“Quarters” knocks back sports role, Mal Walden takes aim at management

Former TEN Eyewitness News presenter Mal Walden has taken aim at TEN sidelining of his successor, Melbourne presenter Steve Quartermain.

“News directors are still calling the shots from Sydney and telling the people in Melbourne what and who they should watch and doing it just before someone goes to air, which is the most inopportune time to break bad news,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun. “It shows again the sort of character that Stephen is that he was able to go on despite the news.”

Quartermain said he was thankful for the public support but conceded, “All I can say is I am shattered, but what is done is done.

“I feel I still have a lot to offer, I have heaps of experience, I am full of energy, so I am looking forward to the next challenge, whatever that may be.”

Quartermain is understood to have been given the bad news on Tuesday night, before it became public late on Wednesday that Jennifer Keyte was quitting Seven to join TEN.

Keyte had been out of contract since the beginning of the year, offered another contract for the same salary. There were shocked faces at Seven when she advised of her departure after 15 years.

Quartermain is in discussion with TEN for another role but turned down a Sports presenting role on the same bulletin.

Industry chatter tips him for a radio role with 3AW.

Source: Sunday Herald Sun