Channel Seven Brisbane star Shane Webcke has announced his surprise departure from the sports desk amid the network’s recent staff carnage.
The presenter announced the news in a statement on Friday, saying he will step down from his role in January but will remain with Seven for NRL Insights.
Shane had recently held talks with Seven’s management to reduce his working hours so he could spend more time on his family business, the Courier post.
“After 18 years of covering sports for 7NEWS Brisbane, I have decided to move in a new direction and will be stepping down from my newsroom role from January,” he said.
‘I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It gives me more flexibility and more time to focus on my family’s farming interests.
‘But I won’t be going far. I’ll still be appearing regularly on 7NEWS, along with my good mate Gilly, to provide rugby league insights for our viewers.
“I have been treated so well over the past 18 years and I am grateful to Seven for helping me through this next phase.”
The former rugby league player played his football career with the Brisbane Broncos and represented Queensland 21 times at the Stat of Origin.
Channel Seven Brisbane star Shane Webcke, 49 (pictured), has announced his shock departure from the sports news desk amid the network’s recent staff massacre
In 2006 he retired from the sport and became a Sunday to Thursday sports presenter on Seven News in Brisbane, a role he will continue in until January.
Shane is one of many Seven employees who have had their roles reduced or been made redundant as a result of cost-cutting measures the network has implemented in recent months.
Seven West Media has cut 150 editorial staff in a series of job cuts involving big names including Queenslanders newsreader Sharyn Ghidella and veteran weatherman Paul Burt.
Seven Network’s recently appointed news and current affairs director Anthony De Ceglie has replaced section leaders with younger managers across the country.
The presenter announced the news in a statement on Friday, saying he will be leaving his post in January but will remain with Seven for NRL Insights.
He also introduced a comedy spot on Friday nights and astrology in the news.
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide all have new news directors and new executive producers have been appointed for Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight.
The network has also fired veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, known among friends as the ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ for his gritty news reporting.
In Sydney, Ovadia, perhaps the highest-profile of all the figures sacked prior to Ghidella’s dismissal, has announced that he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
Shane was recently in talks with Seven’s management to reduce his working hours so he could spend more time on his family business, the Courier Mail reported
Daily Mail Australia previously reported that Ovadia allegedly sent a series of strange, manipulated images to a young female reporter before he was dumped.
Seven Network suffered a huge blow this week as profits at Kerry Stokes-led Seven West Media fell 69 percent to $45 million for the year.
The group owns Seven Network and Perth Masthead The West Australian, with the television network the subject of an expose by Four Corners on Monday.
ABC journalist Louise Milligan made allegations of bullying, sexism and a toxic workplace culture in her shocking investigative piece Don’t Speak.
‘After 18 years of presenting sport for 7NEWS Brisbane, I have decided to take a slightly different direction and from January I will be stepping back from the newsroom. It is something I have been thinking about for a while, to give me more flexibility and more time to pursue my family farming interests,’ he said
Since then, it’s been downhill. On Wednesday, 2023/24 results also showed pre-tax profit falling by a third to $187 million.
General Manager and CEO Jeff Howard had a tense conversation with investors following the results.
“There is no doubt that FY 2024 was a tough year for Seven West Media and likely for many others in the industry,” Howard told them.
However, investors reacted cautiously: after the results were announced, shares rose to 16.5 cents, before falling again and closing at 15.5 cents.
The former rugby league player spent his football career with the Brisbane Broncos, where he represented Queensland 21 times in the Stat of Origin. He retired in 2006 (pictured) and took up the role of sports presenter at Seven
A year ago the share was still trading for 40 cents, but since then the price has fallen by more than 60 percent.
According to Howard, Seven West Media employs some of Australia’s best media professionals, but some employees have been told to leave.
“The actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behavior and attitudes of the company as a whole,” he said.
“We are focused on creating a stronger, performance-driven culture where our great people can thrive and where unacceptable behavior is not tolerated.”