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Seven restructures under CEO James Warburton, Sunday Night axed.

New Seven CEO reveals huge internal restructure, job losses and Sunday Night axed.

  • Sunday Night axed
  • 8 new company divisions under restructure

Seven CEO James Warburton is overhauling the network with 8 new divisions under a “flatter structure” which will remove duplicate roles and see major cost savings.

Seven will appoint 3 new roles: a Chief Content Officer to oversee Programming and Production, and a new Chief Marketing Officer to oversee Publicity, and a Chief Digital Officer -names are yet to be announced. All three key will report to Warburton. Other departments will include Finance & HR.

Sunday Night will also be axed as part of the cuts.

Craig McPherson, Seven Network Director of News and Public Affairs said, “After 11 years at the forefront of our Public Affairs offering it is with much sadness I announce the closing down of the day to day operations of Sunday Night: True Stories. It has been a very tough decision in a very challenging TV landscape.

“I want to thank the exceptional team of reporters; producers; camera operators; editors and many others who have helped produce more than 500 hours of quality public affairs programming over its lifetime.

“The program itself will remain on-air until the end of the year. A small production team will stay on to produce existing product over this time.

“I wish all those leaving us nothing but the best for the future.”

Under CEO Warburton, Seven West Media is reducing duplicate roles in all areas to create “a leaner and more agile company” with a content-led strategy.

“With the new organisational structure, we have focussed on simplifying the SWM organisation to enable our content led growth strategy. This new flatter structure will cement our position as Australia’s leading media group with content at the heart of the business, digital growth maximised, duplication of roles removed in all areas and operating efficiencies implemented,” Warburton said.

“We have had to make some tough decisions in order to build the network for the future. I take very seriously any decision that impacts our people and I am grateful for the loyalty and commitment shown by our team over many years.  Anyone impacted by changes will have dedicated support and respect throughout the process of transition”.

Since Warburton undertook the role several months ago following the departure of Tim Worner, he has indicated major restructuring without impacting on Programming.

Seven is not detailing staff retrenchments at this stage but major savings will mean significant job losses. Staff are being told internally of changes this morning.

Yesterday corporate spokesperson Stephen Browning announced his departure while Sports boss Saul Shtein was recently retrenched as part of middle management cuts.

This post updates.

34 Responses

  1. They don’t do programs any favours when they won’t give it a regular time slot. There may have been more problems, but timing was one of them.

  2. Universities are gleefully signing up thousands of Media students, who will then be burdened with their fees. Sadly the Media outlets in Australia are not growing but shrinking. A thriving media – TV, film making, Advertising industry etc, are terrific for the economy. But no – here we have the same old small thinking, chucking out staff and of course, big CEO salaries. Grow up Channel 7 – play the big game and add something to Australia!

  3. Maybe if they stopped making crappy dating shows that nobody wants, started fast tracking US shows and started making quality Australian content (I’d love a new Australian scripted that lasts longer than one season on commerical FTA) they’ll find success in something that isn’t sports coverage?

  4. Sunday Night ey, I remember when this show was launching there was a massive poster of Chris and Mike on Hoddle St in Melbourne, and the tag line (and promo) was all about the hard hitting, deep analysis journalism. Never really showed that in its early years nor its recent years. Might should harsh, but I don’t think it deserves to be on. Hoping seven really looks at where it wants to be next year and get some quality shows to air. Sad for any one losing their jobs and hope they find something new asap

  5. With many streaming options and the availability of free US networks online (even free US Cable) . The only way Australian Networks to survive would be to broadcast the US shows fast tracked same day as the US and produce more local content that appeals to the Australian demographic. Otherwise they could allways do what 10 has done and just sell to the US networks after all 10 is owned by CBS.

  6. So, the once great HSV7 now seems to me no more than a regional station. Playout is now from Sydney, all live content 5am-4pm is from Sydney, Publicity will be all from Sydney, Home & Away made in Sydney, etc., etc., etc. made in Sydney. So sad.

  7. People have turned to streaming. Not only did to availability of shows but picture quality. It’s good that the main channels are now HD in the city areas, but the secondary channels are still SD. They look pretty crap on a large TV. SBS have proven there’s the bandwidth, they have SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS World Movies all in 1920×1080 h.264. They also have the required broadcast of SBS in SD, as well as NITV, and SBS Food. These are in MPEG-2. They also simulcast their digital radio stations streams (which I think is stupid but anyways). They could have SBS Food and NITV in at least 720P if h.264 and drop the MPEG-2 SBS.

    The same goes for all the commercial channels. Locally in the Spencer Gilf, they only broadcast the commercial channels in SD, with the HD stream being used for upsampled 7Mate, 9GEM, and 10Boss.

    Most people now have TV’s that can decode h.264. The biggest…

  8. I feel like the Sunday Night axing was coming even if 7 didn’t appoint a new CEO.

    The ratings went downhill and then Seven just pushed it back later and later. Plus the “True Stories” rebadging was unnecessary.

  9. What’s that old saying about re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic ?
    Going through the alleged Development Department with a dose of salts would be a start James, though the guy responsible for most of this mess departed some time back…no doubt with a handsome severance package !

  10. What ch7 needs is more stripping shows and gratuitous adult content, that way they can be a point of difference to the other networks.

    I would like to see Mel Doyle at the ABC, I think it would do her no harm to look beyond ch7

  11. Sunday Night did have its good moments, but recently they have been too few and far between. Cant be a cheap show to make so shouldn’t be surprised by this news. It felt like they were using the show as a redeployment pool for their contracted staff that didnt have any other assignment.
    I think there is still space for a 1hr current affairs show on 7, maybe on a midweek night where it won’t get as pushed around by reality shows and sport.

  12. The problem with Seven is they aren’t innovating. They keep copying formats in genres that are already saturated ie dating shows. They have no streaming partner alignment. I’m not surprised this has happened. Sunday Night while I only watch a few episodes here and there was competitive in its timeslot. I hope Melissa Doyle stays with the network. She is a talent they need to keep.

  13. So he’s back at Seven. “The Optimistic TV employee is one who irons 5 shirts on a Sunday.”
    “he has indicated major restructuring without impacting on Programming”, starting with the axing of Seven’s ‘flagship’ current affairs program.

  14. Seven must be bleeding bad after all the monies they have forked out for cricket, AFL, Olympics, etc. With revenue drying up and the various media streams available today it has to take its toll.

  15. Imagine the state Seven would be in if it wasn’t so entrenched in Adelaide & Perth. It hasn’t had a hit show for quite a while now. Now it is going to be broken up into 8 divisions. Let’s see what that does.

      1. didn’t 9 announce some profit, not big sure, but still. I think the merger of Fairfax and 9 has been successful, Ive heard stories of WIN TV’s Bruce sniffing around regional Prime, not to sure what 7 wants to do with their regional affiliate. All rumours though

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