The Project could be taken off-air as soon as July after 16 years on Channel Ten.

The Project hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton and Georgie Tunny

The Project is rumoured to be wrapping up in the coming months, with a new current affairs-style show set to replace it. Photo: Ten

The Project, which is produced by Rove McManus’ Roving Enterprises, and first launched in 2009, is rumoured to wrap up in the coming months, with a new current affairs-style show set to replace it. The new show, which is still in development, will likely run from Monday to Thursday.

TV Blackbox shares that an insider has confirmed the new proposed schedule, which would mean “sidelining the typically low-rating Friday slot”. The reports of The Project’s axing also comes after TV commentator Peter Ford also hinted this may be the case.

“I don’t think The Project will see the year out,” Ford told 3AW Breakfast, adding, “Quite frankly at the moment, it’s more of a mercy killing than an axing.”

Rove McManus, Georgie Tunny, and Susie Youssef

The show is produced by Rove McManus’ company Roving Enterprises. Photo: Ten
TV Blackbox adds that sources suggest the new current affairs show is quietly being prepared to launch as early as July or August.

While The Project is currently on air for six hours of live television every week with its Sunday to Friday schedule, the new show is expected to be 30 minutes per episode, which would significantly cut down the on-air time to just two hours a week.

At this stage, it’s unclear how Ten may plan to use the money they will save from changing the format.

The publication adds that the network’s plans for Friday nights have yet to be revealed, but it’s possible they will simply choose to do a repeat of another program in the same way they air Deal or No Deal repeats on Friday evenings.

There will also be a space in Sunday night’s programming at 6pm, which means that there will be another hour of original content gone and another gap to fill.

Ten has been adding to its newsroom in recent weeks, with Amelia Brace, a former senior correspondent for Seven signing to the network, and Denham Hitchcock, a former Spotlight and Sunday Night reporter, has also confirmed he has moved to Ten. Denham is tipped to host the new program.

The reporter took to Instagram to make the announcement, writing, “Well, here we go. I’ve switched channels. But also in a way – I’ve come full circle. I grew up watching my father on Channel Ten News every night. I had a bunk bed with eyewitness news stickers all over it – and can still sing the theme song.

“So I’m delighted to start work here today – joining the network to help with its plans for the future. To everyone who keeps sending me stories to look into. Keep them coming. I read every message.”

TV Blackbox also suggests veteran reporter Dan Sutton has been called in to lead Ten’s newly announced Longford investigative unit, which the publication believes is a front for the new show to replace The Project.