Veteran weatherman Paul Burt has lashed out at Channel Seven in an awkward final on-air segment after he was axed by the network.
The Queensland presenter was recently cut by Seven after almost three decades in the industry as part of a cost-cutting bloodbath.
He presented his final weather segment on Saturday and took aim at the network during his sign off.
‘If I’d had the opportunity I wouldn’t have wanted to go this way. It’s what happens when you get sacked,’ he said at the end of the 6pm news.
The bulletin then awkwardly cut to a montage of Paul presenting segments over the years.
Burt told The n he was given just ’55 seconds to say my goodbyes’.
He has worked for Ten, Nine and Seven during his lengthy media career.
It comes after veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella was also axed from the network earlier this month, after almost four decades in the news industry.
Veteran weatherman Paul Burt has lashed out at Channel Seven in an awkward final on-air segment after he was sacked by the network. He presented his final weather segment on Saturday and took aim at the failing network during his sign off
Ghidella, 58, the face of Seven News in Queensland since 2007, confirmed the news in a fiery Facebook post.
She said her ‘tap on the shoulder’ finally came while she was at the salon, admitting it was a ‘relief’ of sorts after several anxious weeks of media job cuts.
But she was determined not to go quietly as she took aim at the failing network for prioritising gimmicks like astrology readings over keeping veteran talent.
‘When you work in TV for as long as I have, not a day goes by when you aren’t expecting the proverbial tap on the shoulder… After 38 years, my shoulder tap has finally come,’ Ghidella began.
‘It wasn’t quite how I expected it to end at Channel Seven.
‘I was actually sitting at the hairdressers for work, when I got the call informing me, that after 17 years with the network, my time was up.’
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Ghidella then said her recent time at the network had been ‘miserable’ and she was glad to be heading out the door.
‘While somewhat saddened by this decision, there is also some sense of relief. As has been widely reported, the past couple of weeks in TV has, sadly, been a miserable affair,’ she wrote.
‘A long list of talented, loyal and dedicated employees have been shown the door, in what seems to have been an interminable process of pulling the Band-Aid off slowly when it comes to removing what has been deemed excess stock.
‘These people are some of the best content creators in the business. They are good people and it’s been heartbreaking to watch.’
Ghidella added she was not a fan of the network’s rebranding of its news programming, which will see comedian Mark Humphries doing a comedy skit at 6.57pm tonight, and ‘Astro Tash’ start an astrology report next week.
It comes after veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella (pictured) was also axed from the network earlier this month, after almost four decades in the news industry
‘I’m also not one to have my evening news served up with humour and horoscopes either, so, to be honest, it is time to go,’ Ghidella sniped.
‘As I’m known to say, the caravan moves on. There is certainly plenty of talent left in the building and I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.’
She ended her take-no-prisoners post by thanking the many friends she had made throughout her long career with the network.
‘A sincere thank you to everyone who has made this possible, so far, including past employers like the Stokes, Packer and Gleeson families and the news directors, executive producers and station managers who saw fit to give a kid from Babinda [in rural Queensland] a go. I owe you so much.
‘Then there are the viewers… You will never know how much your kindness and support means. What a privilege it is to be welcomed into your homes to present you the news of the day,’ she added.
Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud (pictured) was recently let go by the Network
There has been a cost-cutting bloodbath at Seven as the network’s news division comes under new management.
Three major names to go at the network recently include veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, who is known among friends as the ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ due to his grim news beat.
On the Sydney front, Ovadia – perhaps the most high profile of all the figures axed up until Ghidella’s – has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
Daily Mail revealed Ovadia allegedly sent a series of strange, doctored images to a young female reporter before he was dumped.
Robert Ovadia (pictured) has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal