Full statement from Seven West Media on the passing of David Leckie
Statement from Mike Sneesby on the passing of David Leckie
This morning David Leckie, who led the Nine Network between 1990 and 2001, passed away after a long battle with illness.
In a statement Nine CEO Mike Sneesby said:
“David Leckie was a giant of television. He contributed enormously to the success we all shared with him here at Nine, his instincts and leadership heralded the golden era of Australian television.
“He adored his family and so many of us stayed in touch as a friend even after he left. He set the culture of excellence at Nine that still exists in our DNA today and we thank him for that. We extend our deepest sympathies to wife Skye and his two sons Harry and Ben Leckie.”
RIP to former CEO David Leckie. Leckie was CEO of Seven from 2003 to 2012 in which 7 challenged 9 in the ratings and became Australia’s #1 rating station during his tenure.
News story on David Leckie’s promotion from leading GTV9 and previously TCN9 to being the managing director of the Nine Network.
Source: SMH 30 August 1990.
Leckie’s successes at 7 included
- poaching Ian Ross from Nine
- Mel and Kochie on Sunrise
- Hit US shows such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and Heroes in primetime
- Moving from Epping to Martin Place
- Regaining the free to air AFL rights
- #1 in the ratings in the 2007 Australian television season in which 7 held for 11 years in a row.
- The successful “7 in 07” campaign
Even Ten News First ran a report on Leckie’s passing despite only having major roles at 7 and 9 (and not 10).
They started cohosting a year before Leckie joined Seven, so that is quite an achievement
That’s not right. Ian Ross retired from Nine. It was after he had settled into retirement that Seven offered him a contract.
Not sure whether he was still under contract then or freelancing, but Roscoe still occasionally presented on Nine (mainly filling in over Summer) until at least March 2003:
https://twitter.com/Zampakid/status/1384485577534296071
No doubt if Nine had their time again, they would’ve chosen Ian Ross to bridge the significant gap between Hendo’s retirement and Overton being ready to take the main chair. But alas, that’s not how history played out.
He joined Seven News in December 2003. Seven has uploaded his first bulletin on to YouTube.
This is a nice tribute by McWilliams which does a really good job at explaining how Leckie’s influence made an indelible mark on both Nine and Seven
This was also early in Leckie’s reign
As I understand it, he was still under contract.
Roscoe wasn’t meant to start at Seven until 2004, but Nine granted him an early release when it became clear they didn’t have any work for him.