Seven News
Seven News (stylised 7NEWS) is the television news service of the Seven Network and, as of 2016, the highest-rating in Australia.[1]
| Slogan | Nobody knows news like 7NEWS |
|---|---|
| Division of: | Seven Network |
| Opening Theme: | The Mission by John Williams (Late 1980s-present) |
| Founded: | 1958 |
| Headquarters: | National Administration (Head Office): Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia National Operations (Broadcast Centre Melbourne): Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Area served: | Australia |
| Formerly called: | Australian Television News (ATVN) (1963–1970) Seven National News (1970-1988) |
| Broadcast programs: | Sunrise Weekend Sunrise Seven Early News Seven Morning News Seven Afternoon News Seven News at 5 Seven News The Latest: Seven News |
| Parent: | Seven West Media, Osborne Park, Western Australia, Australia |
| Website: | 7news.com.au |
National bulletins are presented from Seven's high definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6 pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth city based studios. The network also produces local news bulletins for regional Queensland and the Gold Coast.
The news service is retransmitted via a number of regional affiliates, including Prime7, GWN7, Southern Cross Seven and WIN Television. It draws upon the resources of ITN, NBC, MediaWorks New Zealand, CBC, CNN, APTN and Reuters for select international coverage. The network's Director of News and Current Affairs is Craig McPherson.
History
Seven News, previously known as ATVN News and Seven National News, is one of Australia's longest-running television news services, founded in 1958, along with Nine News on the rival Nine Network.
In 2003, former Nine Network news and current affairs chief Peter Meakin was appointed to Seven News,[2][3] tasked with lifting ratings in the struggling east coast markets by including more local content in those bulletins.[4]
Seven News has been the top rating news service nationally for all but three years since 2005,[5][6] partly attributed to the success of television game show Deal or No Deal (and later The Chase Australia),[7] which provided the flagship 6pm bulletin with a significant lead-in audience.[8]
In recent years, under the guidance of former longtime National Nine News chief Peter Meakin, Seven's news and current affairs division has produced more locally focused content, which has been lifting ratings for key markets such as Sydney and Melbourne.[4] Since February 2005, the ratings of Deal or No Deal, Seven News and Today Tonight have gradually increased. Seven News was the highest-rating news service nationally in both the 2005 and 2006 ratings seasons.[9][10] A key aspect of Seven's recent ratings dominance in news and current affairs has been attributed to Deal or No Deal's (and, since late 2015, The Chase Australia) top rating audience, which provides Seven News with a large lead-in audience.[11] Between 2007 and 2010 inclusive, Seven News completed a clean sweep across the five capital cities in terms of being the most watched 6 pm news bulletin. On 5 July 2008, Channel Seven introduced a watermark on news and current affairs programmes.
In 2007, Seven News beat National Nine News and 10 News First in ratings for the first time in the Melbourne market. During the year, they ranked highest twenty weeks compared to Nine's nineteen weeks, while one week was tied.[12] Previously, in 2006, Seven had ranked on top 16 weeks in while Nine had 24 weeks on top in Melbourne.
During 2008, from weeknight to weeknight, Seven and Nine had similar ratings, often changing the most popular show from night to night.[13] As of 2013, Nine News retains a national lead, although Seven still has a tight grip on the Adelaide and Perth bulletins. In November 2012, Peter Meakin resigned as director of news and current affairs of the Seven Network after nine years in the role, with Rob Raschke named as his successor.
In October 2013, it was announced that the Saturday 6pm bulletins would be extended to one hour, likely as a reaction to Nine News regaining its national lead in 2013.[14]
On Monday 20 January 2014, the news theme was overhauled with the traditional The Mission piece removed after two decades,[15] however, due to viewer backlash, The Mission was reinstated on Friday 24 January 2014.[16]
In February 2014, Today Tonight was axed in the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane markets and the news bulletins were extended to one hour. The Adelaide and Perth bulletins remain at 30 minutes with Today Tonight being retained in those two markets only.[17]
In 2015, Seven News suffered its worst ratings year for over a decade, with all three of its east coast bulletins, as well as its regional Queensland bulletins, languishing behind Nine News and its Adelaide bulletin also starting to lose to Nine on weeknights.[18] However, Seven News soon reclaimed the lead nationally the following year, aided by the new game show lead-in The Chase Australia, which helped to increase numbers in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a narrow 3,000 viewer loss to Nine in Brisbane.[7][1]
In July 2016, a new locally focused bulletin for the Gold Coast was introduced, airing at 5.30pm every evening from the network's Surfers Paradise studios.[19] The debut bulletin won its timeslot with 49,000, compared to the rival Nine Gold Coast News which drew 34,000 viewers.[20] However, Nine still remained ahead of Seven overall in the Gold Coast market until 2019, when that newscast finally emerged as the top newscast there.
National bulletins
Seven Early News
Seven Early News airs at 5 am on weekdays and is presented by Jodie Speers, and includes news, business, finance, sport and weather. It airs from Seven's Martin Place studios and is followed by Sunrise.
The bulletin first aired on 14 July 2008, presented by Simon Reeve, with sport presented by Mark Beretta. Reeve presented the first bulletin as Natalie Barr was hosting Sunrise at the time.[21]
In January 2016, it was announced that Jodie Speers would replace Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta due to Sunrise starting at 5:30am. The bulletin also moved to the earlier time of 5am.[22][23]
Seven Morning News
Seven Morning News airs at 11.30 am on weekdays and is presented by Ann Sanders (Monday - Thursday) and Sally Bowrey (Friday) from Seven's Martin Place studios with sport presented by Jacqueline Felgate (Monday), Matt Shirvington (Friday) and a rotating team of presenters from Tuesday - Thursday, including Felgate and Shirvington, along with Mel McLaughlin, Sean Sowerby and Andrew McCormack, and weather presented by David Brown (Monday - Thursday) and Angie Asimus (Friday).
Chris Bath previously presented the bulletin from 2004 until 2006. In 2006, Bath and Sanders swapped roles with Bath appointed weekend presenter on Seven News Sydney and Sanders appointed presenter of Seven Morning News.
Ryan Phelan was the initial sport presenter when a sport presenter was added to the bulletin. Jim Wilson started to present sport shortly after, and continued to present Tuesday - Friday sport until his resignation from the Seven Network in June 2020. Jacqueline Felgate has been presenting Monday sport since June 2019, the role which was previously shared between Ryan Phelan and Matt Carmichael.
A weather presenter was added to the bulletin in 2014. David Brown (Monday - Thursday) and Angie Asimus (Friday), continue in these roles today.
Fill in presenters for the bulletin include Angela Cox, Robert Ovadia, Chris Reason, Mike Amor (from Melbourne), Katrina Blowers (from Brisbane) and Sally Bowrey (News), Matt Carmichael, Mel McLaughlin and Michelle Bishop (Sport), Samantha Brett, Angie Asimus, Sally Bowrey and Amber Laidler (Weather).
Seven News Updates
Short localised updates are presented during the afternoons by various state-based reporters and eventually presenters and evenings by the state-based presenters.
When breaking stories occur, newsflashes are presented from Seven's Martin Place studio or Seven Melbourne's national broadcast centre.
Seven News at 5
Seven News at 5 airs at 5:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday and is presented by Angela Cox (whilst Angie Asimus is on maternity leave), which includes news, sport, finance and weather. Sport is presented by Matt Shirvington (Saturday) and Mel McLaughlin (Sunday). It airs from Seven's Martin Place studios. The bulletin does not air on a Sunday in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during the AFL season. Seven's affiliate Seven Tasmania in Tasmania airs the bulletin on tape delay at 5:30 pm right before the main bulletin at 6pm.
The bulletin first aired on 1 March 2015 as a 'Special Presentation' until it became permanent on 29 March 2015. Fill-in presenters include Mike Amor, Angela Cox, Sally Bowrey and Robert Ovadia.
The Latest: Seven News
The Latest: Seven News airs at or sometime after 10:00 pm on Monday–Thursday and is presented by Melissa Doyle (Monday) and Michael Usher (Tuesday–Thursday) from Seven's Martin Place studios.[24] As the title suggests, the late-night bulletin provides up-to-date information on the latest news of the day.
Previously known as Seven Late News, it was presented by Chris Bath or Anne Fulwood from 1995 to 2003, with Natalie Barr filling in. The bulletin was cancelled in December 2003 due to declining ratings; Chris Bath was moved to Seven Morning News (later Seven News Sydney) and Natalie Barr was moved to Sunrise.
Angela Cox is the main fill-in presenter for the bulletin.
Capital-based bulletins
Afternoon news
National bulletin
Seven's national afternoon bulletin was introduced in 2003 as Target Iraq, during extensive coverage of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and presented from Sydney by David Johnston. The program was retained after the initial invasion and moved production to Melbourne and was subsequently renamed the Seven 4.30 News. Johnston retired in September 2005 and was succeeded by Rebecca Maddern until production returned to Sydney in July 2006. Former US correspondent Mike Amor took over as anchor and the bulletin was relocated to the Martin Place Sydney studio. Amor was later replaced three months later by Samantha Armytage. On 3 December 2010, the bulletin was extended to 60 minutes and began to feature a sports bulletin.[25] However, on 7 May 2012, the bulletin was truncated back to 30 minutes as The Price is Right returned to the 5:00 pm timeslot.
On 2 April 2012, a 30-minute Perth edition was launched, airing as a cutaway half-hour bulletin at 4:30pm, following the first half-hour of the national bulletin at 4pm. Regional and Remote Western Australia did not receive the 4.30 afternoon news on GWN7; rather, the network substituted it with its own local news service at 5:30pm.
In December 2012, the bulletin was renamed as Seven Afternoon News. In January 2013, the bulletin returned to an hour due to the axing of The Price Is Right and returned to the Melbourne studio with Rebecca Maddern replacing Samantha Armytage.
However, in August 2013 Maddern was replaced by Melissa Doyle and Matt White and the bulletin expanded to start at 4 pm.
In April 2014, Matt White resigned from the Seven Network to join Network Ten. The bulletin was presented solo by Melissa Doyle up until July 2015.
In June 2015, the Seven Network announced senior presenter Chris Bath's resignation and that Melissa Doyle would take over as Seven News Sydney weekend presenter from July.
The last incarnation of the national bulletin was broadcast from the network's Martin Place studios and was presented by Ann Sanders (Monday - Thursday) and Chris Reason (Friday). Sport was presented by Mel McLaughlin (Monday) and Jim Wilson (Tuesday - Friday) and weather was presented by David Brown (Monday - Thursday) and Amelia Mulcahy or Angie Asimus (Friday). The national edition simulcasted across New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory through Prime7, in Griffith through WIN Television's Seven Griffith, Tasmania through Seven Tasmania and South Australia through WIN Television SA and Seven GTS/BKN.
Local bulletins
Hour-long local afternoon bulletins were launched periodically in the capital cities, replacing the National bulletin in full. Melbourne and Brisbane launched local afternoon bulletins in August 2015.[26] In July 2017, Adelaide launched their own local edition,[27] while the half-hour Perth bulletin was extended to replace the national bulletin in full.[28]
Presently, Seven Afternoon News is aired at 4:00 pm on weekdays in four separate local editions:
- The Sydney edition is broadcast from the network's Martin Place studios and is presented by Ann Sanders (Monday - Thursday) and Sally Bowrey (Friday). Sport is presented by Mel McLaughlin (Monday-Thursday) and Matt Shirvington (Friday) and weather is presented by David Brown (Monday - Thursday) and Angie Asimus (Friday). The local edition simulcasted across New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory through Prime7, and in Griffith through WIN Television's Seven Griffith.
- The Melbourne edition is broadcast from the network's Docklands studios in Melbourne and is presented by Jacqueline Felgate (Monday and Friday) and Mike Amor (Tuesday - Thursday), with sport presented by Sean Sowerby (Monday-Thursday) and Andrew McCormack (Friday), and weather presented by meteorologist Jane Bunn (Monday-Thursday) and Melina Sarris (Fri).[26] The local edition simulcasts across Victoria and New South Wales/South Australian border areas through Prime7 Victoria and Prime7 Mildura, as well as Tasmania through 7 Tasmania.
- The state-based Queensland edition is broadcast from the network's Mount Coot-tha studios in Brisbane and is presented by Kendall Gilding. Shane Webcke presents sport (Monday - Wednesday) and Pat Welsh (Thursday - Friday) and Tony Auden presenting the weather (Monday to Thursday) and Paul Burt (Friday). Initially launched as a separate 90-minute bulletin in the South East Queensland region (Brisbane and surrounding areas received by BTQ transmitters), it is now simulcast across the state via Seven Queensland and across central and remote areas of eastern Australia on Southern Cross Central. It is also being aired in Darwin, Northern Territory through affiliate Southern Cross Television (TND-34), where it broadcasts live into all relevant time zones, thus ending the bulletin at 4:30pm in Darwin. On the Gold Coast, the bulletin ends at 4:30 pm, due to the launch of the Gold Coast service on 4 July. On 10 August 2017, two years to the day since the bulletin launched, the local service claimed victory in the 4:00 pm timeslot, winning 21 weeks to the rival Nine Live Queensland's two weeks.[29]
- The Perth edition is broadcast from the network's Osborne Park studios in Perth and is presented by Samantha Jolly from Monday to Thursday and Amelia Broun on Friday, who also present weather and sport is presented by Basil Zempilas. Unlike the former breakaway, the bulletin runs for a full hour.[28] Regional WA affiliate GWN7, however, will end the bulletin at 4:30 pm to accommodate its local weeknight news service at 5:30 pm.
On 26 June 2020, the local Adelaide afternoon news formerly presented by Rosanna Mangiarelli was axed due to budget cuts, with that market now receiving the Melbourne edition.[30]
Nightly news
Sydney
Seven News Sydney is presented by Mark Ferguson from Sunday to Thursday and Michael Usher on Friday and Saturday from the Martin Place studios. Sport is presented by Mel McLaughlin from Sunday to Thursday and Matt Shirvington on Friday and Saturday. Weather is presented by David Brown from Monday to Thursday and Sally Bowrey (whilst Angie Asimus is on maternity leave) from Friday to Sunday.
The Sydney bulletin is simulcast to the regional areas of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory through Prime7 and to Griffith via WIN Television's Seven Griffith.
After decades of trailing Nine News Sydney and 10 News First Sydney in the ratings, which led to the sackings of Ross Symonds and Ann Sanders as the weeknight presenters in 2003, Seven News Sydney's attempts to boost ratings began in December with the appointment of Ian Ross as main weeknight anchor and the relocation of the bulletin, and other national bulletins, to new street-level studios in Martin Place in August 2004, thus allowing bystanders to watch bulletins being broadcast live. After two years of presenting the national morning news, Chris Bath returned to her former role as weekend news presenter in 2006, swapping roles with Ann Sanders. Ross presented his final bulletin for Seven News Sydney on Friday 27 November 2009. Bath took over as main weeknight presenter from Monday 30 November 2009 while former Nine News presenter Mark Ferguson took over as weekend presenter on Saturday 28 November 2009.[3][31]
The bulletin retained its ratings lead until 2011, when it lost to the rival Nine News bulletin for the first time in seven years.[32]
In January 2014, Mark Ferguson was appointed weeknight presenter, replacing Chris Bath due to poor ratings. Bath became weekend presenter and continued to host Sunday Night until her resignation in July 2015,[33] after which Melissa Doyle took over.[34] More changes to Sydney's news presenting team in subsequent months saw former Melbourne weather presenter David Brown replace Sarah Cumming as the Sunday-Thursday weather presenter, Mel McLaughlin replace Jim Wilson as the Sunday-Thursday sports presenter and Wilson replace Ryan Phelan as the Friday-Saturday sports presenter.
In August 2016, it was announced that Michael Usher would replace Melissa Doyle as Friday and Saturday presenter. Doyle moved into a new expanded role as senior correspondent and host of Sunday Night.[35]
In June 2020, Jim Wilson left Seven after 28 years with the network, to become a new host of 2GB’s Drive program. His last sports bulletin was 27 June 2020[36]. It was later announced that Matt Shirvington will replace him.[37]
Fill-in presenters include Chris Reason, Angela Cox, Angie Asimus, Ann Sanders and Natalie Barr (News), Matt Carmichael (Sport), and Sally Bowrey (Weather). Late night news updates are usually presented by either Samantha Brett or Susannah Carr from Perth.
Melbourne
Seven News Melbourne is directed by Shaun Menegola and presented by Peter Mitchell from Sunday to Thursday and Mike Amor on Friday and Saturday from Broadcast Centre Melbourne. Sport is presented by Tim Watson from Sunday to Thursday and Jacqueline Felgate on Friday and Saturday. Weather is presented by Jane Bunn from Sunday to Thursday and Melina Sarris on Friday and Saturday.
Peter Mitchell previously held the role of weekend presenter for Seven Nightly News between 1987 and 2000 when he replaced the short-lived presenting duo of David Johnston and Anne Fulwood. Jennifer Keyte was appointed as weeknight presenter in 1990, becoming Australia's first solo female primetime commercial news presenter. In a network reshuffle in 1996, Keyte terminated her employment after the Seven Network attempted to pair her with David Johnston, who went to present solo for three years. She returned in 2003, assuming the role as weekend presenter, succeeding Jennifer Adams.
In May 2018, Network Ten announced that Jennifer Keyte would join the network to present Ten Eyewitness News Melbourne replacing Stephen Quartermain.[38] In August 2018, it was announced that Mike Amor will move back to Australia after 17 years as United States Bureau Chief to replace Keyte.[39]
Following decades of coming third in television ratings to Nine News Melbourne and 10 News First Melbourne (previously Ten Eyewitness News, Ten News at Five, Ten Evening News and Ten News: First at Five), Seven News Melbourne went into a tight contest to win the ratings battle in 2005. Seven News overtook the rival Nine bulletin in the ratings in 2007.[4] This was subsequently followed by a series of advertisements and promos which have touted Seven News Melbourne as Melbourne's New #1 and Nine altering their promotions to simply say Melbourne's Best News - a throwback to the 1980s when National Nine News Melbourne was being beaten in the ratings by ATV-10's Ten Eyewitness News. As of 2011, Seven has lost its ratings lead at 6 pm to 9 pm.
During the AFL season, Peter Mitchell and the weeknight team present from Sunday to Thursday and Mike Amor and the weekend team present on Friday and Saturday.
The bulletin is simulcast throughout regional Victoria and New South Wales/South Australia border areas that receive television services from Victoria through Prime7 (with the NSW Border receiving a trimmed down 30-minute version of the full-hour news on weeknights), and to viewers in Darwin, Northern Territory through Southern Cross Television (TND-34).[40] During the AFL season, the Saturday edition of Seven News Melbourne airs for only 30 minutes to fit in with the Seven Network's Saturday night AFL coverage.
Fill-in presenters include Jacqueline Felgate and Blake Johnson (News), Sean Sowerby, Tom Browne and Nathan Templeton (Sport) and Melina Sarris and Estelle Griepink (Weather).
Brisbane
Seven News Brisbane is directed by Ross Dagan and presented by Max Futcher and Sharyn Ghidella on weeknights and Katrina Blowers on weekends from Seven's Brisbane studios, located at Mount Coot-tha. Sport is presented by Shane Webcke from Sunday to Wednesday and Pat Welsh from Thursday to Saturday. Weather is presented by Tony Auden from Sunday to Thursday and Paul Burt on Friday and Saturday.
The bulletin is also simulcast in Brisbane on local radio station 96.5 Family FM, and across central and remote areas of eastern Australia, on Southern Cross Central. Regional Queensland viewers in the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay-Burnett, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns television markets receive a trimmed down 30-minute version of the newshour on weeknights via Seven Queensland, with a live simulcast on weekends.
Previously, Tracey Challenor presented the weekend news for sixteen years until her resignation in February 2007. Cummins was first appointed to the weekday weather in 2005 after more than a year of the Brisbane bulletin not having a weather presenter; former kids show presenter Tony Johnston had this role in 2003. Cummins was replaced by former Nine weatherman John Schluter in early 2007 and she was moved to weekends. Ghidella joined Seven News in 2007 and replaced Challenor.
In October 2002, Rod Young moved from ABC News in Brisbane to co-anchor with Kay McGrath. She had presented Seven News Brisbane solo for the previous nine months following the retirement of Frank Warrick. Following a couple of lean years coming third to Nine News Brisbane and Ten Eyewitness News Brisbane, Seven News Brisbane regained its ratings lead by 2007, helped by the recruitment of ex-Nine weatherman John Schluter, former Today news presenter Sharyn Ghidella and director of news Rob Raschke. In 2008, Seven News Brisbane was officially the #1 bulletin in Brisbane, winning all 40 ratings weeks. As of 2013, Seven has lost its ratings lead at 6 pm to 9 pm.
In January 2013, Sharyn Ghidella and Bill McDonald were appointed Sunday to Thursday (later changed to weeknights) presenters with Kay McGrath and Rod Young moving to present on Friday and Saturday (later changed to weekends). It was also announced that Ghidella will present a local edition of Today Tonight, which was axed in January 2014 in favour of the bulletin's one hour extension.
In June 2016, it was announced that Rod Young would leave Seven News Brisbane to present a new local bulletin for the Gold Coast.
In March 2018, McDonald was removed as co-anchor of the bulletin,[41] and was replaced by Max Futcher following poor ratings.[42]
In December 2019, Kay McGrath announced her retirement after 40 years in television and will present her final bulletin on 26 January. Katrina Blowers has been announced as her replacement.
News updates for Brisbane are presented by Max Futcher or Sharyn Ghidella throughout the afternoon and the early evening. Kay McGrath, Katrina Blowers and Jillian Whiting are fill-in news presenters for the bulletin. Ben Davis and Rohan Welsh are fill-in sports presenters and Liz Cantor and Laura Dymock are the fill-in weather presenters.
Adelaide
Seven News Adelaide is directed by Chris Salter and presented by Jane Doyle on weeknights and Rosanna Mangiarelli on weekends from Seven's studios located at Hindmarsh. Sport is presented by Mark Soderstrom on weeknights and Bruce Abernethy on weekends. Weather is presented by Amelia Mulcahy on weeknights.
The Adelaide bulletin is simulcast to the regional areas of South Australia on Southern Cross Television GTS/BKN in the Spencer Gulf region and Broken Hill in New South Wales, and through WIN South Australia in the Riverland and Mount Gambier/South East regions of the state.
From 1989 to 2004 Graeme Goodings presented Seven News Adelaide on weeknights with Doyle until he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Goodings and Riddell, the then weekend news presenter, agreed to swap roles, allowing for Goodings' rehabilitation. Goodings left Seven News Adelaide in December 2014, after 34 years reading Adelaide's news.
Prior to 27 December 1987, the presenters and production crew of Seven News Adelaide produced Ten News Adelaide (then known as Ten Eyewitness News). However, as the television industry was consolidating in Australia, these news services had each become associated by ownership with inter-state news services being broadcast on opposite frequencies; therefore, to simplify network interaction, their respective networks agreed to swap channel assignments and network affiliations in Adelaide.
In December 2007, production of Seven News moved from studios located at Gilberton to a new purpose-built space at Hindmarsh.[43]
During the AFL season, Seven News Adelaide does not air at the regular time on Saturday or Sunday if there is a twilight match involving Adelaide and/or Port Adelaide, in which case, a shortened edition is broadcast at half time, replacing analysis of the AFL matches broadcast, or a full bulletin is broadcast immediately after the game.
In 2014, Seven News Adelaide won every single ratings weeknight against the rival Nine News Adelaide,[44] but in 2015 started to lose some nights to Nine as Seven News as a whole suffered its worst ratings figures for over a decade.[18] It clocked up 500 consecutive weekly ratings wins in March 2019, extending a streak which started in August 2006.[45]
In August 2019, Jane Doyle celebrated 30 years of reading the news on Seven.
In November 2019, John Riddell announced his retirement and presented his last bulletin on 6 December. Doyle became solo presenter after Ridell's retirement.
In June 2020, it was announced that Jessica Adamson and Tim Noonan were made redundant. The weekday 4pm bulletin was also retired with Melbourne’s bulletin broadcast to the Adelaide market. Rosanna Mangiarelli replaced Adamson on weekends.
Fill-in presenters include Mike Smithson, Andrea Nicolas, Elspeth Hussey, and Mark Mooney (News), Theo Doropoulos and Andrew Hayes (Sport) and Gertie Spurling and Alana Smith-Fagan (Weather). News updates are presented by presenters or fill-in presenters.
Seven remains South Australia’s No.1 Adelaide news service for more than a decade.
Perth
Seven News Perth is presented by Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr on weeknights and Angela Tsun and Tim McMillan on weekends from Seven and West Australian Newspaper studios located at Osborne Park. Sport is presented by Basil Zempilas from Monday to Friday and Adrian Barich or Ryan Daniels from Saturday to Sunday. Weather is presented by Samantha Jolly from Monday to Thursday and Amelia Broun on Friday. Seven News Perth is also simulcast on the GWN network to regional and remote areas of Western Australia and Curtin FM 100.1 in the Perth CBD area, but as of 2016, the simulcast on radio had a broadcasting break.
Long standing Seven News Perth presenter Jeff Newman announced his retirement from television on 1 July 2009, and retired from his role on Monday 10 August 2009. He was replaced by former Nine News Perth weather presenter Natalia Cooper, who began her new role during September 2009. Cooper resigned from Seven Perth at the end of 2012 with ex-Nine weather presenter Angela Tsun taking over as her replacement for the 4:30 pm news and 6 pm weather forecasts.
In 2015, Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr celebrated a thirty-year anniversary as a news reading duo. They are one of the longest serving dual news presenter teams in the world and the dual-presenter format used by Seven News Perth has been highly successful. In contrast to previous struggles seen in Sydney and Melbourne in the late 1990s, Seven News Perth has led in the ratings for decades, well ahead of 10 News First Perth and Nine News Perth by as many as 100,000 viewers.
In February 2020, the Seven Network announced that Tim McMillan would join Angela Tsun to present on weekends.[46]
News updates for Perth are presented by Angela Tsun, Susannah Carr or Rick Ardon throughout the afternoon and by Susannah Carr or Rick Ardon in the early evening. Yvette Mooney was the weekend news presenter until she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and subsequently left the network in June 2008. Before the move to the Osborne Park Studios in Feb 2015, Blake Johnson and Samantha Jolly alternated fortnightly presenting for both Weekend bulletins. Fill-in presenters include Paula Voce, Samantha Jolly (News) and Chris Young (Sport).
Regional bulletins
Regional Queensland
Local news bulletins for Regional Queensland are broadcast each weeknight at 6 pm, in all seven regional areas: Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Wide Bay, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, and Rockhampton. They are followed by a shortened 30-minute version of Seven News Brisbane. The bulletins are repeated on a half-hour delay on 7Two at 6.30 pm.
The bulletins are presented by Rob Brough, with Joanne Desmond co-anchoring the Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba editions. Sport is presented by Nathan Spurling and weather is presented by Livio Regano. Fill-in presenters include Steve Titmus and Katie Toney (news), Luke McGarry (sport) and Rosanna Natoli (weather).
Reporters and camera crews are based at newsrooms in each of the seven regions with studio presentation for the Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Darling Downs, Rockhampton and Wide Bay bulletins pre-recorded at studios in Maroochydore. The Sunshine Coast edition of Seven News is broadcast live, but may also exchange it to any of the six pre-recorded regions at certain circumstances (e.g., cyclone coverage in the nearest region of immediate concern). News editing is undertaken by the local newsrooms, and sent to the main Maroochydore studios for transmission.
The most successful edition of Seven Local News is broadcast on the Sunshine Coast. In early 1998, WIN Television launched a competing service publicly stating that it would beat Seven in the ratings within six months. At the end of the 1998 ratings season, after a new station head (Laurie Patton) had overseen a comprehensive re-vamping of the program and its external promotions, Seven Local News had actually increased its audience share by six ratings points.
In early 2004, Seven Local News was re-introduced in the Townsville and Cairns sub-markets as a result of regulations regarding local content on regional television introduced by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (now the Australian Communications and Media Authority).
On 5 March 2007, Seven Local News bulletins commenced production and broadcasts in a widescreen standard-definition digital format. Seven Local News was the first regional news service in regional Queensland to convert to widescreen.
On 22 November 2010, Seven Local News launched a sixth edition for the Rockhampton/Gladstone and Central Queensland region.
On 2 November 2015, Seven Local News launched a seventh edition for the Toowoomba and the Darling Downs region. With the said launch, Seven News became the only news service to cover all regional centres of Queensland since the axing of WIN News in the Mackay region in May 2015. This lasted until July 2017, when rival Nine News began to roll out local composite bulletins for their statewide affiliate Southern Cross Television (which has carried Nine programming since July 2016).
From 11 July 2016, these editions are consolidated with the Seven News branding, though the openers of these editions remained to address as Seven Local News. The Local News branding was completely phased out on 5 September 2016 in favour of the Seven News brand.
Gold Coast
Seven News Gold Coast is presented by Rod Young and Amanda Abate, who also presents sport. Weather is presented by meteorologist Tony Auden (Monday - Thursday) and Paul Burt (Friday), and coastal, beaches and fishing reports from Paul Burt on a Thursday and Friday.
The bulletin airs on weeknights at 5.30pm on BTQ-7's Gold Coast relay transmitters, ahead of the main 6pm news from Brisbane, placing it in direct competition with rival Nine Gold Coast News. The bulletin does not air when Australian Test cricket matches are scheduled.
On 4 July 2016, a new local bulletin for the Gold Coast was introduced, produced and broadcast live from Seven's Surfers Paradise studio.
From its launch, weekend bulletins were also produced, which made Seven the only network to produce local Gold Coast bulletins seven days a week. However, weekend bulletins were axed in November 2017, citing cost-cutting measures. In February 2018, Amanda (who formerly presented the axed weekend edition) joined Rod in presenting the weeknight local bulletin as well as reading sport.
In July 2019, after three years on air, Seven News Gold Coast officially became the number one news bulletin on the Gold Coast, winning twenty-one weeks to the rival Nine Gold Coast News' one week.[47]
Fill in presenters include Bianca Stone (news), Tom Hartley (sport) and Tamra Bow (weather).
Current affairs
Sunrise
Sunrise is the network's breakfast program, aired weekdays from 5:30 am to 9:00am. The show is broadcast live from Seven's Martin Place studios, and is based on a mix of human interest, showbiz and entertainment alongside half-hourly national news and sport bulletins and weather updates (WA viewers regularly receive a locally produced bulletin in place of the national bulletin).
The program is hosted by David Koch and Samantha Armytage with news presenter Natalie Barr, sport presenter Mark Beretta, entertainment presenter Edwina Bartholomew and weather presenter Sam Mac.
Weekend Sunrise
Weekend Sunrise is the weekend edition of Sunrise, aired Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. The show is formatted much like its weekday counterpart, broadcast live from Seven's Martin Place studios, and is based on a mix of human interest, showbiz and entertainment alongside half-hourly national news and sport bulletins and weather updates.
The program is hosted by Monique Wright and Matt Doran with Sally Bowrey as news presenter, Simon Reeve as sport presenter and James Tobin as weather presenter.
Former shows
Seven News at 7
Seven News at 7 aired at 7:00 pm on weeknights and was presented by Melissa Doyle from Seven's Martin Place studios, with weather presented by David Brown from the Melbourne studio. The bulletin aired on the Seven Network's secondary channel, 7Two across Australia and it first aired on 5 August 2013 and was first presented by Mark Ferguson,[48] with Doyle taking over a week later.
Western Australia had its own local live version of Seven News at 7, also presented from the Martin Place studio in Sydney by Sally Bowrey with weather presented by Angela Tsun from the Perth studio.
On 28 April 2014, the bulletin was removed from the schedule.[49]
Today Tonight
Today Tonight was the network's tabloid current affairs program, which aired weeknights at 6:30pm following their 6:00pm news bulletins. The program previously ran local editions in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne before being cancelled in 2014 with their respective news bulletins expanded from thirty minutes to a full hour. In November 2019, the Adelaide and Perth editions were cancelled finally bringing their nightly news shows to an hour edition in line with the east coast.
Sunday Night
Sunday Night was the network's current affairs and investigative journalism program, which aired on Sunday nights at 8:30pm and presented by Melissa Doyle.
Controversy
Outing of David Campbell
The news service, and in particular its news director Peter Meakin and reporter Adam Walters, came under heavy criticism in 2010 for the decision to air a story on then-New South Wales Transport Minister David Campbell as homosexual.[50] Campbell, a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for over two decades, was forced to resign after Meakin chose to air a story by Walters showing Campbell leaving a gay bathhouse. Amidst criticism of the story former NSW Labor Premier Barrie Unsworth condemned Campbell's actions.
"Campbell has been the police minister and he's been on the state crime commission, and he's frequented places where he's easily recognised," Mr Unsworth told The Australian newspaper.[51]
"The threat is not from Channel 7 lurking outside but by the people inside. We've got a criminal milieu in this city and he laid himself open to all sorts of threats and blackmail."
Seven's decision to run the story was derided by other politicians and several rival media outlets as "not a good moment for the media coverage of Macquarie Street",[52] "old-fashioned"[53] and an act of "pathetic snooping".[54]
But this was an act of naked homophobia. Well, I've got a message for Channel Seven. In Australia, we've gone beyond that. Or most of us have. Your action was shameful.
Seven's justification for airing the story was initially that Campbell had misused his Ministerial vehicle,[50] however this allegation was quickly shown to be untrue by other media outlets, as New South Wales Ministers have full private use of their Ministerial vehicles.[53] The justification later put forward by Seven to defend its actions was that it was in the public interest to make the allegations public because of the risk of blackmail. The Australian Communications and Media Authority instigated an investigation into Seven's conduct in this matter, under the industry's self-regulated code of conduct. It accepted the public interest justification put forward by Seven, that Campbell's actions left him "vulnerable to compromise or blackmail".[55]
Tony Abbott "Shit happens"
In 2011, under the freedom of information laws, Seven News obtained footage showing Opposition leader Tony Abbott speaking about the recent death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan. Seven News edited the clips, then broadcast them that evening. After the incident, many media websites labeled the story a "ratings grab" for the network.
The following morning, rival networks, obtained the same footage as Seven News and broadcast another part of the interview not seen on the original report showing military leaders agreeing with Tony saying "It certainly does", backing his claims that his words had been taken out of context. Mr Abbott maintains that he was discussing whether the unit had had sufficient firepower support during the incident. Seven News reporter Mark Riley appeared on Sunrise and many other radio shows defending the claims and the report that aired.[56]
See also
References
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Channel Seven has other, old-fashioned ideas that hark back to a time that's all but disappeared in this country when being gay was scandal enough. ... [B]lowing his cover could only be justified if, once again, his hypocrisy affected his public life. That's the rule.
- Salusinszky, Imre (21 May 2010). "Disgrace for the man, and the media" (PDF). The Australian. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
What was the public interest in putting to air last night the story of Campbell's visit to a gay sex club?
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