Nine Entertainment’s sweeping restructure has claimed senior newsroom staff as the company pushes through major cost-saving measures.
The full impact of Nine Entertainment’s latest cost-cutting round is beginning to emerge, with job losses confirmed across multiple divisions — including senior newsroom figures in Brisbane and widespread cuts in Sydney, where staff describe morale as “rock bottom”.
The redundancies follow the internal email sent on Monday morning by Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast, Amanda Laing, who informed employees that the network would undergo “structural changes across News, Sport, Stan, Marketing and our Creative functions” in a move designed to “reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for the Nine Group.”
However, as the changes begin to take effect, staff at Nine News and Wide World of Sports are now facing the sharp edge of the company’s $100 million cost-out program, which was reaffirmed at the broadcaster’s annual general meeting last week.
Adelaide newsreader axed amid national restructure
The latest departure is longtime Nine News Adelaide presenter Kate Collins, whose contract will not be renewed — just days after she fronted the network’s coverage of the city’s Christmas Pageant.
Collins was absent from Monday night’s bulletin, with co-presenter Brenton Ragless reading the news solo. According to The Advertiser, the move came as a “huge shock” to Collins, who was reportedly “absolutely blindsided” by the decision.
Brisbane newsroom hit by senior departures
According to a report by The Courier-Mail, the first casualties of the Brisbane restructure include long-serving Nine News Queensland sports reporter Jonathan Uptin, whose contract has not been renewed. Supervising Producer of Presentation and Promotion Leon Cull and Operations Co-ordinator Jessica Llewelyn have also been informed that their positions are being made redundant.
One newsroom insider told the paper that morale was “flat and uncertain”, with more forced redundancies expected over the coming weeks if voluntary departures do not meet targets.
It is understood Bronte Gildea, who has been presenting sport on recent bulletins, is expected to replace Uptin on the sports desk. Gildea is also the partner of Brisbane Broncos player Patrick Carrigan.
Sydney newsroom hardest hit
While Brisbane has experienced a handful of high-profile departures, Nine’s Sydney newsroom is understood to have been the hardest hit by the restructuring process.
The network’s Wide World of Sports division has also experienced job losses. The cuts come at a sensitive time for Nine, which is both the Olympic Network and is currently competing hard to renew its NRL broadcast rights deal.
In a message sent to Sydney newsroom staff on Monday morning, News Director Michael Best said he was holding consultation meetings with impacted team members and aimed to
“complete these meetings as soon as possible, ideally by the end of today where feasible, to provide clarity.”
“I understand this is a time of uncertainty and I want to assure you that my priority is to support everyone through this process.”
In contrast, Nine’s Melbourne newsroom has so far been largely untouched by the cuts, while teams working on The Today Show have also avoided major structural change.
The broadcaster has told TV Blackbox that consultation remains ongoing across its Streaming and Broadcast division, which brings together teams from Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now.
“The new operating model formally brings together teams across Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now,” a Nine spokesperson said.
“It is designed to reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for Nine, while working to offset the challenging external advertising market.
Our primary focus during the consultation is supporting these team members through access to our employee wellbeing provider, as well as exploring redeployment opportunities within the broader Nine Group.”
Industry pressures continue to bite
Nine currently employs around 2,900 people across its broadcast and streaming operations. The company’s latest restructure follows a broader realignment earlier this year that merged its free-to-air, digital and streaming divisions under a single executive structure — effectively ending Stan’s role as a standalone business.
The latest measures form part of a cost-saving program designed to offset weakening advertising revenue. In its most recent trading update, Nine reported that Total TV revenue for September and October was “down mid to high single digits” year-on-year.
Despite the challenges, the network remains committed to expanding its digital and streaming footprint, with executives emphasising that the changes are designed to make the business “fit for the future”.
Why don’t we axe some of shit shows instead
Milly Molly Or some of those at the top who continue to take their bonuses and K S from their breakfast show
Michael Mainke they could afford to fly Clint Stanaway to and from Sydney every weekend, put him up in a hotel when they could have just hired someone local. Him leaving will save them thousands. That’s just one example.
Have you done the maths on Hotel rooms in Sydney? 1 night would pay for the flight in both directions.
Siobhan Murphy hmm he’s already leaving at the end of the year anyway
Ty Skeels I’m aware of that. His last show is this Sunday.
Yes please Milly. I am fed up to the back teeth with reality shows and repeats.
Totally agree 👍
Could not agree more. Television in general has reached depths lower than low and there is nothing real about the reality shows they are nothing more than c..p and an absolute insult to the general, normal viewer’s intelligence.
Kate Collins axed how disappointing will be watching Channel 7.
Put some decent shows on and stop paying one particular person big money who’s on a breakfast show who is always having holidays and thinks he can’t be done without
Spot on
Get rid of Karl Stefanovic and you’ll have $2 million dollars to spend on decent presenters
And the lady that has been doing the weather on today show Tay Tay.
Anonymous … too frightened to use your name …
He is brilliant what he does. I know who you are referring too don’t watch the show .
Yes you could replace the anchor’s on both 9 and 7’s morning breakfast shows and fund some real journalists.
It’s not just the presenters that are getting axed, it’s the behind the scenes coders that are loosing there jobs, spare a thought for them coming up to Xmas.
Sad days all round, profit before people.
If it up to me, the obnoxious Karl Stefanovic would be first to go.
Yes have a good look at the people you are paying the most who are the least popular and also employing unpopular ex morning show people to shoes that others could do much better
Over to 7 permanently for me and others u would think
how would you feel like working beside someone who is silently white anting you so a “better” host can replace you and then prop him up
And Eddie Maquire would be second
Under workd over payed show pony
Just replace them with AI now
Nine/SMH investigations were one of the last credible places to receive important news.
If they’re going to gut the joint we need to protect the ABC more than ever.
Oh well tgey have plenty of money
Pete Priestley who does?
Matt Parker channel 9.
Pete Priestley
Sam Armatage taking a big whack
Andrew Lee not our problem lol
Too many adverts for me on both Sunrise and Today Shows. Also I noticed on 9, when they’re talking about something important the music is so loud it drowns out the voices,!
Noooo
Jono was a great news reader in the the NT then was sent ro Qld to read the news for Nt from there.He was a great guy .All the best Jono
I really like Jono. He’s got a genuine personality that really suits the job.
Karl Stefanovic should be the first to go, he is boring stupid and grossly overpaid. None of these presenters deserve the disgusting amount they are paid. Very few hours worked per day for outrageous paychecks. Not with it.
I don’t watch the channel or stan. Haven’t for years. I remember a time before streaming when they didn’t have all that ‘reality’ stuff and reckon it was a good time.
Maybe channel 9 should get rid of Karl Stefanovic for starters,the block.as well as that bloody overpaid scott cam as well and the ridiculous dead lines people have to complete their rooms channel 9 have been a joke for years
Agreed the block and all reality shit
Maybe channel 9 should get rid of Karl Stefanovic for starters,the block.as well as that bloody overpaid scott cam as well and the ridiculous dead lines people have to complete their rooms channel 9 have been a joke for years
Get rid of Eddie McGuire … if I heard him say “sensational” one more time during the Spring Carnival, I’d have screamed.
Get rid of The Block, MAFS, Love Island – in fact, ALL reality TV shows.
And please, just because Peter Overton grew up with Nicole Kidman doesn’t make him a newsreader.
What a sad day for the Australian media landscape. Seeing such professional, expierenced, and talented people losing their jobs is nothing short of heartbreaking.
The decision to let go of Kate Collins in Adelaide is particularly sickening. It feels like Seven sacking Sharyn in Brisbane all over again. While Nine’s Adelaide bulletin usually rates considerably less than Seven’s, and has for many years now, it will most likely be in an even worse position going forward. They still have an excellent presenter in Brenton Ragless, which may soften the blow somewhat. And I can only imagine how he is feeling about this, losing the co-presenter he has worked alongside for the past 12 years. But it doesn’t make today’s decision any easier to swallow from the perspective of the viewers.
I also feel bad for Jonathan Uptin. From being the face of local news in Darwin to being lead sports presenter in Queensland, Nine has certainly made good use of him. Letting him go is another big blow for viewers in both the Northern Territory and Queensland. Will it cause viewers who switched to Nine after Sharyn was sacked from Seven to switch back to Seven? Or will it make viewers tune out altogether now that both 6pm news bulletins in Queensland have sacked popular presenters in the past 16 months? We’ll have to wait and see.
To all you people criticising Kari you must have very short memories. When he left last time the ratings dropped they tried the 2 female co hosts, that didn’t work. They got Karl back and ratings picked up.
Getting rid of Kate Collins is a big mistake. Get rid of some of the fat cats. Chanel 9 has lost me. WORST Melbourne Cup coverage ever. You need help. Sick of boring reality shows. Need to look at them to.
Get rid of reality shows
Bring back Midday Movie
and show old good movies
for seniors.
👍
Get rid of channel 9 all together i haven’t watched BS TV for years cant stand all the hype and MEDIA LIES AND BULLSHIT.. Facebook is more watched on this planet.. good channel 9 sux..
It’s not just the presenters that are getting axed, it’s the behind the scenes coders that are loosing there jobs, spare a thought for them coming up to Xmas.
Sad days all round, profit before people.
For god’s sake get rid of that Karl guy.Thinks he is the best.Sick of him.Any way I always watch Sunrise.
Yes get rid of that fat cat Karl that should save you mega bucks. Also all the stupid reality shows like The Block and MFS.
Cut more costs in the news division so they pump even more money into sport. Zero Australian drama and now every other department is getting sucked dry. How is this sustainable in the long run?
Sorry to see Jono Uptin go. He is an excellent sports presenter. Wondered what happened when he was not on the news yesterday. Get rid of all those stupid reality shows. MAFS, The Block, Love Island etc.
Channel 9 — what were they doing? They chose to remove Adelaide newsreader Kate Collins from the network. It is a brutal blow to Nine Adelaide. 9 News Adelaide will continue to suffer without Kate Collins. And also, Johnathan Uptin. It is another loss from the network. He used to work at Nine News Darwin before the Darwin news bulletin got the axe. And recently, he was let go from 9 News Queensland.
While it’s sad that these News presenters have let go from the network, The Nine Network continues to spew up a lot of crap programs e.g. MAFS, The Block, Love Island, The 100, Golden Bachelor, just to name a few.
Channel 9 needs to be very careful with investing in its sports broadcasting rights deals. If Channel 9 wants to buy more sports, they will have to be very careful or else, they could lead to money loss
People need to be aware that redundancies are not the people’s fault. It’s usually they the business has been making decisions that didn’t pan out. People can use the redundancy money to move on or reinvent themselves. It’s also a good warning to kids wanting to do Journalism. Sometimes the fancy job doesn’t work out. Make hay while the sun shines then move on.
Karl Stefanovic needs exiting asap.
Karl has to go
Channel 9 has too many reality shows which are boring and brain numbing! There is also a lack of quality drama & comedy, particularly Australian. No midday movies, just repeats of stupid reality shows followed by English game shows. It’s a sad & tired look. Feel for those at home during the day who might like to watch tv.
It begs the question, should the requirement of at least half hour news bulletin for networks be scrapped?
C’ya upto!
Doug McFarlane
All the today show staff should go
Sandra Welburn rubbish Carl Sarah Silvia and David are the best
Sandra Welburn definately get rid of Karl
Not Johno please
Bring Kate Collins back she’s the one bit of class Adelaide News did have and such a great news reader Not Happy Jan ! Bad Move
Get rid of Karl Stefanovic and Scott Cam, the block and all the other stupid reality shows.
That should find you plenty of $$$$,
Have done without Karl S for many years. Have survived and thrived. Also .. The continual repeats of shows reminds me of the early days of cable. Luckily i have a good library of dvds to call on.
Commercial channel TV in Australia is pathetic, shit boring monotonous shows with almost more advertising per hour than actual shows! I refuse to watch any boring shit commercial TV channels since 2010 and much happier since then. 😊
Karma has come, Fake Main Stream Media has had its day, Cut and Paste the News like the BBC to suit your narrative has had its days, the It’s Safe and Effective days are over, People demand the Truth, and it’s not coming, Thank God for YouTube where we can get the truth from independent News hounds, goodbye 7, 9,10, SBS, And ABC
Channel nine sux good riddens who watches TV ANYMORE FACEBOOK RULES
Rate these networks do these restructures or whatever they want to call these job cutting tactics…. Is there going to be really any jobs left at these companies. AI probably be doing many of them in about 10 to 20 years I bet that’ll be hoping 🤬
I don’t understand employing Samantha Armytage when you have a class act
Amber Sherlock
Armytage should have been a contestant on Golden Bachelor and Amber the presenter
Anyway I think Golden Bachelor is no good
It’s not too late reinstate Amber
Despite some negative comments re Karl Stefanovic , I have you
know that Karl. is a World Class Journalist and a very astute, witty
Entertainer whose income should multiply to match his true value to
his Employer and the Audience ! At 86, I have a fair idea what makes
people happy and. Entertained! Karl and Sarah do just that ! I. Would
be delighted if the above occurred! 🙊🙉😁👍🇦🇺🇺🇦
Here here
How in hell had Karl survived again . Must have photos of someone
David Compton what about Gary the weather man .more than photos he was on the bottom
David Compton skeletons in the closet
Get rid of Eddie Maguire his performance during the spring racing carnival was absolutely cringe worthy had to turn over to racing.com.
Yep they’re all getting smutty
Get rid of the TODAY SHOW rot first … bunch of airheads
I bet t hg e executives didnt take a pay cut so over paid
Restructure?at human costs
Why is Hunter region
Use north coast? I thought was central coast ?yeah fck Northcoast ehhh
Hope whoever does the movie programming is one of them. Fed up with the rehashing of the same old movies.
I’m sick of channel nine and their has been male personalities eg Richard bloody Wilkins, retire man and give some young journalists a chance of a career, Eddie friggin McGuire sick to death of him and his huge ego, Karl from Today which I haven’t watched for years because of his huge head and that ridiculous toupee he wears, except your bald man. I’m over channel nine. I wish the Packers were still running it.
Giving prizes money away all the time just to get listeners,holidays etc,if people want to listen they will ,and cut the huge wages, people sitting there waffling on about nothing no wonder they are getting rid of staff.
Karl (giggles) should be the 1st to go.
Better than the other channels, just saying!
Where’s Karl he should be the first to go
Why did Amber get sacked when they have other people doing weather?