The wife of a popular newsreader whose sacking just days before Christmas left viewers outraged has thanked her husband's loyal fans for their support.
Alison Lobb has urged her social media followers to contact Newcastle television station NBN to complain about her husband Paul 'Lobby' Lobb's sudden removal - and published its telephone number for them to call.
'Thank you for all the well wishes for us,' Alison posted on Facebook. 'It's humbling to realise in such a short space of time all the people who care & are part of our greater family.
'And also those we don't know who have reached out. It means so much.
'BTW, the NBN number is: 4099 1666.'
Alison Lobb has urged her social media followers to contact Newcastle television station NBN to complain about her husband Paul 'Lobby' Lobb's sudden removal - and published its telephone number for them to call. The couple is pictured
Angry viewers have threatened to boycott the station as they mourn the loss of 'a true gentleman', 'highly respected newsreader', 'born and bred Novocastrian' and 'good bloke'. Lobb is pictured left with weatherman Gavin Morris and fellow anchor Natasha Beyersdorf
'Thank you for all the well wishes for us,' Alison Lobb posted on Facebook. 'It's humbling to realise in such a short space of time all the people who care & are part of our greater family. BTW, the NBN number is: 4099 1666.'
Alison has also posted a link to a petition calling for her husband's reinstatement along with the caption 'Wow!' and shared a video statement he made about his sacking accompanied by love heart emojis.
Paul Lobb had read NBN's 6pm news bulletin for more than a decade alongside fellow presenter Natasha Beyersdorf before he was told his services were no longer wanted on December 13.
Lobb immediately left the news desk and Nine Entertainment, which owns NBN, announced he would be replaced by weatherman Gavin Morris.
Alison, who is well-known in Newcastle for her musical theatre performances, posted a story about her husband-of-15-years' sacking the next day.
'This is disgusting!' one commenter wrote. 'What can we do to help?'
'What?!' another wrote. 'Is it even NBN news without Paul Lobb?'
A third responded with: 'This is completely s*** and appalling. Channel Nine should be ashamed.'
A change.org petition demanding Lobb's return to the news desk was launched three days after his sacking and had gained more than 4,500 signatures by Friday morning.
Outraged television viewers have launched a social media campaign for the reinstatement of beloved Newcastle newsreader Paul 'Lobby' Lobb who was sacked shortly before Christmas. Lobb's loyal audience launched a change.org petition demanding his reinstatement
Nine Entertainment, which owns NBN, announced Lobb would be replaced by weatherman Gavin Morris, who will continue to present the weather as well as reading the news with Natasha Beyersdorf. Morris and Beyersdorf are pictured
Some of those to sign the petition have taken to unfairly attacking Lobb's replacement Morris, with one complaining about the way he pronounces 'satellite'.
Morris, who has a larger-than-life action-man image, will continue to present the weather as well as reading the news with Beyersdorf.
Angry viewers have threatened to boycott the station as they mourn the loss of 'a true gentleman', 'highly respected newsreader', 'born and bred Novocastrian' and 'good bloke'.
Lobb, who had worked as a journalist for NBN for 23 years, responded to his sacking in a video statement released by local marketing company Out of the Square Media on Wednesday.
In his message Lobb thanked viewers for their loyalty and confirmed his sacking had left him blindsided.
'After many happy years of bringing you the news I was just as surprised as you were recently to find out that my time on the desk was over,' Lobb said.
Alison Lobb posted a link to a petition calling for her husband Paul's reinstatement along with the caption 'Wow!' and shared a video statement he made about his sacking accompanied by love heart emojis. The couple is pictured together
'I just wanted to let you know that from my days on the road reporting and bringing you the stories of the region through to presenting the news, I have loved every minute.
'And in recent weeks your messages of support and love have been truly incredible.
'From reaching out to me personally on social media. Wow, there was even a petition that thousands off you signed so thank you, I feel so grateful.
'So what's next? Well, I am going to take a bit of a break but hopefully I will be seeing you somewhere soon.'
Lobb's sacking is seen as part of a cost-cutting exercise being foisted on the regional station by its capital city masters.
Nine management has continued to downsize NBN's operations in Newcastle and let go more than 20 station employees in the past 12 months.
The Newcastle news is now controlled out of Brisbane.
Lobb's brother Andy Lobb was removed on July 12 as the NBN newsroom's long-serving chief-of-staff, along with head of news Blake Doyle.
Reporter Olivia Grace Curran was brought in from Adelaide to replace Andy Lobb and Perth's
