Job fears at Channel 10 as executives take a secret trip to American head office
The end of Channel 10? Labor fears at beleaguered TV network as executives take ‘secret trip’ to US parent company’s headquarters
A ‘secret trip’ to the United States has sparked fears of layoffs at Channel 10 after two of the network’s top executives were invited to the headquarters of the parent company.
Ten’s former head of news, Ross Dagan, who is now the head of news operations at US media giant CBS, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, has called in his successor, Martin White, and the head of digital news and strategy. de Ten, Rashell Habib, to meet at CBS headquarters in New York City last week.
The visit ‘has been the subject of much intrigue’ among Ten staff, reports the aussiePress journal of .
While there has been speculation that the meeting was to discuss why the network “was paying Lisa Wilkinson a seven-figure salary to sit on her hands” after her departure from The Project last year, it’s understood that the main reason of the trip was to brainstorm more ways for CBS and Ten to share resources.
Mr. Dagan is ‘interested’ in finding ways for the US and Australian media to collaborate in the future, such as joint ventures on big international stories.
A ‘secret trip’ to the United States has sparked fears of layoffs at Channel 10 after two of the network’s top executives were invited to the headquarters of the parent company. (Pictured: A view of Ten’s headquarters in Pyrmont, Sydney, on March 11)
The visit has “been the subject of much intrigue” among Ten’s staff. (Pictured: The Project co-hosts Waleed Aly, left, and Sarah Harris, right)
Ten’s sources were ‘uncompromising’ that the summit was not about job cuts in Australia.
It comes a month after Channel 10’s parent company, US media giant Paramount Global, denied rumors that it was considering shutting down the network.
Paramount President and CEO of International Markets Pam Kaufman said The Sydney Morning Herald on February 27 there were no plans to close Ten.
‘Of course not. Not only are we not closing, but we are excited and we are investing,” Ms. Kaufman said.
“This is a market where our strategy is strong and it’s really working.”
Paramount Global, formerly known as ViacomCBS, paid $250 million for the Australian television station just five years ago.
Former Ten news chief Ross Dagan, now head of news operations at US media giant CBS, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, called in his successor Martin White and Ten’s head of digital news and strategy, Rashell Habib, for meetings at CBS headquarters in New York (pictured)
Ten’s sources were ‘uncompromising’ that the summit was not about job cuts in Australia. (Pictured: I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! co-hosts Dr. Chris Brown, left, and Julia Morris, right)
The Australian was the first to report the possibility of a sale, citing sources who said Paramount expected to sell 10 in the next two years.
Channel 10 was bought by ViacomCBS in 2017.
The conglomerate, whose diverse interests include movies, book publishing and amusement parks, changed its name to Paramount Global in February of last year.
Paramount recently fired several local executives, including the head of its broadcast division.
Vice President of Broadcasting Liz Baldwin, Vice President of Operations Frank Filosi and at least seven other senior employees were fired.
The layoffs were part of a move toward a more global approach to streaming content, reports the Australian Financial Review.
Ten’s chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey, will become Australia head of Paramount+, while commercial director Jarrod Villani will become Australia’s regional lead.