Network 10 has announced the discontinuation of its current affairs program, 10 News+, following a year of disappointing viewership figures. The show, which initially struggled to gain traction, will now be scaled back to a single weekly broadcast on Sunday evenings. This strategic adjustment aims to refocus the network's resources on expanding its core news offerings and enhancing local coverage.
Network 10 Reimagines News Strategy with Expanded Local Coverage
In a significant broadcast shake-up, Network 10 has made the decision to cease daily broadcasts of its current affairs program, 10 News+, effective from August 10, 2026. The program, which debuted in June 2025 as a one-hour nightly show and was later trimmed to 30 minutes in January 2026 in an attempt to boost performance, failed to capture a substantial audience, leading to its current restructuring. Instead of its weekday slot, 10 News+ will now air exclusively on Sundays at 6:30 PM.
This move comes as Network 10 plans to lengthen its popular 5 PM news bulletin from 60 minutes to an extensive 90 minutes. Martin White, the Vice-President of News at Ten, communicated these changes to staff on a Wednesday morning, emphasizing that the decision was driven by a clear demand from viewers for more localized reporting. White noted, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, that audience feedback indicated a strong preference for in-depth local news.
Despite the changes, the 10 News+ team, led by co-hosts Amelia Brace and Denham Hitchcock, will continue to deliver investigative pieces, exclusive stories, and insightful analysis throughout the week, alongside the dedicated Sunday program. This ensures that the expertise within the team remains utilized while aiming to alleviate workload pressures on news divisions across the country.
White also highlighted the network's recent successes in news, pointing out that Network 10 achieved its highest monthly national total audience for news since January in the preceding month, with a notable 45% increase in streaming viewership compared to 2025. These shifts are intended to optimize resource allocation and enhance the delivery of local news content.
Both Brace and Hitchcock will remain with Network 10. Hitchcock is slated to work on various documentaries, while Brace will return to the news division after her maternity leave. These changes follow earlier attempts to improve 10 News+'s ratings, including an 'experiment' in January to retain viewers during the 5 PM to 6 PM transition, which involved a seamless segue from the main bulletin directly into 10 News+ without a traditional sign-off.
This latest overhaul also follows the cancellation of Channel 10's afternoon news bulletin in December 2025, which was hosted by Narelda Jacobs. That decision, also aimed at reallocating resources based on audience research, did not result in job losses. Furthermore, the network's late bulletin, hosted by Ursula Heger, was moved from 10:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
As Network 10 adjusts its news and current affairs landscape, these decisions reflect a dynamic response to evolving audience preferences and a strategic pivot towards strengthening its local news presence.
The current landscape of television news is increasingly competitive, with audiences having more choices than ever. Network 10's decision to discontinue 10 News+ in its daily format, while seemingly a setback for a specific program, can be viewed as a pragmatic and forward-thinking strategic adjustment. By listening to audience feedback and prioritizing local news coverage, the network is aiming to solidify its core strength and provide content that truly resonates with its viewers. This move underscores the importance of adaptability in the media industry, where traditional broadcast models must constantly evolve to meet changing demands and consumption habits. It's a reminder that even established programs may need to make way for new approaches that align more closely with contemporary audience preferences for relevant and localized information.