Seven is simply one of the best networks who specialises in treating their best talents like crap.
Over the years they’ve lost Chris Bath, Rebecca Maddern, Talitha Cummins, Kay McGrath, Simon Reeve, Jim Wilson and Melissa Doyle. They’re so bad at keeping their best talents yet their uninspiring talents stay on.
Strange how the article says that Reeve was informed his contract was terminated since the weekend sports role didn’t need to be filled anymore, yet Jim Wilson read sport for a few weekends before leaving the network?
Some talent move on for other reasons other than the network failing to keep them.
If someone is going to leave for whatever reason (family, retirement, other commitments or opportunities) the network can’t really do much other than wish them well.
All networks have treated their staff horribly in the past, or some more recently - often its the ones behind the scenes who go unnoticed also.
Not taking anything away from the complaints of high profile presenters who’ve been treated badly by their employers of course, but it’s the stories of those behind the scenes in lesser known roles we probably need to hear more about in the future since it’s probably more often than not the end of media careers for these people moreso than anyone who has/had an on-air profile.
Simon Reeve’s days at Seven were probably numbered when his good mate Tim Worner left the network. I’d say the Coronavirus situation forced Seven’s hand and it sounds like they struggled to find him something to do in Brisbane.
Let’s face it, Simon isn’t exactly on the A grade talent roster. He was no Ian Ross. He was afforded the luxury of being flown in from the Gold Coast each week for a few hours work on Saturday and Sunday mornings and was paid well for it. Not many journos would get that type of treatment. The role could’ve been performed by a Sydney based sports reporter. Other people at the network have faced cuts and changes to working conditions due to the pandemic. Its no surprise they had to make his position redundant but the question of whether he should be considered a contractor or an employee is an interesting one.
It’s an interesting question.
I wonder if it has something to do with what programs presenters appear on.
Simon only ever appeared on Sunrise/Weekend Sunrise in his last few years at the network and never appeared on Seven News or any other network programs (apart from Million Dollar Minute).
Whereas, his former Weekend Sunrise counterpart Sally Bowrey, has another permanent presenting role doing the daytime Friday bulletins in addition to Weekend Sunrise, making me inclined to think that she’s more of an “employee” than Simon was (also since she pops up on The Morning Show and fills in for weather on Seven News Sydney).
If I remember correctly, Simon Reeve also presented sport on weekends on Seven News Brisbane back in the early noughties? I remember seeing an image of him presenting a news update on (what I like to call) the blue TV wall set that BTQ had between 2002-06, from around that time.
Sounds about right.
I also recall that Simon presented the first ever Early News bulletin back in July 2008, the role which would usually be held by Natalie Barr or whoever the Sunrise newsreader was that day, and Reeve happened to be reading the news that day as Nat was hosting in place of Mel.
We could unfortunately say that to Channel 10 too.
The recent axing at Channel 10 are a bloodbath in comparison and it’s not the first time there.
Channel 9 haven’t exactly been stellar either. Have we already forgotten how they have treated the revolving breakfast show hosts on Today in the past two years?
Correct.
He was also the secondary news presenter on Sunrise, whenever Nat was either away or filling-in for Mel. That said, he presented the news for a whole week in the lead-up to the APEC summit in Sydney in 2007, and also presented while Nat was on maternity leave in 2005.
Wasn’t Jess Rowe employed on a similar basis when she was reading the news on Weekend Sunrise, in that she was a contractor/freelanceer as opposed to being on a network contract.
That’s what I think, too, though I think I can recall her presenting Seven News Sydney at least once during her time at Seven.
I don’t remember Jessica Rowe presenting Seven News Sydney at all - unless it was a Christmas Day or equally low profile 6pm bulletin.
I think the issue seems to be that Simon didn’t realise what is his employment status was with the network.
Not to my recollection, I don’t remember her doing anything other than Weekend Sunrise (not even filling on on weekdays).
Not necessarily. They have a Gold Coast bureau where weekend sport could have been presented. He could have featured on Hot Topics or do lives from QLD (as they initially trialled). He could also have been a familiar face to file local weekday stories for the breakfast show (a market they are struggling currently in). I don’t think lack of creativity can be an excuse.
Doesn’t mean he isn’t entitled to his rights specified in his contract. He moved to Queensland BTW when 7 reduced his roles in Sydney, after Boland left and the game show ceased.
June.
I do recall Jess doing some filling in on Morning News over a Christmas period but definitely not a Sydney bulletin.
Jess also read the Early News and did Sunrise news for a week in August 2013 IIRC when Nat was off.
There is a video montage of Jess doing the Early News somewhere on YouTube I believe, dated for the 14/08/2013.
I still believe she did the Morning News as well.