A popular Channel Seven weatherman has been sacked amid dozens of job cuts at the embattled network.
Paul Burt, who provided weather reports for both the Gold Coast and Brisbane news bulletins since 2013, has been fired. Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
The presenter, who was known for his entertaining reports often delivered in pouring rain and howling winds, was a fan favorite and had his own fishing and adventure show, Step Outside With Paul Burt, which aired on 7Mate on Sundays.
Two years ago he famously stopped his TV livecross and rushed into the surf to save a 10-year-old boy struggling in Surfers Paradise.
Mr Burt even became an ‘international belly-flopping champion’ in 2023, much to the amusement of his co-hosts.
He reportedly did not present the weather bulletin on Tuesday evening, as reported by Brisbane reporter Tony Auden.
He was back on television on Wednesday evening to interview the brother of NRL star Reece Walsh in preparation for the second State of Origin.
Burt’s television career began at Channel 10 before moving to Nine where he spent eight years.
Paul Burt (pictured, right), who has provided weather reports for both the Gold Coast and Brisbane news bulletins since 2013, has been suspended
The presenter, who was known for his entertaining reports often delivered in pouring rain and howling winds, was a fan favorite and had his own fishing and adventure show on 7Mate.
He even became ‘international belly flop champion’ in 2023, much to the amusement of his co-hosts (watch below)
Mr Burt is one of 150 Seven West Media employees who have been shown the door in recent days.
Chief executive Jeff Howard told staff in an email on Tuesday that costs had to be cut, especially after Meta opted not to renew its deal to pay for Australian news content.
Meta owns Facebook and Instagram.
“A number of roles within the company will change and unfortunately some people will leave us,” Mr Howard said.
“We will work hard to minimize the impact on people as much as possible, and we will ensure our people are fully supported.”
Among the changes at SWM are the departures of Chief Revenue Officer Kurt Burnette, Chief Marketing and Audience Officer Melissa Hopkins, and Seven’s Head of Sport and Managing Director of Melbourne, Lewis Martin.
The trio together have dedicated 65 years to SWM, with Mr Howard saying the workplace ‘will be very different without them’.
Around 150 Seven West Media employees have been made redundant in a major round of redundancies, with three senior managers all leaving the company. Pictured is Jeff Howard, CEO of Seven West Media
The job cuts are part of efforts to save the company $100 million, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Mr Howard told staff that while SWM was achieving good results in print, digital and TV, ‘our high cost base of $1.2 billion per year is not sustainable and must be reduced’.
“As we look to FY25, we face continued upward pressure on this cost base,” he said.
SWM, which owns The West Australian newspaper, will continue with three divisions: digital, TV and Western Australia.