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Today exec producer switches to Nine News

After weeks of speculation and network denials, Today show exec producer Neil Breen has quit, to become an investigative Sports producer.

2013-11-27_2317The news in breakfast television land just keeps on coming.

After weeks of speculation and network denials, Today show executive producer Neil Breen has quit the show, to move to Nine News Sydney as an investigative Sports producer.

The former editor of the Sunday Telegraph has been at the centre of rumours about the show. Some involved cast tensions on set, temper outbursts and more recently a lawyer hired to apparently deflect a print article on it all.

Breen was appointed to the television role 12 months ago but more recently former head of news and current affairs Mark Calvert was installed as support.

Nine News boss Darren Wick told staff yesterday, “Neil came to me this week with his decision to stand down as the Executive Producer of the Today show, a role he has thrown his heart and soul into for the past 12 months.

“His passion, commitment to hard work and outstanding journalistic instincts will play a significant role as Nine expands our News broadcasts across the day, and across the country.

“The Nine News Sports teams are the best in the business, and bringing Neil aboard – already boasting a Walkley Award for his coverage of Sport – adds a new dimension to our reporting.

“I would personally like to thank Neil for his contribution to the Today show. Running a breakfast television program is the most demanding role there is in commercial TV. Not for one second, did Neil walk away from its toughest challenges. The record will show that Today is finishing 2013 in strong shape. We’ve beaten Sunrise along the East Coast, in Sydney and in Melbourne to win the ratings year. And our gains in Brisbane have been the best in a decade.”

In recent months however, Today‘s gains on Sunrise have weakened, most notably since Samantha Armytage’s arrival, with the Seven brekkie show still winning nationally.

Mark Calvert replaces Breen effective immediately.

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