Inside Seven's secret plan to sack most of its best-paid stars earning more than $300,000 a year
Seven News bosses were secretly planning to sack some of their most popular and best-paid stars, a new report has claimed.
Former top news boss Anthony De Ceglie had a plan to axe every Seven personality on more than $300,000 a year in favour of upcoming TV stars, according to The Australian.
Spotlight chief correspondent Liam Bartlett, Seven News chief reporter Chris Reason and Seven News Sydney anchor Michael Usher were going to be quietly dismissed as part of a 'drastic cost-cutting operation'.
Sunrise and Morning show presenters, Natalie Barr, Matt Shirvington, Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur were the only stars not at risk of losing their jobs.
However, De Ceglie's proposal was met with 'immediate resistance from Seven's more seasoned executives'.
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Veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella was axed from the network in July last year, after almost four decades working in the news industry.
Ghidella, 58, the face of Seven News in Queensland since 2007, confirmed the news in a fiery Facebook post at the time.
She said her 'tap on the shoulder' finally came while she was at the salon, admitting it was a 'relief' of sorts after several anxious weeks of media job cuts.
But she was determined not to go quietly as she took aim at the failing network for prioritising gimmicks like astrology readings over keeping veteran talent.
'When you work in TV for as long as I have, not a day goes by when you aren't expecting the proverbial tap on the shoulder... After 38 years, my shoulder tap has finally come,' Ghidella began.
'It wasn't quite how I expected it to end at Channel Seven.
'I was actually sitting at the hairdressers for work, when I got the call informing me, that after 17 years with the network, my time was up.'
Ghidella then said her recent time at the network had been 'miserable' and she was glad to be heading out the door.
Queensland cloud watcher Paul Burt and Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud were also axed from the network.
Burt has lashed out at Channel Seven in an awkward final on-air segment after he was axed by the network in July last year.
He presented his final weather segment and took aim at the network during his sign off.
'If I'd had the opportunity I wouldn't have wanted to go this way. It's what happens when you get sacked,' he said at the end of the 6pm news.
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