A popular Channel Seven meteorologist has been fired amid dozens of job cuts at the ailing network.
Paul Burt, who presented weather reports for the Gold Coast and Brisbane news bulletins since 2013, has been sacked. Gold Coast Newsletter reported.
The presenter, known for his entertaining reports which he often presented in pouring rain and howling winds, was a fan favorite who had his own fishing and adventure show, Step Outside With Paul Burt, which aired on Sundays on 7Mate.
Two years ago, he stopped his live TV cross-country and dove into the waves to rescue a 10-year-old boy struggling in the waves in Surfers Paradise.
Burt even became an “International Belly Champion” in 2023, much to the amusement of his co-hosts.
He reportedly did not present the weather bulletin on Tuesday night, while Brisbane reporter Tony Auden replaced him.
He returned to TV screens on Wednesday night to interview the brother of NRL star Reece Walsh ahead of the second State of Origin.
Burt’s television career began on Channel 10 before moving to Nine, where he spent eight years.
Paul Burt (pictured, right), who presented weather reports for the Gold Coast and Brisbane news bulletins since 2013, has been sacked.
The presenter, known for his entertaining reports which he often presented in pouring rain and strong winds, was a fan favorite and had his own fishing and adventure show on 7Mate.
He even became an ‘International Belly Champion’ in 2023, much to the amusement of his co-presenters (see below).
Burt is one of 150 Seven West Media employees who have been shown the door in recent days.
Chief executive Jeff Howard told staff in an email on Tuesday that costs needed to be cut, especially after Meta decided not to renew its agreement to pay for Australian news content.
Meta owns Facebook and Instagram.
“Several roles in the company will change and, unfortunately, some people will leave us,” Howard said.
“We will work hard to reduce the impact on people as much as we can and ensure our people receive as much support as possible.”
Among the changes at SWM are the departures of chief revenue officer Kurt Burnette, director of marketing and audience Melissa Hopkins and sporting director and managing director of Seven in Melbourne Lewis Martin.
The combined trio has dedicated 65 years to SWM, and Howard said the workplace “will be very different without them.”
Around 150 Seven West Media employees have been made redundant amid a major round of redundancies, with three senior executives leaving the company. Pictured is Seven West Media CEO Jeff Howard.
The job cuts are part of attempts to save the company $100 million, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Howard told staff that while SWM was doing well in print, digital and television media, “our high cost base of $1.2 billion a year is not sustainable and must be reduced.”
“As we look into FY25, we face continued upward pressure on this cost base,” he said.
SWM, owner of The West Australian newspaper, will move forward with three divisions: digital, TV and Western Australia.