TV Stars Face Pay Scrutiny as Networks Cut Costs

Australia's top commercial TV networks are reassessing the value of their leading on-air personalities, weighing high presenter salaries against increasingly limited screen time. The goal is to reduce spending while managing the risk of losing key talent or sparking public criticism.

Networks including Nine and Seven are currently preparing for major newsroom reductions. Dozens of roles are under review as ad revenue weakens, prompting executives to reconsider legacy contracts that were once designed to prevent rival poaching of high-profile hosts.

Some well-known TV figures are being paid large sums for minimal appearances. One former prime-time host is reportedly receiving $500,000 a year under a scaled-back deal but has appeared on screen for only 16 minutes so far. This amounts to roughly $16,000 per minute of airtime. By contrast, daily presenters like the Today show host may cost more annually, but their regular appearances lower the per-minute expense to around $58.

The trend is not limited to commercial broadcasters. The national public broadcaster is also facing scrutiny. One presenter is estimated to be earning $400,000 despite only featuring in a small number of interviews. However, some of these high-paid figures are expected to return in upcoming months as new programming enters production.

Although financial pressure appears to be the primary driver, there is ongoing concern about how these decisions might affect audience loyalty and give competitors an advantage. For the moment, network priorities are focused on budget control, even if that comes with the risk of losing once-iconic figures of prime-time TV.

Source: The Australian, News.com, Ground News