Liz Hayes has opened up about her shock decision to leave Channel 9 for rival Channel 7 after 44 years.
The 68-year-old announced she was leaving her role as the host of 60 Minutes to join the rival network earlier this year.
“And I am hoping that you will still hang around because I am not going anywhere. I am still passionate about telling stories and I plan to tell many more,” she posted on Instagram at the time. “What hasn’t changed is the need for good stories to be told, and I will continue to tell them.”
Now, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the veteran journalist said she hasn’t regretted her decision at all.
“Freedom — it’s a life of freedom,” she told the publication. “I might have been a little institutionalised and didn’t realise it.
“And now I’m out — I’m kind of recognising the joy of freedom.”
Liz also said it was an easy decision for her to make, even though she’d spent the majority of her career at Channel 9. She said she didn’t want to make the big commitment to 60 Minutes anymore.
“So I knew that I was ready… more than ready. And also it was a difficult period –— culturally that we had those big investigations at Nine and I thought, ‘I think I’m ready to step out.’
“And to be fair, Nine asked me to stay, and made a very, very good offer for me to stay — but I think – not think — to a quote a French president ‘I don’t think — I know’ — I did the right thing.
“I know that I made the right choice. I know that I’m in the best place.”
At the time of the announcement, a reliable source told Woman’s Day the seasoned broadcaster had all but sealed a three-year deal rumoured to be worth a whopping $2 million with rival network Seven.
It was later confirmed that Liz was joining current affairs program 7NEWS Spotlight as a “guest correspondent”.
“Widely respected for her decades of experience, storytelling expertise and journalistic integrity, we look forward to collaborating with Liz on this special project,” Spotlight executive producer Gemma Williams said in a statement at the time.
The original source told Woman’s Day, “Nine’s loss is Seven’s big win”.
“She’s been wooed over to Seven’s own flagship current affairs show Spotlight where she joins former 60 Minutes colleagues Liam Bartlett and Michael Usher — it’s a master stroke from Seven because with Liz on the team it means they can get themselves back to No. 1 in the brutal ratings war — for Liz and the team, nothing could be sweeter than rolling 60 Minutes,” the insider said.
“It’s the end of an era for Liz, who many believe was appallingly treated at the end by Nine. But there’s plenty left in the tank and knowing Liz, one of the great storytellers, this really is the beginning of a whole new chapter.”
LEGACY AT CHANNEL 9
Liz joined Channel 9 as a reporter in 1981 and went on to present the bulletin each morning.
In 1986, she became the co-host of Today with Steve Liebmann, and 10 years later joined 60 Minutes.
“When I arrived at Nine I had little more than a notebook and a typewriter, but like my new and far more experienced colleagues, I carried with me an enormous passion for telling stories,” Liz said.
“I was blessed. I had found my tribe. Even Nine’s owner at the time, Kerry Packer, seemed to carry the same passionate story telling gene.”
“Of course since then much has changed. The media world has evolved as have I. What hasn’t changed is the need for good stories to be told, and I will continue to tell them,” she continued.
“I leave Nine grateful for the decades of experience, the wonderful friendships that have endured and deeply appreciative to the many people who trusted me to tell their stories.”
