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Seven cancels more programs, including Sydney Weekender after 25 years

The axe has continued to fall across Seven’s programming slate with another raft of programs out the door, including Sydney Weekender which has run for 25 years.

The network’s brand-produced travel shows, including Sydney Weekender, SA Weekender, The Great Weekend, Queensland Weekender, The Great Day Out and Creek to Coast, have all been dropped as Seven continues to focus on revamping its offering.

Mike Whitney and Sydney Weekender are out the door at Seven

Sydney Weekender has run for around 24 seasons, Queensland Weekend and The Great Day Out have 19 seasons and Creek to Coast has ten.

Seven’s CEO James Warburton said the cuts were necessary following the new content commissions from the network.

“The programs that are not continuing have all made a valuable contribution to Seven,
particularly Sydney Weekender which has been a Sydney weekend institution for 25 years.

“However, we will continue to make decisions that support our content led growth strategy and
focus resources where they will make the most impact.”

Already produced episodes will continue to air for some of the programs in early 2020, but no new episodes are planned.

The travel shows are far from the first to face the axe ahead of 2020. Today Tonight, which airs in Adelaide and Perth, will finish this week after it was announced the local versions would no longer continue. Sunday Night wrapped earlier this month after being cancelled. It hasn’t yet been announced what will happen to the staff of both formats.

At its 2020 Upfronts event in October, Seven announced its new commissions including another season of Big Brother, Farmer Wants a Wife, a revamped My Kitchen Rules and some new content including Plate of Origin with Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan and Mega Mini Golf which will be fronted by recently-returned host Sonia Kruger.

2020 will also see Seven air the Tokyo Olympics, which it is predicted massive audiences for.

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