Ten CEO Hamish McLennan claims John Stephens was ‘only man’ who could turn network around
McLennan
Ten CEO Hamish McLennan took the stand this afternoon in the John Stephens case and accused rivals Network Seven of pressuring the veteran programmer into reneging on an agreement to join Ten.
As proceedings continued in the rival TV network’s battle for the programmer credited with helping to change the fates of both Seven and Nine, McLennan told the court he felt Stephens was the only person to turn around the networks ratings woes.
McLennan was the first witness to be called to the stand by Ten legal counsel David Studdy SC, as the network argues Stephens breached his contract with Ten by failing to take up the job announced on March 7 and staying on at Network Seven.
I thought it was Hamish’s job to turn the network around?
perhaps he needs to fight Lachlan Murdoch on the streets of Bronte?
Why have they not considered that it’s impossible to ‘turn around’ a business that functions on a defunct and irrelevant model?
The easiest way to turnaround the Network is get rid of Murdoch…
It is very sad day if John Stephens is the only person who can “turn around the Network”…what happens after the trial when he does not come ?
Can I have couple of million a year to not be responsible for turning things around?
Where do I sign…
John Stephens the only person in Australia who can turn 10 around? Doesn’t say much for McClennan’s confidence in his own team. Also raises the obvious question about his own role…..isn’t that what HE (McClennan) was hired to do?
My dad is 67, sits at home and watches shitloads of TV…he’s available for a couple of days a week……..
The only person in Australia who can turn 10 around? Hell, if that’s true, then they must be in bigger trouble than I thought.
To turn ten around gives you net, the remaining part of the word is work. This should not be about the money, and the effort should not be about clawing back ratings.
So far it has been a case of lucky dipping in a bag of unknown fire crackers in the hope of pulling out one that will wow the crowd. What if they are all damp squibs?
Every performer knows that when the audience has been elated and uplifted by the best, there comes a time to let them settle again, only by this route will you ever be able to build them up again.
Good programming and serving the viewing public is what television should be about. The rats will not follow the pied piper if he fails to whistle the tune.
Dig a deeper trench, and the water will run into your garden.
I am starting to sound like a soothsayer…..maybe that’s what is required.
Oh well Hamish if the only man who can turn Ten around isn’t available as George Carlin once so elegantly it it seems like you’re SOLAJWF….. Shit outta luck and jolly well fucked!
If any TV network was serious in any way about turning their businesses around they’d be looking to smart 20 and 30 somethings to set their programming agenda, not a 67 year old.
@Jeremy.. are you suggesting that a 67 year old is incapable because they are 67? I would take a smart 67 year old who knew their shit any day over someone 40 years their junior who knew fuck all. Knowledge and not age should be the determining factor in people getting employed numbskull. Ageism is just as odious as racism or sexism and should attract the same derision.
The odd thing is Stephens is credited as the only guy who can turn Ten around, yet his salary is 20% of the CEO even when excluding LTI.
If I was Stephens I’d be asking for rem. similar to Hamish … based on this whole circus it appears his value is at that level rather than the $400k rumoured to be his OTE.
@ Jeremy
Your comment about the aged being out of touch has upset me to the degree that I am in need of a suitable physic. I shall bespeak a man with a carriage and instruct him to convey me to the city apothecary in the morning.
I assure you young man that once my spheres are back in orbit, I shall be instructing my solicitor to forward a missive in the strongest tones.