Rob McKnight to be EP of Ten’s new mid-morning show
Rob McKnight, the producer-presenter who led Nine News’ experiments with live video streaming, has been hired as executive producer of Ten’s new morning show.
His appointment by Ten’s director of morning television Adam Boland comes days after Ita Buttrose was named a member of the panel show’s on air team.
McKnight, who runs the promotional team for Nine’s news and current affairs operation, dramatically expanded his role with behind the scenes videos and a weekly live streamed news based panel show 9StreamLive. He has also championed Nine News’ social media engagement.
Boland told Mumbrella: “Rob’s appointment proves we are determined to hire the best in the business. It is well and truly game on.”
McKnight will find himself pitted against Seven’s ratings-winning The Morning Show and Nine’s Mornings, which has been closing the gap in recent months.
While McKnight will report in to Boland for the mid-morning show, Boland will directly EP the forthcoming breakfast show – reportedly coming form outdoor locations including Manly beach – himself. The two shows will be run as one production unit.
McKnight and Boland have previously worked together on Seven’s Sunrise, which Boland turned into the top rating show.
McKnight told Mumbrella: “I’m so excited. Adam is a creative genius. And how often do you get to create a program from scratch?
“My feeling is that Ten is turning a corner.”
McKnight said that the future of 9StreamLive – which he ran in his own time as a “passion project” would be in the hands of the management at Nine. He said: “I would love to see Nine continue to experiment in the digital space. I’m very grateful to Nine for giving 9StreamLive a shot.”
Because McKnight was out of contract, he will be able to join Ten in just a month’s time.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Yes definitely Turning a corner. But you are just heading into another two oncoming trucks. Why try and compete? Surely there is more revenue and more audience opportunity in making kids programmes available free to air against these other juggernauts. Even picking up Ch9 and 7’s dropped soaps makes more sense than trying to out 2 proven performers. Come on Ch10 what the heck are you thinking??
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I have a huge amount of time for Adam Boland and Rob Knight.
The two of them are pure TV people – they are there because they love the medium. Rob is someone who is passionate about the product and Adam has been very smart to appoint him.
If you were the CEO of network 10 you’d be an idiot not to have a couple of tv dorks running the show!
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