Eddie McGuire weighs in on Channel Nine bloodbath amid a raft of stars’ shock defection to Seven: ‘It’s very hotted up’
Eddie Mcguire has spoken out about the current bloodbath at Channel Seven, which has seen a number of well-known TV personalities move to rival network Nine.
The Herald Sun reported that Nine’s former CEO said there “may be legal action” after Footy Classified panel stars Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison moved to Seven ahead of the 2025 AFL season.
Kane has already confirmed his move and it is reported that Caroline is under contract with Nine until December.
Her contract contains a clause that means she cannot start at Seven until mid-2025.
Eddie was speaking at the Carbine Club Lunch at Crown in Melbourne on Tuesday. He was still unsure whether the show would air on Tuesday night. He said tensions had risen.
‘There’s a Football Classified broadcast tonight. We don’t know who’s going to be on it yet. I’m waiting for a call at the moment.’
“Legal action could be taken, the situation is quite heated.”
The show aired Tuesday night with Cornes, Wilson and Hutchison on the panel.
Eddie Maguire has spoken out about the current bloodbath at Channel Nine, which has seen a number of TV personalities move to rival network Seven.
Ny Breaking Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.
Former Port Adelaide championship winner Cornes, veteran journalist Wilson and media identity Hutchison will all leave, with the latter looking to bolster Seven’s football programming through his TV production company.
The trio were due to preview the AFL tiebreaker with Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd.
The Herald Sun reported that the former Nine CEO said “legal action is imminent” in the wake of Footy Classified panel stars Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison moving to Seven for the 2025 AFL season.
Lloyd will be frustrated about the situation. On Monday night he told 3AW Radio: ‘I’m deeply disappointed but no one is bigger than the show.’
Footy Classified has been moved to Tuesday this week, following the Brownlow Medal on Monday.
According to News Corp, Geelong star Eddie Bartel and football reporter Damian Barrett were told to remain on standby while the broadcaster explored its options.
Hutchison – along with Wilson – was one of the original panellists on Footy Classified, now in its 18th season.
Cornes, who is known for his outspoken views, announced his transfer in August.
Speaking at the Carbine Club Lunch at Crown in Melbourne on Tuesday, Eddie was still unsure whether the show would air on Tuesday night, saying tensions had risen.
He caused a bit of a stir at Seven before he even started at the network, following his recent brutal attack on Richmond legend Trent Cotchin.
‘It [criticism] “I got a response,” Cornes said on the Howie Games podcast.
‘She [Seven] were really upset about it (the segment where Trent Cotchin was parodied).
‘I felt a little guilty about that.’
That came after Cornes made a now infamous video in which he ridiculed Cotchin’s ball on camera in his new role as an AFL analyst.
The show aired on Tuesday evenings with Cornes (pictured) Wilson and Hutchison on the panel