NETWORK TEN GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION AFTER BILLIONAIRES BAIL ON FUNDING LOAN

BREAKING: Network Ten has announced it will go into voluntary administration after failing to secure a key loan from its three billionaire investors Lachlan Murdoch, James Packer and Bruce Gordon.

Shares in Ten Network Holdings (ASX: TEN) were placed in a trading halt on Tuesday for up to 48 hours after the company confirmed it had received "correspondence" from Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon.

That correspondence confirmed they would pull the pin on funding an extended $250 million to the broadcaster.

There was no mention of another major shareholder and billionaire, James Packer, but it is understood he too has decided against funding the loan.

Ten Network staff were told of the news this morning and the shock announcement was made just before midday. Veteran newsreader Hugh Riminton tweeted a quote from TEN Network CEO Paul Anderson.

"This is extremely disappointing for all of us," Anderson says.

In a statement to the ASX, the company says the decision to halt the funding of the loan "left the directors with no choice but to appoint administrators".

"The administrators have advised the company that they will work closely with management, employees, suppliers and content partners while they undertake a financial and operational assessment of the business. During this period, the administrators intend to continue operations as much as possible on a business-as-usual basis," the statement says.

"The directors of Ten regret very much that these circumstances have come to pass. They wish to take this opportunity to thank all Ten employees and contractors for their commitment and enthusiasm for Ten's programs and business.

"In particular, they would like to express their sincere gratitude, respect and admiration for Ten's leadership team, who have achieved everything the board has asked them to do over the past few years in very challenging circumstances.

"They wish Ten and its management all success in the future as the administrators look to the potential sale or recapitalisation of the business."

Gordon, owner of regional TV network WIN, is the largest shareholder in TEN with 15 per cent of shares, while Lachlan Murdoch, co-chairman of News Corp, has a 7.7 per cent stake in the company.

James Packer, Crown Resorts' (ASX: CWN) majority shareholder, owns 7.5 per cent and has reportedly had his stake on the market for some time, but has been unable to find a buyer.

The three billionaires are the guarantors on a $200 million loan which has been keeping TEN alive and the company has been asking them to increase this loan to $250 million when the initial loan with Commonwealth expires in December.

Thomas says the board of TEN requested the trading halt to allow it to investigate possible restructuring and refinancing initiatives.

The company says the decision to go into administration was made despite last-ditch efforts to cut costs and renegotiate expensive programming deals with US studios CBS and 21st Century Fox, which cost the broadcaster around $150 million a year.

As part of its transformation program, the company had identified savings of at least $50 million in FY18 and potentially more than $80 million per annum by FY19, but those cost-saving plans are in serious doubt as administrators KordaMentha work out a recapitalisation plan or potential sale of the business.

The Ten Network is Australia's third-placed commercial television network, behind Nine and Seven, and it has struggled to attract viewers to its programming and its advertising revenues have taken a hit as a result.

The company recently announced a $232.2 million loss. TEN shares last traded on Friday at $0.16 and in the past year its value has plummeted 85 per cent from $1.16.