James Warburton says Seven has still seen a ‘massive transformation’ despite its content being the ‘hardest hit’ by COVID-19
Seven’s plans for a content-led transformation, revealed last year by then-new CEO James Warburton, are well underway, Warburton has confirmed. This is despite the network being ‘the hardest hit’ by COVID-19 restrictions, which saw it lose two planned tentpole programs and caused big delays to others.
“From our perspective, obviously you can see the results. We were willing, we needed to transform the company, you saw all the dialogue when I first arrived. COVID-19 really accelerated the transformation in some senses, but you can clearly see the effect of the results,” he told Mumbrella.
Warburton, who had just presented Seven West Media’s results to investors, said that despite the clearly challenged market, Seven was a better business than it had been 12 months prior.
7 are stretched enough as it is… can’t imagine a leaner team will help in the long run.
What is a ‘tentpole program’ please? A show about camping out?
What about 7 actually broadcasting some quality local drama programs like ABC & SBS?? If they can afford it, why can’t commercial TV networks? Then I might start watching 7 again. Even the AFL games shown are the leftovers from Foxtel!
… If a TV network can’t survive during COVID-19, it shouldn’t be in business.
It seems a bit unfair to the other networks who’ve delivered high ratings during a period where Seven is failing – due to bad management (as stated by James above for the previous years).
Let’s not forget, a record number of people are staying home and watching TV during COVID lock-downs.
This should be a bumper year for Seven, even without it’s missing Olympics and other tent pole shows.
Ratings don’t mean anything if nobody’s buying advertising space