Be interesting to see what the landscape is in the west when Rick and Sue retire from the Seven news desk.
Knowing the Perth audience they’ll just stick with Seven and whoever succeeds them on weeknights for the long haul.
I’m not debating whether Alicia is capable for the job or not - she certainly is, but her numbers on the weekend being lower than Seven suggest it’s a risk automatically placing her in the #1 gig.
Though I agree that someone with Brett’s experience makes him a fantastic candidate when he’s ready to come back to Australia.
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The audience that watches Hitch would adjust to him easier than Alicia.
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Seven News on the weekend are probably getting some assistance from the AFL (before or after the game?).
But why the last 12 months all of a sudden, and not years?
Similar to the 2002-06 era when Nine News on Sundays (then presented by Jo Hall) just about smashed everyone and set the network up for weeks (and eventually years) of dominance.
And even before that, Nine’s news brand in Melbourne was simply bulletproof in the ratings.
That’s another good question. It must also be noted that in 2012, after five years of playing second fiddle to Seven News, Nine News in Melbourne hit back to win all 40 ratings weeks and not lose another until 2016.
This was despite them having a new weekend anchor in Alicia Loxley, who took over from Jo Hall, and the AFL pushing back the starting time of its Sunday afternoon match to 3:20pm (was previously 3:15pm, from 2:10pm) so Seven could show the match live and thus feed the viewers into its news, among other things.
But it seems like Melbourne viewers had their remotes ready when the footy finished…
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Because Seven in Adelaide got it right, Rosanna is a suitable successor to Jane and she serves as a mentor to Will. In fact Rosanna’s been on Seven for almost my entire lifetime.
I’ve said before that I strongly believe that Nine News Adelaide is a better product but suffers from a lack of local personalities on it, about half the reporters are from interstate and the 5pm bulletin leading into 6pm results in 2 hours of news, 7 have a 4pm and 6pm.
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While I quite like Brett, I vaguely remember Seven being a lot more competitive with Nine News Melbourne when Brett was filling-in for Alicia (who was on maternity leave) back in 2016 I think (although Seven had Jen Keyte at the time of course).
Could be due to Seven just having a lucky streak of AFL lead-ins and their lead out (MKR I think) smashing Nine after 7.00.
Could be completely wrong on that theory.
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The merry go round of reporters doesn’t help, only got 2 or 3 long term reporters. The line up isn’t the issue for 9 News Adelaide, Brenton and Kate are good. I believe 9 News at 5 still beats 10 News. They need better promotion.
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Absolutely. 7 has people I have grown up watching, people you know know Adelaide. 9 has people who have been here for 5 minutes, clearly are from elsewhere, and leave just as quick.
Their anchors are also fairly flat, Kate and Brenton are just reading the autocue. 9 have made decades of bad decisions in recent decades. They have tons of promotion, they just don’t have anything worth while to promote aside from a nicer set.
If they’re also struggling on weekends, doesn’t that tell you that Pete isn’t the problem? That Australian article also goes on to say:
The lead-in is also a factor I’d say.
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This only screams louder for a local version of Tipping Point to be introduced to replace Hot Seat.
Eight years ago, when Seven News was struggling in the ratings, they addressed this by establishing a local version of The Chase to replace the underperforming Deal or No Deal and Million Dollar Minute.
And it paid off handsomely.
Something for Nine to consider.
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They could have two presenters on weekdays like Brett and Alicia, with Dougal Betty on weekends…
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Clearly the lead in has been the biggest issue for Nine.
As for presenters, get Brett and Alicia to present together on weeknights.
I agree I think the lead in is one of the biggest issues now.
Some have forgotten that Alicia was out-rating Mike Amor by over 100k most weekends prior to this change in viewership, so I doubt she is the issue.
Alicia and Brett combo would be a great point of difference on weeknights.
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100% agree. This is the best outcome for Nine Melbourne.
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Former 10 News First Melbourne reporter Amber Johnston has joined Nine News Melbourne
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28/7/2023 Sophie Walsh presented the weather in Sydney today.
EDIT: Thought she would do Saturday too but not the case.
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Peter Hitchener presenting in Melbourne tonight. How hard is it for GTV to get Dougal Beatty to fill in for Alicia Loxley on a Friday which is Pete’s night off? Dougal presents the afternoon news on Thursday’s and Friday’s so I don’t see why GTV can’t get him to fill in for Alicia on a Friday.
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