In a significant shake-up, Nine Entertainment has announced a sweeping restructuring plan that has led to job losses across its various divisions, including senior newsroom staff. This move is part of a $100 million cost-saving initiative aimed at streamlining operations and boosting commercial growth. The restructuring is impacting staff morale, with many employees describing the atmosphere as “rock bottom.”
The announcement was made via an internal email sent on Monday by Amanda Laing, Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast. The email detailed “structural changes across News, Sport, Stan, Marketing and our Creative functions” intended to “reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for the Nine Group.”
Impact on Newsrooms Across Australia
The restructuring has particularly affected Nine’s newsrooms in Brisbane and Sydney, where several high-profile redundancies have been confirmed. In Brisbane, long-serving Nine News Queensland sports reporter Jonathan Uptin, Supervising Producer of Presentation and Promotion Leon Cull, and Operations Co-ordinator Jessica Llewelyn have all been informed that their positions are being made redundant. The atmosphere in the newsroom is reportedly “flat and uncertain,” with more redundancies expected if voluntary departures do not meet targets.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, the newsroom has been hit hardest by the restructuring process. The Wide World of Sports division has also experienced job losses at a time when Nine is both the Olympic Network and is competing to renew its NRL broadcast rights deal. News Director Michael Best has been holding consultation meetings with affected staff to provide clarity and support during this uncertain time.
High-Profile Departures and Morale Concerns
Among the notable departures is longtime Nine News Adelaide presenter Kate Collins, whose contract will not be renewed. Collins was reportedly “absolutely blindsided” by the decision, which came just days after she led the network’s coverage of the city’s Christmas Pageant. Her absence from Monday night’s bulletin was filled by co-presenter Brenton Ragless.
In Brisbane, it is understood that Bronte Gildea, who has been presenting sport on recent bulletins, is expected to replace Jonathan Uptin on the sports desk. Gildea is also known for her relationship with Brisbane Broncos player Patrick Carrigan.
Strategic Restructuring Amid Industry Challenges
The restructuring at Nine is part of a broader realignment that began earlier this year, merging its free-to-air, digital, and streaming divisions under a single executive structure. This effectively ended Stan’s role as a standalone business. The latest measures are designed to offset weakening advertising revenue, with Nine reporting that Total TV revenue for September and October was “down mid to high single digits” year-on-year.
Despite these challenges, Nine remains committed to expanding its digital and streaming footprint. Executives emphasize that the changes are designed to make the business “fit for the future.” A spokesperson for Nine stated, “The new operating model formally brings together teams across Stan, Channel 9, and 9Now. It is designed to reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration, and deliver commercial growth for Nine, while working to offset the challenging external advertising market.”
Looking Ahead
As Nine navigates these turbulent times, the company is focusing on supporting affected employees through access to its employee wellbeing provider and exploring redeployment opportunities within the broader Nine Group. The broadcaster continues to face industry pressures, but remains optimistic about its future growth and digital expansion.
The restructuring at Nine Entertainment is a stark reminder of the challenges facing media organizations in the current economic climate. As the company seeks to adapt and thrive, the impact on its workforce and the broader industry will be closely watched.
