Network 10 restructures 10 News+ and 5pm bulletins, cutting weekday shows and expanding local news
Consensus Summary
Network 10 is restructuring its news programming by moving 10 News+ from weeknights to a single Sunday slot at 6:30pm starting August 10, [DATE UNVERIFIED], while expanding its 5pm local news bulletins from one hour to 90 minutes Monday to Friday. The changes follow the cancellation of *The Project* in June 2025, which had a nearly 16-year run, and aim to prioritize local news and long-form journalism. Both sources confirm fewer than five redundancies will occur, with staff redeployed to the extended bulletins. Amelia Brace and Denham Hitchcock will continue anchoring 10 News+ on Sundays, though Brace will take maternity leave. Ratings data from SMH shows 10 News+ struggled with weekday viewership (averaging 151,000 nationally) compared to *The Project*’s peak audiences of 238,000–357,000, while the 5pm bulletins performed better with over 300,000 viewers. Network 10 also confirmed no outsourcing plans and highlighted growth in streaming audiences and Late News viewership since 2024.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Fewer than five staff are expected to be made redundant, with others redeployed to the 5pm bulletin
- 10 News+ was launched in June 2025 after *The Project* was cancelled
- *The Project* had a nearly 16-year run before cancellation
- Amelia Brace and Denham Hitchcock will continue to front 10 News+ on Sundays
- Network 10 confirmed it will not outsource its news service
- 10 News+ currently airs six nights a week (Sunday to Friday) before the changes
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Staff were informed of the changes on July 22, 2026, morning
- 10 News+ was described as a 'news and current affairs program' with 'compelling investigations and long-form journalism'
- Denham Hitchcock will work on several documentaries under the new format
- 10 News+ Monday to Friday edition averaged about 151,000 national viewers year-to-date, while Sunday edition drew 160,000
- *The Project* attracted between 238,000 and 357,000 viewers nationally the week before cancellation
- 10’s 5pm bulletins averaged more than 300,000 viewers this year
- 10 News saw its biggest monthly national total audience since January 2026
- 10’s streaming audience is up 45% on 2025
- 10’s Late News is attracting its biggest audiences since its return in 2024
- Martin White, Ten’s vice-president of news, informed staff of the changes on July 22, 2026, morning
- Amelia Brace will take maternity leave but remain with Ten’s news division
- Perth is now an exception, with Narelda Jacobs presenting a local weekend bulletin in her home state
- Ten secured *Australian Ninja Warrior* for 2027, hosted by Robert Irwin, Georgie Tunny, and Beau Ryan
- Nine is also managing changes this year, with a fill-in presenter for co-anchor (unspecified role)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states 10 News+ was launched in June 2025 after *The Project* was cancelled, while SMH implies it was initially a one-hour format in June 2025 before unspecified changes
- SMH mentions 10 News+ aired six nights a week (Sunday to Friday) before changes, but ABC does not specify the exact weekday frequency prior to the move
Source Articles
Network 10 moves 10 News+ from weekdays
Network 10 says its 10 News+ news and current affairs program is moving from its nightly weekday slot and will be aired on Sunday nights only.
Struggling 10 News+ dumped from weekdays as Ten expands 5pm bulletins
The network announced the changes this morning, with staff redeployed to Ten’s early evening bulletins.