To say that Channel Seven has had a controversial year so far is an understatement.
The Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal, the firing of a well-known reporter for alleged inappropriate behavior, newsroom restructuring, the firing of a beloved anchor, and the introduction of astrology and comedy into the news bulletin have all done irreparable damage to the network’s brand.
As all three commercial networks struggle financially due to the ongoing collapse of the TV advertising market, Seven, which proudly calls itself ‘Australia’s number one’, teeters on the brink of its most catastrophic collapse ever.
That’s because Seven, unlike Nine, which owns Stan, doesn’t have a streaming platform to fall back on if television goes away. So from here on it’s really downhill.
The situation looks so bleak that there are already rumors that the Australian network will fall into foreign hands.
Whatever happens, 2024 will go down in history as the year it all went wrong for Seven.
Lehrmann legacy
Channel Seven’s tumultuous year began in April with shocking news about the infamous interview with Bruce Lehrmann on the Spotlight programme.
It’s an understatement to say that Channel Seven has had a controversial year so far
Spotlight was granted two exclusive interviews with the rapist last year in exchange for a year’s rent on a luxury apartment worth approximately $105,000, ahead of his defamation lawsuit against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson in federal court.
Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach’s shocking revelations, made in a sworn statement, prompted Lehrmann’s defamation case to be reopened.
Mr. Auerbach was instrumental in securing Lehrmann for a few exclusive interviews for the current affairs program.
In an affidavit to the court, Mr Auerbach alleged that Seven had paid or reimbursed the former political operative’s exorbitant expenses, including housing, meals, drugs and prostitutes.
Bruce Lehrmann is interviewed by Spotlight’s Liam Bartlett in 2023. The interview sent shockwaves through Channel Seven
He further alleged in the affidavit that thousands of dollars were deposited onto a company credit card to pay for Thai massages, in violation of company policy and without the knowledge or consent of Mark Llewellyn, then executive producer of the Spotlight program.
Mr. Auerbach resigned from his job with Mr. Llewellyn in a November 2022 text message in which he admitted spending $10,000 on a company credit card that “had nothing to do with work.” He made no mention of Mr. Lehrmann’s involvement, however.
The resignation was not accepted at the time and Mr Auerbach remained with Seven until 2023, when his contract expired and was not renewed.
Seven and Mr Lehrmann denied the allegations, which Mr Lehrmann said were “an untrue and bizarre story from a disgruntled former Network Seven producer”.
After weeks of damaging claims, Mr Llewellyn left the network.
“I’m proud of Spotlight and proud of the dedicated team that makes it,” he said at the time.
“I reiterate that any suggestion that I was aware of any illegal or untoward activity, or that I approved or arranged payments for such activity, is false.”
Llewellyn’s departure led to a series of departures in April, with Seven West Media CEO and Managing Director James Warburton leaving the network two months earlier than expected and he was joined by Kerry Stokes’ right-hand man, commercial director Bruce McWilliam.
The fallout from Lehrmann in April also led to the departure of Craig McPherson, network director of news and public affairs and partner of Dancing with the Stars host Sonia Kruger, after nine years in the role.
Mr McPherson was replaced by Anthony De Ceglie, who was appointed Director of News and Current Affairs and Editor-in-Chief in April.
Mr De Ceglie is responsible for Seven’s news and public affairs programs, including 7NEWS, Sunrise, The Morning Show and 7NEWS Spotlight, as well as 7NEWS.com.au.
Bondi Junction Massacre Blunder
In April, Seven’s Weekend Sunrise was in turmoil after a TV blunder wrongly labelled a 20-year-old University of Sydney student as a cold-blooded murderer.
The blunder, which aired on the April 14 episode, led to innocent Ben Cohen being wrongly identified as the perpetrator of the Bondi Junction massacre, instead of the actual killer, 40-year-old Joel Cauchi.
Reportedly, several producers were removed from the show following the blunder and the network reached a settlement with Mr. Cohen, the amount of which was unknown.
The stars aren’t quite aligned for the nightly horoscope readings from AstroTash, aka Natasha Weber (pictured). The segment has been slammed by Channel Seven viewers
Staff changes
The revolving door at Seven continued to turn last month with a new round of layoffs.
The network announced a shake-up of its news leadership, including a new director of news in Sydney and new executive producers for Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise.
Sean Power became director of news at Seven Sydney, replacing veteran news chief Neil Warren, who spent 32 years at the network.
In June it was also announced that 150 jobs would be cut across Seven West Media’s TV and print divisions, as well as sales and marketing teams and print staff.
Veteran journalist Robert Ovadia was fired following an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior
Ovadia and out
Last month, the network was rocked by another unpleasant scandal, when veteran journalist Robert Ovadia was fired following an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct.
Ovadia’s departure came after ABC Four Corners investigated alleged toxic culture within Seven’s newsroom.
Ovadia worked at the network for 23 years and after his departure the allegations are said to relate to emails Ovadia exchanged with a former Seven colleague four years ago.
According to The Daily Telegraph, a photoshopped image of a young female producer was at the root of the decision to fire Ovadia.
The photo is believed to depict a cartoon version of the female producer, but the image was not sexual in nature.
There is no evidence that the allegations are proven. Ovadia has previously said that they are unfounded and that he will defend himself.
Earlier this month, several insiders reported that the atmosphere at the station was now tense, with some staff members feeling “miserable” and taking sick days to seek work elsewhere after a new regime came to power and wanted to shake things up.
Seeing stars
This change included the introduction of a horoscope section in the daily news bulletins by celebrity astrologer Natasha Weber, better known as AstroTash.
The network didn’t have to look to the stars to see the negative reactions, with one viewer posting on X: ‘Channel Seven news now includes a horoscope. What nonsense. It seems they don’t really care about news.’
Another wrote: ‘Seven News treats viewers like idiots with horoscopes.’
Here’s Humphries
Channel Seven also tries to lighten the mood with a weekly satirical item at the end of the Friday evening news, presented by comedian Mark Humphries.
After the first episode, many viewers failed to see the humor in it, with one tweeting: ‘There’s just one problem with @7NewsSydney’s new 6.57pm news idea. It’s not funny.’
Humphries took the criticism with a good feeling.
“The worst thing that’s ever been said about me, and the one that’s always stuck with me, is, ‘I look like a Ken Doll gone mad!’” he told 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed and Erin.
Others enjoyed Humphries’ performance. “A bloody triumph,” wrote one viewer on Instagram.
Insiders say veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella (pictured) has been axed from the network over her high salary
Mark Humphries (pictured) saw the humor in the criticism he received for his new comedy spot
Ghidella is gone
Yet viewers failed to find humor in the recent dismissal of Sharyn Ghidella, a veteran newsreader at Channel Seven.
Ghidella, the face of Seven News in Queensland since 2007, confirmed her resignation in a fiery Facebook post.
She said she finally got the “tap on the shoulder” when she got her hair done before appearing on camera, admitting it was a kind of “relief” after the stressful weeks of media layoffs.
In her message, Ghidella took a parting shot at the network.
“I’m not one to be fed the evening news with humor and horoscopes either, so honestly, it’s time to go,” she said.
Ghidella was reportedly ousted from the network because she was paid a much higher salary than her co-host Max Futcher.
Speaking about the changes at Seven, Mr De Ceglie said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia: “If people think we’ve been inventive so far, they haven’t seen anything yet.”
Time will tell.