For two years every man and his dog here said Seven didn’t have anyone on its books who could compete with Overton. Why suddenly would Sanders be the answer to Seven’s woes? If the powers that be thought she was the answer they wouldn’t have acquired Usher. He’s obviously being groomed as the future weekday newsreader.
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Um… Maybe because they didn’t want to lose the morning ratings position or didn’t want a female at 6pm? Who knows. But she is popular.
Because the morning news ratings are a network’s top priority.
I think Morning TV viewers are very different to primetime 6pm news viewers. While I have no issue saying Ann is a news legend I don’t think we will see her at 6pm. She gets a significant lead in thanks to The Morning Show which no doubt helps the Morning News. Even on days when she is absent.
Mark, like him or loathe him (and many here loathe him) has done well this year. Is he #1? No. But 7 News in Syd is in a much better position compared to where it was 12 months ago (and 12 months before that!). Does that secure his job? No and Michael’s appointment makes it less secure. But the hysterics that surround Mark at times makes him out to be wholly incompetent blubbering mess. While others may have more flair and personality he has been a very solid newsreader who deserves a little more credit that he often gets around here.
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But doesn’t Today Extra have a larger audience compared to The Morning Show this yr?
Off topic but the last I checked, Today Extra is actually struggling to beat Studio 10 in the ratings let alone The Morning Show! 
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So basically Roscoe 2.0 then? Seven needs a long term solution not just another brief flash of success.
I see Ann as Sydney’s Jennifer Keyte. Mush is surprisingly similar to Mitch in many ways so it’s a partnership that I could see working very well.
I do agree that Mark needs to be moved away from 6pm altogether to give everyone a clean break. Give Ann weekends and shift Mark into the morning bulletin. Taking the weight of 6pm off his shoulders could hopefully see him relax a bit, loosen up and flourish during the day.
But flair and personality is what you need to be successful at 6pm. I don’t think anybody refutes the fact that he is a skilled newsreader, only that he is the wrong fit for the role he has been given.
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Nine News Sydney back in the lead last night, with a comfortable win.
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Nine News Sydney fronted by Deb Knight last night, mind you.
Or presenter has very little impact on ratings in the short term.
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Ian Ross wasn’t a ‘brief solution’, he fronted the bulletin for around 6 years with dominant ratings (400-500k in Sydney)…
Don’t forget Ann also presents the Afternoon News as well as the morning news. Is that bulletin also dominating the timeslot?
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There was also a big Rugby League audience last night.
Reality is one weekend or night of ratings wins means nothing. Make it a long trend and then we will see
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According to @TV.Cynic’s recent data, it was.
So you’re equating day to day ratings solely on who is fronting the bulletin? Hmmm…
I generally agree that it’s still far too early to say whether or not Michael Usher is a success for Seven News Sydney. As it was pointed out earlier, Nine had the Australia vs New Zealand rugby league test match after the news last night.
Once the dust has settled, in about say…3-6 months time? Then we can properly comment on whether or not Michael Usher is the silver bullet that Seven News Sydney really needs.
Exactly. Seven News Sydney needs a newsreader who’ll probably still be there in ten years time like Nine has in Peter Overton, not someone who’s likely to retire in about five years time before the cycle repeats itself.
I agree. As I’ve said before, Sydney’s most successful 6pm newsreaders have generally been those who can master serious/breaking news, while also having a bit of personality when it comes to reading more lighthearted stories or bantering with the sports presenter.
Mark Ferguson would probably be a great presenter on a daytime bulletin or even a rolling news channel environment where unlike the 6pm news, people generally do expect to just get the news with nothing else on the side so to speak.
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How do you know that?
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Brief in the grand scheme of things. Seven’s success didn’t last long at all when you compare it to decades and decades of domination by Nine.
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True.
However Seven News were able to take over the ratings in Sydney (2005), despite Nine still leading the ratings until 2006.
Seven News Brisbane has copied again.
Bill Macdonald was live from the Supreme Court tonight with Sharyn Ghidella anchoring solo.
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