Channel Seven stars Amelia Brace, Bill Hogan and Denham Hitchcock leave to start new roles with Network 10
The Seven Network has lost three well-known reporters to Channel 10 after the trio were reportedly head-hunted to start work on a new investigative program.
Former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace, senior Sydney news reporter Bill Hogan and Spotlight's Denham Hitchcock each resigned from Seven last week to head over to the rival network, The Australian's Media Diary has revealed.
The publication reports Brace and Hitchcock swiftly departed Seven "within hours of quitting", and both started their new roles at Channel 10 on Monday.
Hogan on the other hand will need to work for three more weeks until he heads over to the Paramount Global-owned broadcaster.
Brace, a former political reporter in Canberra's Press Gallery, was reportedly offered a $50,000 bump on her $220,000 salary to join Network 10.
The Walkley-winning journalist shared the news of her departure in a rather cryptic message to colleagues last Friday.
"It feels off to not have an official 'last day' to say goodbye, but it's best for me to just fade away for now," Brace wrote, according to the Media Diary.
"Stand up for yourselves, and each other … and think of me every time you have to find a f..king case study."
For Hitchcock, the opportunity to host the new program was "too good to pass up", according to the publication.
All three journalists were reportedly tapped on the shoulder by Channel 10 boss Martin White to join the broadcaster's new investigative unit, although little is known about the upcoming show.
The development comes less than four months after Hitchcock announced his return to Channel Seven's Spotlight program.
Hitchcock stepped away from the network in January 2023 to spend more time sailing with his family and focus on freelance work.
Upon revealing his return earlier this year, the presenter said it was time for him to "wash some of the salt out" and get back to what he does best.
"Back in 2019 the network asked me to start what would eventually become the Spotlight program with one producer and one cameraman - and as the limited shows proved successful - the team quickly grew and it would turn into the networks flagship program," Hitchcock's post read, accompanied by a selfie.
"I stepped away for a few years to go sailing with the family - and have returned to find a new EP, a new team, new reporters, a fresh energy, an abundance of stories, and some genuine excitement about the year ahead."
At the time, Hitchcock and his family had recently moved back to Sydney after living life at sea on a catamaran.
SkyNews.com.au has contacted Channel Seven and Network 10 for comment.
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