As Network Ten called in the administrators, some of the network's stars and other television presenters have taken to social media to express their dismay and assure fans the show will go on.
The broadcaster had been forced into voluntary administration on Wednesday after its billionaire shareholders Lachlan Murdoch and regional media czar Bruce Gordon said on the weekend they would no longer back a key loan.
With administrators from KordaMentha taking the reins, the company told investors operations would continue on "as much as possible on a business as usual basis".
It was in that spirit that Ten Eyewitness News' Melbourne host Stephen Quartermain told his followers on Twitter:
Peace out people. Thanks for your kind messages today.Business as usual @tennewsmelbPlease continue to support us by watching pic.twitter.com/3s2g6VAC4t
— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) June 14, 2017
Marcus Middleton, national online editor Channel Ten News, struck a similar tone, while senior news reporter Hugh Riminton tweeted his followers the sad news.
We're still here and going strong. The same experienced news team will continue to keep Australia informed. See you First at Five. #TenNews pic.twitter.com/oXOUBnh9oL
— Marcus Middleton (@MMiddleton_10) June 14, 2017
Network Ten is being put into voluntary administration. "This is extremely disappointing for all of us," says CEO. pic.twitter.com/fPcCoFQKKH
— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) June 14, 2017
News anchor Sandra Sully thanked supporters expressing their dismay and good wishes on Twitter. Told by one follower that "you'll be saved", she replied:
There are no guarantees in life. https://t.co/iIV3d1wKdU
— Sandra Sully (@Sandra_Sully) June 14, 2017
Comedian and filmmaker Dan Ilic, who early in his career was part of Ten's sketch comedy show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, said:
Network Ten has been apart of Australian Culture and a large part of my career. No other commercial network supports comedians like Ten.
— Dan Ilić (@danilic) June 14, 2017
And outside the Ten fold, Sky News' presenter Tracey Spicer - who in late 2006 was sacked by email from Ten after returning from maternity leave - voiced her support for contractors while Nine's Tracey Grimshaw also expressed concern for colleagues at Ten.
Really feeling for the freelancers who are unlikely to be paid due to Ten's voluntary administration. Many low-paid workers are owed $1000s.
— Tracey Spicer (@TraceySpicer) June 14, 2017
I'm thinking about colleagues at Network Ten today. These are challenging times and good people are caught up in them x
— tracy grimshaw (@tracygrimshaw) June 14, 2017
'We are all looking for a job'
Outside Channel Ten one employee, who didn't want to be named, said more effort should have been made to keep staff informed.
"It feels like the entire year we have had this hanging over our head, " the employee said.
"And we are so under-resourced at the moment. We are all working like crazy ...they don't seem to recognise the time we are all putting in
"When the news came, it was still a shock. I knew something was happening. We were all gathered around. There was this feeling of trepidation," the staff member said.
"I think there was concern that it would just implode immediately and we would all be without our jobs."
The employee said it was good that they would keep working through the process, but their "biggest worry" was whether their entitlements would be paid out.
"We are all openly looking for a job," the staff member said.
But another staff member said they had been there before and it was business as usual inside the office.