Jillian Whiting ousted

Submitted by debritz on December 6, 2008 - 20:44.

Jillian Whiting has quit Channel 9 (choosing her family, of course, as they always do). When asked why she was leaving, Whiting told The Courier-Mail:

"You'll have to ask Channel 9. All I can say is it was a surprise to me but I'm happy with my decision and I'm so ready for a holiday."

News boss Lee Anderson said Whiting had been offered another role in the newsroom (but she presumably declined it).
This keeps the door open for Heather Foord to host Extra next year. But with Andrew Lofthouse also hovering around the corridors of Nine next year, I think there are more announcements to come.
PS: There was also a rumour that Talitha Cummins would leave Seven for Nine. I can't see that being the case, because Seven seems a more stable place to be right now, but anything can happen in tellyland.
PPS: I'm just wondering where all the money is coming from to pay these people (or pay them out) since Nine is supposedly cash-strapped. Maybe that's why Bruce Paige is still there - they can't afford to retire him! (That's a joke, OK?)

Seven being stable, Brett?

Submitted by Kuttsywood (not verified) on December 6, 2008 - 21:16.

Seven being stable, Brett? If Sharyn's not reading with John on weekdays next year, I'll eat a virtual hat. Do you think, Jillian's been, boned? But then again, QTQ just let go of the biggest free agent in Brisbane television.

Seven has beat 9 in everything this year except the categories "Best local promotion", "Best local programming", "The most respect to Brisbane viewers in times of trouble, especially those in The Gap" (Ten beat them both...), "Best semi-retirement entitlements" and "The Steven Bradbury award for using a negative and turning it into a positive [i.e 2008 non-Olympic ratings]".

Call me a cynic, but I

Submitted by debritz on December 7, 2008 - 00:51.

Call me a cynic, but I reckon it won't be long before somebody in the southern HQs of Seven, Nine and Ten issues the order to cut right back on local costs in Brisbane. As long as the stations remain networked owned, they will be screwed in these "tough economic times" and beyond. I don't wish it to happen, but I am surprised it hasn't happened yet. But, then again, we don't know what all these people are earning. Not as much as the likes of Bruce and Frank were back in the 1980s and early 90s.

Brett, Nine knows the risks

Submitted by Kuttsywood (not verified) on December 7, 2008 - 01:24.

Brett, Nine knows the risks and rewards of local programming.

I am expecting Seven to dump, yes dump the weekend advertorials as a kneejerk response if Lofthouse beats Ghidella regularly in 2009. Seven Brisbane these days is a newsroom, nothing else, and the elimination of the "advertorials" will be a sure sign that 7's worried about a turning tide.
I also think within 18-24 months, 7 News in Brisbane will not even be produced here. Instead, we would be watching a Sydney-produced HD news bulletin. ( http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=u-D7bknpjCQ )

Ten has made the first of these cuts, with Brisbane produced TTN getting the chop earlier this week. More here http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24750562-5006347,00.htm...