Ben Davis, the head of sport at Channel Seven in Queensland, has been axed after working for the network for 30 years.
The veteran presenter, 50, confirmed this week that his contract has not been renewed.
Davis, who is expected to finish up his role by the end of this month, revealed that management told him he had done nothing wrong.
Davis, who is married and has three children, posted to LinkedIn: ‘Naturally, I’m disappointed my contract with Seven News wasn’t renewed, but as it was explained to me, this was nothing to do with performance, ability, or talent – it’s just business.’
Elsewhere in his post, Davis thanked viewers, family and colleagues.
‘The friendships and relationships forged either side of the camera and microphone still last to this day,’ he said.
Ben Davis, Head of Sport at Channel Seven in Queensland, has been axe d after working for the network for 30 years
Davis, who is expected to finish up his role by the end of February, revealed that management at Seven explained the reason for his untimely exit was just ‘business’
‘While I’ve reported on, and worked with, some of the best teams on the planet – it’s the team at home who’s had the biggest impact.
‘I’m eternally grateful for the support of my amazingly talented, beautiful, and sport-mad wife Beck – who sacrificed so much for my career as we raised three stunning humans we’re so proud to call our children.
‘They are my family. They are my team.’
Davis intended to stay in the media, telling the Courier-Mail on Wednesday he was ‘confident’ he would find a job in broadcasting ahead of Brisbane’s hosting of the Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2032.
‘There’s so much happening in Queensland in the lead up to 2032,’ he told the publication.
‘I’ve never seen so much excitement, vibrancy and potential for our state. I’m really looking forward to playing a role in driving that.’
Davis leaves Seven after first starting at the network in 1995
Erin Edwards, 7NEWS Director, Queensland, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Ben is a master storyteller, who informed and entertained our viewers for decades. I’m grateful to Ben for his incredible contribution to 7NEWS Brisbane. I wish him well.’
His departure followed that of Seven’s Melbourne weekend weather presenter Sonia Marinelli, who announced her exit earlier this month.
‘I am stepping away from my role at 7News. My husband and I have decided to make a sea-change,’ she said in a statement.
‘We will be taking our four young children on an adventure up the east coast. This decision has been years in the making.
‘After spending most of my TV news career talking about our weather, I’m excited to get out and actually enjoy it with those I love most.’
Despite recent rumours that a high-profile network would be axing a weather presenter, Seven told the Herald Sun that Marinelli left on her own terms.
Marinelli is the latest in a series of popular presenters leaving Seven over the past year.
In August, senior 7News reporter Steve Hart also left, and will be moving to WIN News in Wollongong.
His departure followed Shane Webcke’s shock exit from the sports news desk the previous week.
They are among the Seven employees who have had their roles reduced or been axed amid the network’s cost-cutting bloodbath over the past year.
Seven West Media slashed 150 editorial staff in a round of redundancies which claimed big names including Queenslanders newsreader Sharyn Ghidella and veteran weatherman Paul Burt.
Seven Network’s recently appointed news and current affairs boss Anthony De Ceglie has been replacing sections leaders across the country with younger managers.
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide all have fresh news directors, and new executive producers have been put in charge of Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight.
