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Brissy newsreader to clarify his future

Nine's Brisbane's newsreader Bruce Paige is expected to make an announcement on television tonight about his future.

bpaigeChannel Nine’s Brisbane newsreader Bruce Paige is expected to make an announcement on television tonight about his future, following two nights of absence from the desk.

Paige, 60,  has read the news on Channel 9 for 18 years.

A network source hinted to the Courier Mail that Paige left soon after arriving for work on Monday, however a Nine spokeswoman yesterday said Paige was not asked to leave the building nor was he sent home.

When contacted yesterday by a friend, Paige said he could not talk about the situation until next week.

If Paige announces his retirement, weekend newsreader Andrew Lofthouse is tipped to replace him, after being signed last November after 18 years with the ABC.

Source / photo: Courier Mail

11 Responses

  1. Has anyone here actually watched TV before the start of this century? (or even lived in Qld long enough to make fair comment?)

    Bruce is a long time and well respected news anchor from ABC Qld. It was a crying shame when he was lured away to the commercial mayhem. My assumption is he’s as browned off with the current trend for tabloid presentation as anyone, so is jumping ship while the life rafts are still afloat.

  2. After reading about the axing of Queensland’s Extra programme, I’d expect this to be timed for Heather Foord to move back into the news chair…

    Which begs the question: can the penny-pinchers at Nine ask her to cough up for the going away party they threw her last year???

  3. so what was the verdict I did not watch. is he staying or going? is this a desperate attempt from 9 to get back in the headlines as they are generally 50-100k behind 7news.

  4. I saw Bruce Paige sign off tonight on the ninemsn feed from Brisbane. It’s sad and not at all like the rather dignified way that Brian Henderson retired. After that many years you would think it could be handled a little better, but maybe he (Bruce) needed a nudge?

  5. Bruce is quite a good newsreader, but I too think that the dual newsreader format is not right for 30 minute news bulletins.
    Maybe the weatherman could go as well ( forget his name ) bring back Sami Lukas.

  6. Gee Craig, I didn’t think 60 was “past his use by date” as a newsreader. Who’s Sydney’s most popular newsreader? Seven’s >60 Ian Ross. We have enough “Barbie Doll”s reading an autocue thanks. Give me an experienced, authorative male news presenter any time. Actually, I don’t live in Qld and have never seen this particular newsreader, so I’m giving a general view.

  7. @Camo I completely agree. The “Arthur and Martha” format is very much a US local station/early evening format. But as far as I know Nine and Seven only use this format in their smaller markets, eg Brisbane, Adelaide, etc. Sydney and Melbourne is all single presenter (except for Ten of course). It would be nice to think that Nine might run with just Lofthouse but I think in reality there is almost no chance of this.

  8. so I have to watch 9news to find out? I don’t think so. It was obvious Lofthouse was brought in to replace Paige. Remember what 9 did to Mike London? I personally will stick with 7 and Kay McGrath.

  9. So that’s why Melissa was reading the news on her own. As always on the ball David. Nine should never have let John Schluter go. They may even lose more viewers to Seven now Paige is going aswell.

  10. Oh, please, let this be true..Bruce is so past his use by date its ridiculous, nine news in Brisbane is a basket case so a change of some sort is due….Bruce and current co-anchor Melissa Downes reading the news together looks ridiculous, he looks like hes reading the news with his daugher, plus, nine are doing this thing now here where they introduce stories together, rather than alternating like is usually the case for co-anchored news bulletine…

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