Channel Seven Queensland weather presenter Paul Burt sacked as network lays off 150 staff
- Seven weatherman Paul Burt let go
- One of 150 staff sacked by network
- READ MORE: Channel Seven presenter's stunt backfires in toe-curling interview
A popular Channel Seven weatherman has been sacked amid dozens of job cuts at the embattled network.
Paul Burt, who filed weather reports for both the Gold Coast and Brisbane news bulletins since 2013, has been let go, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
The presenter, who was known for his entertaining reports often delivered in driving rain and howling winds, was a fan favourite who had his own fishing and adventure show, Step Outside With Paul Burt, which aired on Sundays on 7Mate.
Two years ago, he famously stopped his TV live cross and charged into the surf to rescue a 10-year-old boy struggling at Surfers Paradise.
Mr Burt even became an 'international belly flopping champion' in 2023, much to his co-presenters' amusement.
He reportedly did not present the weather bulletin on Tuesday night as Brisbane reporter Tony Auden filled in.
He returned to TV screens on Wednesday night to interview NRL star Reece Walsh's brother ahead of the second State of Origin.
Burt's television career started at Channel 10 before making the switch to Nine, where he spent eight years.
Paul Burt (pictured, right), who filed weather reports for both the Gold Coast and Brisbane news bulletins since 2013, has been axed
The presenter, who was known for his entertaining reports often delivered in driving rain and howling winds, was a fan favourite who had his own fishing and adventure show on 7Mate
He even became an 'international belly flopping champion' in 2023, much to his co-presenters' amusement (watch below)
Mr Burt is one among 150 staff from Seven West Media 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 in the wake of Meta choosing not to renew its deal to pay for Australian news content.
Meta owns Facebook and Instagram.
'A number of roles across the company will change and unfortunately some people will be leaving us,' Mr Howard said.
'We will work hard to reduce the impact on people as much as we can, and we will make sure that our people are fully supported.'
Among the changes to SWM is the departure of chief revenue officer Kurt Burnette, chief marketing and audience officer Melissa Hopkins, and Seven's head of sport and managing director of Melbourne, Lewis Martin.
The trio combined have dedicated 65 years to SWM, with Mr Howard saying the workplace 'will be very different without them'.
About 150 staff from Seven West Media have been let go amid a major round of redundancies, with three senior executives all leaving the company. Pictured is Seven West Media chief executive Jeff Howard
The job cuts are part of attempts to save the business $100million, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Mr Howard told staff while SWM was doing well across print, digital and TV, 'our high cost base of $1.2billion a year is not sustainable and needs to be reduced'.
'As we look into FY25 we are faced with continuing upward pressure on this cost base,' he said.
SWM, which owns The West Australian newspaper, will move forward with three divisions - digital, TV and Western Australia.
