‘Difficult yet necessary’: Channel Nine cancels Darwin evening news
In a worrying sign of the times, Channel Nine has axed its nightly, hourly Darwin news bulletin, with the broadcast being replaced by the Queensland news.
In addition, Nine’s Gold Coast bulletin will be downsized, with a single reporter presenting each evening, a job that will be split between current on-air newsreaders Eva Milic and Paul Taylor.
The changes to Darwin and Gold Coast will impact 11 full-time roles, with some redeployments and three redundancies. A reporter and camera-operator will continue to work from Darwin, “to tell the Territory’s stories to a national audience.”
Nine said in a statement to media the changes were made “as part of its strategic transformation program.”
“These difficult yet necessary decisions ensure Nine is able to withstand external challenges, while maintaining a commitment to both the Northern Territory and Gold Coast regions.”
Nine points out it “remains the only free-to-air and bespoke news bulletin on the Gold Coast”, while the ABC notes it is now the “only network providing a locally produced TV news bulletin in the Northern Territory.”
Nine also notes that “through redeployment opportunities and current vacancies, Nine has significantly reduced the number of people impacted by this decision and we are supporting those employees through this process.”
Eagle-eyed viewers may have already seen the writing on the wall, with regular newsreader Paul Murphy appearing less regularly, and the presentation of the bulletin being handled by a cast of Channel Nine Brisbane presenters, from the Brisbane studios – with the journalists, and camera operators working from Darwin.
In addition, the Queensland bulletin was already being aired in Darwin over the weekends, with local news on weeknights only.
NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo told the ABC the removal of the local bulletin was “hugely disappointing”.
“From covering the devastation of Cyclone Tracy to being first on the ground following the Bali bombings, Nine News Darwin has always been a reliable source of information during some of the most defining moments in our history,” she said, saying the decision would leave a “significant gap.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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The abc wasted no time letting everyone know about local news program…. unfortunately, it is rarely interesting…. seems the newsreaders feel similarly…. not all newsworthy content is aired, pick’n’choose it seems, aligned with abc policies of wokedom….. some presenters have been reduced to monotone delivery of stories….
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The nt news was broad casterd from QLD amy way in 22 I was in Mackay i watched the 5 o’clock news had the old fart reading the news so how can he be in two studios within an hour
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