Fairfax Media has been told there are 500 news and operations workers at Ten,meaning today's cuts will result in a 30 per cent reduction in staff. One source said Sydney’s reporting staff has been reduced by 40 per cent.

Sources also say that Ten will close its London and Los Angeles bureaux,and drastically cut the number of reporters,producers and camera operators working on the state-based 5pm bulletins.

Both staff and news chief Peter Meakin are said to be"despondent".

Meakin - who took Nine and Seven’s news programs to No.1 in previous years - was lured to Ten last year with the promise of"building"the network’s programming.Instead,he finds himself presiding over massive job losses and the cancellation of his breakfast show and early morning and late news bulletins.

The situation was not helped by his boss,McLennan,telling media he expected"immediate"results from him,an unusual comment,given most bosses try to buy a bit of wiggle room in their public pronouncements.

Multiple sources say Meakin is now considering quitting the network.

Meakintold another Fairfax reporter:"I like working here and I'm too young to retire. But I think it's a question for the board and it's up to them whether they need an admiral when they don't have a fleet."

He also described Ten’s revenue as"down the toilet"and its ratings as"less than auspicious".

The replacement programs forWake Up and the axed news bulletins are yet to be revealed.

Ten insiders have criticised their bosses,pointing out that news remains one of the strongest performers for the beleaguered network,and that whatever replaces the axed bulletins is unlikely to maintain their ratings.

One source said:"They don’t have the infrastructure now to do continuous coverage of breaking news,which Nine and Seven are increasingly doing.

"A TV network can’t offer one bulletin a day in this environment. News consumers demand info around the clock. No news brand[equals] no news credibility."

Wake Up and the early,morning and late bulletins will broadcast their final shows on Friday.

Wake Up’s audience has hovered around 30,000 since its November launch while rivalsSunrise andToday generally attract 10 times as many viewers.

Co-host Natasha Exelby was removed just 16 days after its debut,leaving Belling and James Mathison,while creator and executive producer Adam Boland quit the television industry two months later to take better care of his mental health.

In his email to staff,McLennan blamed a"soft"advertising market and said,"our ratings,revenue and earning has been disappointing".

"Despite the commitment and enthusiasm of its staff,Wake Up has not resonated with enough viewers to make it a viable program,"he wrote.

"It is very disappointing that these programs have not been more successful,but I would like to thank everyone involved with them for their focus,dedication and hard work."

McLennan said that late-morning programStudio 10 and the 5pm news bulletins will remain but that the network’s news resources must be used"more effectively".

"A process of consultation will begin tomorrow around a proposed voluntary redundancy program in news,operations and engineering,"he wrote.

"We are in a constant,fierce battle for the attention of viewers and we need to ensure we are investing in the areas that will deliver the greatest potential in terms of audiences and revenue.

"The next few weeks will be a difficult and sad period,as colleagues leave the business.

"Let me assure you the changes are not being undertaken lightly. No one is happy about them,but unfortunately they are necessary.

"To the people affected by today’s announcement,please accept my thanks for your important contribution to Ten."

mlallo@fairfaxmedia.com.au

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated thatWake Up and the early,morning and late bulletins will broadcast their final shows tomorrow. This was incorrect. The final broadcasts will be on Friday.