FORECAST FOR ‘TOUGH’ CHANGE
SEVEN has shaken up its Gold Coast ranks by axing a familiar face, citing the pandemic’s “tough times”.
7 NEWS Gold Coast’s popular Liz Cantor will no longer do her weekly weather and beach-surf reports. She and Luke Munro have been casualties of cost-cutting.
Cantor, who declined to comment, will still present the Live Gold Lotto and Powerball Draws. She also hosts Creek to Coast and Weekender on Sundays.
Tony Auden, an exBureau of Metrology forecaster who hosts 7NEWS Brisbane’s weather, will do the 7NEWS Gold Coast weather instead.
Seven had been reviewing its operation due to industry-wide ad drops. It is understood postponement of the Olympics until 2021, which Seven held broadcast rights for, did not help.
Seven Brisbane director of news Neil Warren said: “We have made some changes to streamline our operations, like everyone is in these tough times. In saying that, it’s full steam ahead for 7NEWS Gold Coast and the news has actually been strengthened with the presence of 7NEWS meteorologist Tony Auden.
“Tony and coastal expert Paul Burt will now form a powerful duo.”
Popular coastal and fishing presenter Burt will file a coastal report on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the weather on Friday and Saturday.
Auden will broadcast from the Gold Coast once a week. He said after being a state forecaster for 16 years, he was excited by the new role: “I live in Brisbane but I surf once a week on the Coast and I love it. It will be a highlight to do the surf forecast, it’s something I am really passionate about.”