Nine MD to hand over reins

Jeffrey Browne is stepping down as MD of Australia’s Nine Network after seven years at the helm.

It was Browne’s decision to go but his role won’t be filled, as David Gyngell, CEO of parent company Nine Entertainment, is taking direct oversight of the network.

Browne, who leaves on August 1, will retain his ties with Gyngell in the new part-time role of executive director commercial at Nine Entertainment.

Gyngell‘s workload has lightened since Nine Entertainment sold ACP magazines to Germany’s Bauer. Some of Browne’s duties will be picked up by other senior executives, but mostly by Gyngell. All the execs who reported to Browne will now report to Gyngell.

Rated as a shrewd negotiator, Browne closed the deals to purchase the Adelaide and Perth stations from Bruce Gordon’s WIN Corp and the rights to telecast the National Rugby League and Australian Test Cricket and one-day internationals. His departure signals an end to that deal-making focus.

In May, Browne resigned as chairman of the free-to-air industry’s lobby group, Free TV Australia, after being accused of putting Nine’s interests ahead of those of the other networks.

Nine had urged the government to scrap the rule preventing a network from reaching more than 75% of the population, which would have paved the way for a merger with regional television and national radio group Southern Cross Media, in the face of opposition from Seven and Ten.

Browne said he is looking forward to new business challenges.

In June, Nine had a 38% share of total FTA audiences, pipped by Seven’s 39%, with Ten at 23%. Nine’s best performers included local productions The Voice and The Block.