Channel Seven is hacked after network bloodbath where 150 jobs were cut

Channel Seven appears to have been hacked with its YouTube channel targeted.

The 7NEWS Australia YouTube channel was on Thursday morning showing a fake live-stream video of an AI-generated Elon Musk telling viewers to invest cryptocurrency and receive twice the amount in return. 

As many as 100,000 people watched the live-stream which purportedly showed Musk speaking with a microphone to a crowd who applauded him.

A QR scan also appeared on the video, with viewers urged to click on it to invest.

The network's Sunrise YouTube account was also compromised, with viewers taken to Tesla's profile when they clicked onto it.

The stream was running for several hours and was available to Seven's 1.7 million subscribers.

'All you need to do is scan the QR code on the screen, go to the website and watch your cryptocurrency double,' the AI-generated Musk was heard saying.

'Today's event is a chance for all crypto enthusiasts and users to double their assets. This is an opportunity that cannot be missed.'

AI-generated members of the audience were even seen asking Musk questions. 

The live-stream showed Musk giving the same speech over and over again. 

A network spokesperson said: 'Seven is aware that some of its branded YouTube channels are not appearing as they should.

'Seven is investigating and working with YouTube to resolve the situation as soon as possible.'

The network's YouTube accounts now say they are unavailable. 

The hack comes after 150 staff across Seven West Media were informed on Tuesday they would lose their jobs as part of mass redundancies.

Chief executive Jeff Howard told staff in an email on Tuesday that costs needed to be cut, especially in the wake of Meta choosing not to renew its deal to pay for Australian news content.

Meta owns Facebook and Instagram. 

'A number of roles across the company will change and unfortunately some people will be leaving us,' Mr Howard said.

'We will work hard to reduce the impact on people as much as we can, and we will make sure that our people are fully supported.'

Among the changes to SWM is the departure of chief revenue officer Kurt Burnette, chief marketing and audience officer Melissa Hopkins, and Seven's head of sport and managing director of Melbourne, Lewis Martin.

The trio combined have dedicated 65 years to SWM, with Mr Howard saying the workplace 'will be very different without them'.