Channel 10 sacks chief sports presenter and Wallabies icon, as Australian broadcasting shake-up continues

Channel 10 have parted company with Australian rugby union legend Matt Burke.

Amid the media shake-up that has engulfed Australian sport of late, it seems Channel 10 are also making changes to their broadcasting teams and have sacked the former Wallabies legend.

It comes as Channel Seven and Channel Nine have both made changes to their AFL broadcasting teams, with Leigh Matthews joining the exodus at Nine, while Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson have also moved from Channel Nine to Channel Seven.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Burk, who won the Rugby World Cup with Australia in 1999, had learned of his decision last Friday and his role as chief sports presenter is due to end in December.

It will bring an end to his 11-year spell with the broadcaster, after Burke first joined Channel 10 back in October 2013, initially presenting 10 News First in Sydney.

Burk has been presenting sport’s news bulletins on the network since.

‘After more than a decade, Matt Burke, sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney will be departing the Network at the end of the year,’ a Channel 10 spokesperson said.

‘Matt joined Network 10 in 2013 as an expert commentator for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia and a few months later was appointed as the permanent sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney.

‘Matt fronted all of Network 10’s Rugby broadcasts from 2013 until 2019 and was integral in the Network’s live coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.’

‘Matt is one of the most versatile and experienced sports presenters on Australian television and his passion and enthusiasm for sports, but particularly Rugby is remarkable.

‘His infectious love of sport, great sense of humour and optimism will be missed in the newsroom.

‘Matt leaves Network 10 with our sincere thanks and warmest wishes for the future.’

Burke reportedly declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Telegraph.

More to follow…