  14. and Mal Waldens closer In Melbourne tonight “that is Ten news, probably more could be said, but now is not the time”…he then went on to thank Melanie Davies who was hosting with him tonight, which I thought was nice. He’s a class act is Mal.

  18. Although I like the younger crowd of news readers on TEN with the likes of Kathryn Robinson, Hamish MacDonald, Matt Doran & Natarsha Belling, I grew up with names like Bill Woods, Sandra Sully, and Tracy Spicer. I only know of Ron Wilson through this site and his fans comments in the various posts and TV lounge.

    You don’s see this in the US, the mature newscasters are respected and stay on until retirement. TEN have no respect for their long time newscasters, and I wish them well in and hope that they get treated better elsewhere.

  21. I’ll really miss Craig Smart the whole Perth team works so well together. I also enjoyed Ron Wilson when he used to do the news updates for The Circle.

    So sad to be fired before Christmas. Hopefully we can see them again on another network.

  23. Ok im officially pissed off! Why why why is Ten getting rid of some of Ten new’s best talent?? I mean in time ten will rebound and then what? Oh we have to hire more people! Surley there were other things around the business where costs could be cut without killing off the faces of network Ten! I’m a Perth ten news watcher and i have loved the professionalism, the personality and the team bonding that Craig had brought to the ten news team in Perth and im really gonna miss him! Goodluck Craig and to be honest Ten doesn’t deserve you.

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