From what I’ve seen, Michael Usher isn’t an overly amazing newsreader IMO. However he’s definitely a better person to lead Seven’s Sydney 6pm news bulletin than Mark Ferguson.
That said, I don’t think Nine News Sydney are going to be overly concerned just yet. They’ve still got the better weeknight presenting team, strong fill-in newsreaders and a reporting team which is arguably the best on Australian commercial TV.
As @TV.Cynic pointed out, for the purpose of fairness and balance, Seven News has made in-roads the past year, having regained the #1 national title.
Nine News’ ratings haven’t been that good recently.
Barely made 800k last night 
In fact, in a rare situation considering recent years, Seven News have won a number of bulletins in Sydney & Melbourne the past number of months.
I have a feeling Ch 7 are aiming to overtake Nine News in Sydney & Melbourne in 2017 (or at least close to), certainly their growth/trends point towards that.
(e.g.) In Sydney this year:
New sport presenter, new weather presenter & another new weekend presenter - with Mark Ferguson still at the helm.
I know a lot of people ‘trash’ Mark Ferguson, but I don’t see anything special about Peter Overton either.
I would say Sandra Sully is arguably the most recognised/liked/well known news face on TV in Sydney (for many reasons) 
I would go further to say Peter Hitchener is arguably the most respected presenter still on TV in Australia (for obvious reasons).
I don’t watch any of these services anyway to be honest, I still watch Ten News @ 5pm.
You have a feeling? Of course that’s Seven’s aim, just like it has been since the day Nine started winning the ratings battle.
Well, since it became realistic.
Let me guess…you’ve never watched a Seven or Nine Sydney 6pm bulletin in it’s entirety?
While the ratings have been close for much of this year, the only two ratings weeks that Seven News Sydney has won (so far) this year was during the Olympics. Even then, Nine still managed to win on a couple of nights during the Olympics from memory.
From my observations, viewers in Sydney (and Melbourne as well) have long held a strong preference for the newsreaders who are able to handle that very fine balance between serious breaking news as well as the more lighthearted stuff like bantering with the sports presenter. Peter Overton is one of those presenters who’s perfect for a 6pm bulletin.
In contrast, I get the impression that Mark Ferguson would probably be more comfortable presenting a daytime bulletin or on a rolling news channel than having such a prestigious role as being the main face of a 6pm bulletin in Australia’s largest city.
Totally disagree, he really has the sense of authority few newsreaders seem to have! Much better than Fergo or Mitch.
The decades of success of the two Brians suggests otherwise.
As a side note, how many teases do you need to put in your opener? Felt laborious. 3 stories is plenty. None is better, just get straight into the news. Especially when you have a 5:55pm tease during The Chase as well.
IMO, most people actively tuning in at 6pm for the news would be committed to watch through the first block. Hit people with teases for the rest of the bulletin going into that first ad break.
Excerpt from original source article
Seven Network forced to pull Michael Usher news promo after ‘threatening’ email from Nine
THE Seven Network has been forced to pull a news promo trumpeting Michael Usher’s move to the network after lawyers for Usher’s former employer, Nine Network, accused Seven of brazenly breaching copyright on Nine’s news footage.
The day before the newsreader started in his first news-reading shift at Seven, Nine’s legal counsel fired off the email on Thursday notifying Seven it was reserving its rights and demanding Seven “immediately cease using the promo … and not broadcast or communicate it again”.
Seven mixed the Nine footage with shots of Usher with the Seven News team accompanied by the copyline “another reason why no other news comes close to the number one news in the country — 7 News with Mark Ferguson and now Michael Usher”.
A Seven spokesperson said: “We replaced the vision when Nine sent us a threatening letter. They must be panicking.”
Is this a common thing amongst networks?
Sounds a bit petty from Ch 9, why would they even have an issue, just sounds like sour grapes.
I notice Seven News (with Michael Usher) comfortably beat Nine News (with Georgie Gardner) last night…
I just looked at this too. I could make excuses such as Nine poor lead-in ATM, but all I will say is well done to Michael Usher and Seven News Sydney.
It’s Nine’s footage so I think they have every right to be protective of it or not want Seven to hijack it for their own publicity.
Both networks are as petty as each other, why do you think they both use enormous “First On 7” or “First On 9” watermarks when there is “exclusive” footage.
I think it’s a relatively common thing amongst Seven and Nine to complain about what their rival does.
As TVAU rightfully pointed out, both Seven and Nine are as petty as each other.
Afterall, Seven has certainly complained about Nine possibly infringing their trademarks and copyright before. The Hot Plate, anyone?
It was only night 1. Personally I’m going to wait a few months before saying whether or not Michael Usher is the silver bullet that Seven News Sydney needs.
I think one reason why Michael Usher will be useful for Fridays at least (assuming ratings become consistently good), is because Nine News have traditonally always dominated Fridays.
Leading-in to their NRL coverage.
It will be interesting, that’s for sure. And as many have said, if ratings to prove very successful, what happens with Mark Ferguson (unless his also grow)…
If I were 7 and wanted to restore some credibility to the news ASAP I would do away with Ferguson pronto, move Usher to weeknights and Sanders to weekends.
Ryan Phelan presented sport in Sydney last night, Jim Wilson is returning tonight.
Michael Felgate presenting sport in Melbourne again this weekend.
If you were going to move Ann Sanders at all (considering she’s probably on a good contract), wouldn’t you move her to weeknights?
Get the ratings up before she retires & then replace her with Michael Usher in a few years.
Ann’s Morning News bulletin dominates its timeslot.
Good on him, must be tough after his sister’s death.
Interesting to note that Seven News won in Sydney last night…