10 News is pressing reset on parts of its schedule for 2026, confirming the Afternoon bulletin will not return in the new year, while the late news and weekend editions are set to expand.
In an internal email obtained by TV Blackbox, Head of News Martin White recently told staff the shifts are designed to meet audiences where they are watching, calling it “a pivotal time for our industry” and urging the newsroom to focus on areas of strength as viewing habits continue to evolve.
“We need to celebrate our successes, of which there are many, and make sure our efforts are focused where audiences are strongest”
White wrote.
The Afternoon bulletin launched only last year, built off the lunchtime news and using much of the same crew and content, but will now be phased out under the new changes, with no impact to the existing 1:00pm bulletin.
White stressed the move is not a reflection on the team’s work, saying there will be “no impact on staffing or jobs”, though the shift is likely to free up resources for the 5:00pm news and the expanded late night format once the bulletin wraps.
The biggest change lands late at night. After quietly rebuilding its audience since returning in April last year following a TV Blackbox exclusive in 2023 confirming its comeback, the Late News will shift to a 9:30pm weeknight start with host Ursula Heger and expands to a full hour.
“It’s a recognition of the bulletin’s phenomenal success over the past 12 months, with viewers watching on as many platforms as possible”
White told staff.
Weekends also grow again. The network will stretch the national 5:00pm Sunday bulletin back to 90 minutes to mirror Saturdays, with 10 News+ to shift to 6:30pm on Sundays in its new 30 minute format from early 2026, a 10 spokesperson has confirmed.
This shift follows the network’s earlier confirmation that the in-depth current affairs program, which launched in June, will return in 2026 in a trimmed 30 minute weeknight edition, holding its ground in the fiercely competitive 6:00pm slot.
The longer format is familiar territory for 10, which has spent years experimenting with extended editions, including a 90 minute weekday 5:00pm news run before Deal or No Deal took over the 6:00pm slot last year and later shifted to 7:00pm when Plus launched.
The weekend bulletin will also welcome a familiar new face in 2026, with network presenter Georgie Tunny stepping in from February to replace Chris Bath, whose seven year run with the network is set to wrap soon after the two sides reportedly failed to agree on new contract terms.
White thanked Bath in his email to staff:
“I would like to sincerely thank Chris for her passion, dedication and contribution throughout her time presenting this bulletin. She will always be a valued member of the 10 family.”
The schedule shake up is just one part of 10’s broader changes next year, with a revamped early evening line up that will consist of:
5:00pm Local News
6:00pm 10 News Plus
6:30pm Deal or No Deal
7:00pm Millionaire Hot Seat
White finished the email by emphasising that the network can only move forward by sticking together, writing “none of us work for any individual show, we all work for 10 News. And that is something to be proud of.”
If there’s one constant in news, it’s change, and if 10 can hold its late bulletin to a steady 9:30pm start, it may yet become the kind of appointment viewing this new strategy might just be banking on.
Omg that woman Ursula, on late news is the most boring news reader I’ve ever seen. I can only watch the late news on nights she’s away. How did she get her job? wtf is happening to channel 10. They’ve already made a big error with news+ so what do they do just put more news in earlier, and longer! Obviously they don’t care about entertainment anymore. Or putting on their signature dramas. I have no idea when I’ll ever see Law&Order new episodes ever again. As they aren’t on 10Play.
They got rid of the wrong news reader with Chris Bath, should have been the stammering stuttering Sandra Sully. She has either been to lunch or needs glasses to read the telepromter. Can we have more professionalism please and more of Hugh Rimington.
Ursula is best.
1 hour bulletins are long enough on weekends and it’s time 10 News Queensland on weekends was made in Brisbane again.
Ursula deserves better.
Ursula Heger is a great presenter. 10 News Queensland should be local from Brisbane on weekends. and…please change that tedious, monotonous news theme (music)!!! TEN has some great themes of the past….
Consider also a late night Sunday evening bulletin around 10.30pm.
There is too much news bulletins in the day. 1 is enough.
It’s way to much this is why I started watching 9 news and then a current affair but in saying that this channel 10 has gone to the dogs got rid of neighbours, the masked singer and god knows what else
… “we all work for 10 News”? don’t the staff in the news department work for 10 anymore?
About time! How many times can you watch the exact same news in one day?
I wish the other channels would do the same
10 is absent when it comes to news, especially on Weekends. I doubt recapping the days events after everyone else as dissected them over and over is going to win over audiences.
10 Late News used to be a formidable. An institution. I just don’t get how everything went so horribly wrong.
Jason Turner agree to an extent. But with respect, 10 News has never really been in the race.
Jason Turner they axed the original late news due to cost cutting.
With one 24/7 news service via SkyNews and another TWO at 4pm on free to air plus 24/7 news talk on 9radio there’s only so much that can be spread around
Note that Ch7 dropped their extended news bulletin at noon by bringing back the midday movie
How about bringing back a 30 minute sports tonight right after the late news night bulletin
Nothing as predictable as 10 changing its news programming/ scheduling.
There is way too much news in the day. Just play movies or even repeats of Dr Phil would be better.
The 1 show that I really miss is the jerry springer show and they just got rid of an all time favourite is judge Judy
Yeees. I want Dr Phil back
Worst chanel when it comes to news
Jennifer Keyte and her news presentation ( sing along theatrics) I think it is time chanel 10 to have a look at this hour of news and news presenter
Had to watch a couple of nights of early news and the above was what I witnessed.Have never watched chanel 10 before.
I am old enough to know Jennifer Keyte’s news reading history.
Please bring back the Project! We need more light-hearted, heartwarming stories!
Bring back The Project…that was excellent news delivered DIFFERENTLY. Out of principle I will NEVER support 10 until they bring back that fabulous show! You are destined for doom 10. RIP!
Although attractive and probably a nice lady, Sandra Sully has deteriorated as a newsreader. It is unbearable listening to her making errors and stuttering. I have rung the station asking if she has had a brain injury?
Totally agree with Rosie’s comment. My husband and I listen to the five o’clock news with dread these days. Sandra Sully has deteriorated immensely in recent years. She cannot string a sentence without stuffing it up. We love it when Hugh replaces her on the odd occasion. He is so professional in the way he delivers the news and a joy to listen to. We can’t understand what makes Sandra untouchable within the network. She really needs help. Channel 10 should not be inflicting this sort of torture on their loyal viewers.
What research has Ten done that suggests a one hour bulletin at 9:30pm is a good idea? I imagine the majority of people don’t want this, and the ratings should reflect this.
10 needs to take on breakfast tv again. “From 10’s news HQ, this is Good Morning Australia, with Karl Stefanovic and Natalie Barr with local news every half hour from our state based news rooms”. Has a whimsical ring to it.
That does have a good ring to it. But I doubt 10 wants to re-enter the breakfast timeslot at this point. And I suspect Karl and Natalie wouldn’t be the hosts even if if they did. More likely Sandra and Hugh.
These are some interesting changes.
As I understand it, the Afternoon news at 3:30pm was doing fairly well in the ratings, so axing it doesn’t seem to make much sense. However, being sandwiched in between the Lunchtime news at 1pm and the main news at 5pm, its placement hasn’t made much sense either. It was more logical when the Lunchtime news was at Noon. At the same time though, 10 did have an advantage getting a jump on 7 and 9’s bulletins at 4pm, so that is now going away.
As for expanding the Late news, I’m cautiously optimistic that it will be a good thing. 10’s Late News is actually quite competitive in the ratings, and even the top rating late news bulletin on some nights. It is fantastic the way it is. I look forward to seeing how they enhance it now that it will be an hour long. And the consistent 9:30 start time? Very smart move! Takes full advantage of the lead-in programs at 8:30/8:40 (Have You Been Paying Attention, The Cheap Seats, Sam Pang Tonight, etc.). Now it just needs to expand to weekends!
And what about 10 News Plus? I’m sorry to see it being trimmed down to 30 minutes, but given its ratings, the fine people who work on the program are lucky it isn’t being axed altogether. I hope the shorter version will be of interest to more viewers.
Moving the deck chairs to higher ground? The iceberg might still get ‘em.🙃
Seriously how much ‘news’ can a person watch
10 news+ needs to be axed. It’s a waste of time and money. The presenters are stiff and boring.