It was all speculation. Spotlight has been beating 60 minutes in ratings the last few weeks.
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Have to wonder who the insider is with an article that includes “‘Beloved’ Mark Ferguson (pictured)” 
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I know this is a bit nitpicky even for here… but has Fergo always sat at that slight angle? Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Friendly Jordies took the piss out of it once, called it “Ferguson’s confident slant”
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A sledge for the new news boss too. The source is definitely a fan of Mark
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Here’s a thought? Perhaps Fergo and Mush are both being let go? Angela too. National Rick and Sue, anyone? 
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Spotlight wouldn’t be enough to “sustain” him but a return to 60 Minutes would? And with nowhere else to go it seems Karl will likely remain at Today for many years to come.
Between hosting the show, the specials and his own stories there is plenty going on at Spotlight for Michael to shift over full-time. And who knows, he could even be the program’s new EP if he wanted to do something different.
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Yes, it won’t be enough.
Spotlight doesn’t run all year round. Usher mostly is the host and doesn’t do that many stories. It focuses on one story per week whereas 60 has 2/3 meaning more opportunities.
If he was at 60 Minutes he’d be doing so many more stories all year round.
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Either one of them are going, or neither are. No way Seven would be foolish enough to drop both presenters.
If they are dumping either or both they should be calling up Mel Doyle and Chris Bath right now to try and get them back, or if they don’t want to look outside the network, put Ann Sanders back in the main chair (IMO she would rate much better than back in the 90s and 2000s).
The Daily Mail story reads like an attempt by Mark Ferguson’s camp to keep him in the weeknight anchor chair.
Michael Usher anchors national program Spotlight and regularly fills in on Sunrise. As well as co-anchoring the weekend Sydney news.
Musher is a huge asset at Seven, his ability to cover breaking news and anchor rolling coverage is unmatched. Fergo is unable to handle rolling coverage or even election night.
I don’t believe a single word of the story.
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It is the Daily Mail after all.
I’m just waiting for them to add our comments to it!
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That’s a good point about Michael doing all of their national coverage, including elections. He goes, who does it- Ange?
There were reports in the paper that Kerry Stokes was considering its future. Those reports also talked about more than ratings, such as Spotlight tarnishing the news brand.
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Whatever happens, I hope they ditch the stupid arrangement of a single anchor on weeknights and a weekend double header. No other network does this, and for good reason. It makes zero sense. If anything, it should be the other way round.
(And yes, I know Melbourne does it too, and that’s stupid as well.)
Exactly. And if this is true, there is no reason why he couldn’t continue to fill-in on the news and Sunrise. He just wouldn’t have a regular slot anymore.
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Same would have been said about Mel Doyle and Chris Bath…
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It held ratings even after the scandal so I think it’s now staying under a new, yet-to-be-announced EP.
It could be if he’s allowed to do proper investigative work and be hands on. On top of that, I’m sure he’d still fill-in on the newsdesk, even Sunrise on occasion. Plus he’s been writing for The Nightly.
This could just be him exiting weekend news.
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Wasn’t it the 6pm gig that lured him away from 60 Minutes and The Latest kept him busy. Now supposedly he won’t have either? Hard to believe this report, especially any accompanying spin that would say it’s his choice.
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By this time next year, who do you think will be presenting Sydney’s 6pm (Pick up to 2):
- Mark Ferguson
- Michael Usher
- Angela Cox
- Ann Sanders
- Chris Reason
- Natalie Barr
- Mel Doyle
- Chris Bath
- Someone else
0
voters
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*Barr
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Sorry but that poll is ridiculous. As if most of those names are genuine chances 
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Already told you, mate, it’ll be Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr 
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We will have to agree to disagree.
For all we know, Spotlight’s recent ratings success may mean Seven is investing resources into expanding the show. And of course a lot more work goes into producing a show of that type outside the portion of the year when it is on-air.
And Michael would almost certainly continue to have other roles across the network such as filling in on Sunrise (Shirvo must have at least 6-8 weeks of annual leave per year, and the same for Matt Doran), covering major events etc. Not to mention the many off-air roles he could fill (ie mentoring, contributing to digital platforms etc).
He said at the time he missed live news (I’m not sure co-presenting a Friday/Saturday night bulletin stuffed with filler would really fulfil that passion) and he wanted to be home more after years of travelling for 6-7 months a year working on 60 Minutes:
I think Spotlight and a Chief Anchor type role would be ideal - taps into his strengths and gives him platforms to do more than just read an autocue.
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