{"id":277317,"date":"2025-11-11T09:16:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T09:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/277317\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T09:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T09:16:11","slug":"nbn-news-anchor-gavin-morris-exits-amid-nines-sweeping-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/277317\/","title":{"rendered":"NBN NEWS anchor Gavin Morris exits amid Nine\u2019s sweeping cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"

NBN\u2019s Gavin Morris latest high-profile casualty as Nine\u2019s newsroom restructure deepens<\/p>\n

NBN News presenter Gavin Morris is the latest high-profile name to be shown the door by Channel 9, as the network\u2019s sweeping cost reduction program <\/a>continues to claim familiar faces across its television and digital operations.<\/p>\n

TV Blackbox understands Morris has entered negotiations over his redundancy agreement, marking the end of a 15-year tenure that made him one of the most respected figures in regional broadcasting.<\/p>\n

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Gavin Morris joined NBN News in 2009 and quickly became one of the most recognisable presenters in regional television, co-anchoring the nightly 6pm bulletin and serving as a senior weather presenter across Northern New South Wales and the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n

Viewers were quick to notice his absence from Monday night\u2019s NBN News bulletin, where he typically co-hosts alongside Natasha Beyersdorf.<\/p>\n

The network will not comment publicly on any individual departures occurring this week out of \u201crespect\u201d for the consultation process, but sources confirm Morris is among those affected by ongoing redundancies within Nine\u2019s Broadcasting and Streaming divisions.<\/p>\n

His exit comes despite NBN News reinforcing its dominance <\/a>in the Northern NSW television market earlier this year. In July 2025, the regional broadcaster announced its 33rd consecutive ratings win, recording double-digit audience growth across all key demographics and platforms, including a 62.8 per cent rise in weekday BVOD audiences on 9Now.<\/p>\n

Amber Sherlock departs as cost-cutting continues<\/p>\n

The news comes at the same time as 9News Sydney weather presenter Amber Sherlock became the latest metropolitan figure to exit amid the company\u2019s $100 million savings drive.<\/p>\n

Sherlock, who joined Nine in 2007, was absent from Monday night\u2019s bulletin, with Sophie Walsh filling in for her usual weather segment. While the network has not confirmed her departure, newsroom sources told media outlets that Sherlock has \u201cgone\u201d, amid speculation that her contract will not be renewed.<\/p>\n

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\"AmberAmber Sherlock, a long-time 9News Sydney presenter, is the latest casualty in Nine\u2019s high-stakes transformation strategy. (image \u2013 Channel 9)<\/p>\n

Cost-cutting takes hold across multiple newsrooms<\/p>\n

The full impact of Nine Entertainment\u2019s latest restructure is now being felt across the organisation, with confirmed job losses in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as within the Wide World of Sports and creative divisions.<\/p>\n

The changes follow an internal email distributed on Monday morning by Amanda Laing, Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast, who told staff the company would undergo<\/p>\n

\u201cstructural changes across News, Sport, Stan, Marketing and our Creative functions\u201d to \u201creduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for the Nine Group.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the company\u2019s annual general meeting last week, Nine reaffirmed its $100 million cost-out target, part of a broader effort to offset falling advertising revenue and a challenging economic outlook.<\/p>\n

Adelaide and Brisbane teams hit by senior exits<\/p>\n

In Adelaide, long-time Nine News presenter Kate Collins will not have her contract renewed, just days after she fronted coverage of the city\u2019s annual Christmas Pageant. She was absent from Monday night\u2019s broadcast, with co-presenter Brenton Ragless presenting solo.<\/p>\n

According to The Advertiser<\/a>, Collins was \u201cabsolutely blindsided\u201d by the decision, which came as a \u201chuge shock\u201d to newsroom colleagues.<\/p>\n

\"KateKate Collins a familiar face to Adelaide viewers and co-anchor of Nine News for more than a decade, has become the latest casualty of the network\u2019s restructure after being told her contract will not be renewed. (image \u2013 Channel 9)<\/p>\n

In Brisbane, long-serving sports reporter Jonathan Uptin has also been informed his contract will not be renewed, alongside Supervising Producer of Presentation and Promotion Leon Cull and Operations Co-ordinator Jessica Llewelyn, who have been made redundant.<\/p>\n

The Courier-Mail reports<\/a> morale inside the Brisbane newsroom is \u201cflat and uncertain\u201d, with further job losses anticipated if voluntary redundancies do not meet targets.<\/p>\n

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It is understood Bronte Gildea, who has been presenting sport in recent bulletins, is expected to replace Uptin.<\/p>\n

\"Long-servingLong-serving journalist Jonathan Uptin has become one of the highest-profile casualties of Nine\u2019s cost-cutting program in Brisbane. (image \u2013 Nine)<\/p>\n

Melbourne cuts<\/p>\n

On Friday, it was confirmed that beloved Melbourne weather presenter Livinia Nixon would exit the Melbourne news bulletin at the end of the month. At the time, her departure was sold as entirely her own decision, though that now appears to have been a marketing message manufactured to allow the industry veteran to exit with dignity.<\/p>\n

\"LiviniaLivinia Nixon (image \u2013 Nine)<\/p>\n

Sydney newsroom hardest hit<\/p>\n

While other states have seen selective cuts, Sydney is understood to have borne the brunt of the restructuring process. The Wide World of Sports division has also faced reductions as Nine continues to manage the costs associated with its Olympic Games coverage and ongoing NRL broadcast rights negotiations.<\/p>\n

By contrast, the Today Show teams have so far avoided significant structural change.<\/p>\n

In a message to staff on Monday morning, News Director Michael Best said consultation meetings were under way with affected employees and would be completed \u201cas soon as possible\u201d to provide clarity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand this is a time of uncertainty and I want to assure you that my priority is to support everyone through this process,\u201d<\/p>\n

A company-wide overhaul<\/p>\n

Nine confirmed to TV Blackbox that the restructure is part of a wider transformation bringing together teams across Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now under a single operating model.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new operating model formally brings together teams across Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is designed to reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for Nine, while working to offset the challenging external advertising market.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur primary focus during the consultation is supporting these team members through access to our employee wellbeing provider, as well as exploring redeployment opportunities within the broader Nine Group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Industry pressures mount<\/p>\n

Nine Entertainment Co. employs around 2,900 staff across its broadcast and streaming operations. Earlier this year, the company merged its free-to-air, digital and streaming arms under a single executive structure, effectively ending Stan\u2019s role as a standalone business.<\/p>\n

In its most recent trading update, Nine reported that Total TV revenue for September and October was \u201cdown mid to high single digits\u201d year-on-year.<\/p>\n

Despite the turbulence, Nine executives have emphasised that the structural changes are intended to ensure the business remains \u201cfit for the future\u201d.<\/p>\n

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