Weeks after CEO Rohan Lund praised his newsroom talent, hundreds of those same staff may be facing redundancy.
Alex Waislitz has backed Bruce McWilliam for the Southern Cross board after he built a near 10 per cent stake.
Ross returns to the business after more than 25 years at Seven.
They say the extension will deliver $111.3 million in savings for commercial broadcasters.
Lund will step into the role from May 1.
