It must be remembered, Mark was thrown into the hot seat at just 38 when at Nine in January 2005. He only got promoted after impressing during their coverage of the Asian tsunami in 2004-05.
Why must it be remembered?
Not sure that has anything to do with the fact that Mark has been behind his competition on two different networks over 15 years of presenting.
Thanks for the random fact though!
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Above all else I thought the main reason for Mark Fergusonâs promotion by Nine was because Jim Waley lost several ratings weeks to Ian Ross in 2004, which was probably seen as âunacceptableâ after a clean sweep with Jim in 2003 and however many years before that with Hendo.
Mind you, I donât think Nine was helped by the decision to quietly replace Georgie Gardner with Jaynie Seal on maternity leave while Seven had Nuala Hafner at the peak of her popularityâŚand didnât Nine almost do something horrendous with the Sydney sports presenting position as well? Because I think Brendan Jullian (who Iâm pretty sure wouldâve been relatively unknown to Nineâs Sydney 6pm news viewers at that time) presented Sport on weeknights alongside Mark for at least a few weeks in the early part of 2005.
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Has 7 news Sydney been winning the last few weeks with Usher?
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No, but it did win the 6:00pm half-hour in the first week of this year (week starting 29 December 2019).
I donât get why so many people on here want to see Fergo replaced on the 6pm news. Sure, he isnât Sydneyâs number 1 news reader but heâs a familiar and trusted face. Heâs read Sydney news for 15 years now - surely thatâs not something to be taken lightly. At least his ratings, while not too crash hot, are relatively stable. Itâs not like heâs actively loosing viewers to Overton.
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I can - because Fergo has not won a single ratings year and has frequently been outrated by rival fill-in presenters let alone his main competitors!
Now donât get me wrong, Mark Ferguson would probably be a great presenter of a daytime news bulletin or even in a rolling news channel environment where youâre largely just expected to read the stories.
But for a Sydney 6pm bulletin where youâre doing live crosses for breaking news one moment and bantering about lighter pieces/sport the next, you really need someone special who can handle just about everything. Hendo, Climpson, Roscoe had it, Overton has it. Michael Usher has the potential to be that style of Sydney news presenter, but not Fergo whoâs probably more like a modern day equivalent of Ross Symonds.
I was going to express a similar sentiment. Symonds was a familiar and trusted face Seven stuck with for years as a solo reader and with co presenters but it was obvious he would never be a serious challenger for the ratings crown. He never shook that overly serious, starched ABC News persona he brought with him to Seven and he never seemed to develop an easy rapport with the other presenters.
Brian Henderson was very dry and straight but he often displayed his quick wit and sense of humour when interacting with those around him or when things went awry. We only ever saw fleeting glimpses but it softened him and made him relatable. Ferguson is charming and affable but every throw and interaction seems scripted and rehearsed. It just doesnât when Usher is in the chair and it certainly didnât when Bath was reading that bulletin.
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Chris Reason absolutely smashed Mark Burrows last night in the ratings.
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Sunday (19.01.2020): Paula Voce presented the 5pm News for Brisbane and Perth today, from the Perth studio.
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Sunday (19.01.2020): Laura Dymock is presenting Brisbaneâs weather tonight.
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That means sheâll present Perthâs news tonight.
She has been presenting for the last few weekends.
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Anglea Tsun must have Off this weekend
I think there are better options then Paul
Elle Georgio comes to mind could have keep Mark Gibson and used him as a fill in rather then Paula who only works part time anyway
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Paul? I assume you are referring to Paula.
As if you would use Mark Gibson over Paula Voce. What planet would that ever happen.
Not necessarily supporting either side, though there was a period where Mark Gibson did present in Perth:
Unless Iâm thinking of someone else (which is quite possible), I thought Mark Gibsonâs association with the Seven Network ended when Today Tonight Perth did.
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That is correct. He was made redundant as well when Monika was.
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I had to say this, that Queensland Weekend Presenter Kay McGrath is retiring very soon, but will still remain a part of the 7 Family this year.
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