After months of speculation Seven Network has appointed its programming boss Tim Worner to run Australia’s top-rating TV network.
The timing is exquisite – on Janaury 1 Worner’s former colleague at Seven, James Warburton, starts as CEO at Network Ten. Warburton was heir apparent at Seven but opted for the Ten role instead after ongoing tension with Seven West Media CEO David Leckie.
Worner will run Seven Network Television and report to Leckie.
Speculation has been building for some months about Worner’s future – he returned recently from the US after completing a management course. TV rivals were expecting Worner’s appointment and have already quietly been hoping that a promotion for Worner might provide some weakness in an otherwise dominating TV ratings performance expected for next year from Seven. The theory goes if Worner is distracted by the bigger task of running a TV network then perhaps Seven’s tactical prowess for 2012 might be diluted.
“We know what we are doing,” Worner proclaimed at Seven’s 2012 upfront presentation in October. “We are not making it up as we go along. We are more organized than we’ve ever been. We are not rebuilding, we’re reloading. There ends the message.”
Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes said: "We are delighted that Tim has accepted this role. He is an outstanding executive and has played a key role in Seven’s success."
Seven West Media chief executive David Leckie said: “He’ll be terrific in his new role as CEO of Television for Seven West Media and I am looking forward to working with him to continue our group’s success.
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