New CEO Jeff Howard has done the rounds to every 7 station across the country over the past two weeks and I can say there’s uneasiness amongst staff. He’s made it pretty clear unavoidable cost cutting is on the horizon.
If you’re reviewing the double header and picking one over the other, why would they keep Angela over Michael when he fronts more of their programs? She only really has the 6pm News now whereas he still has Spotlight and Elections. Because she is cheaper to begin with?
Michael isn’t the main fill in for either of them, so they wouldn’t save him.
I’m just guessing here… but if Michael just did Spotlight, he would have more time to report for that show (as well as presenting it), and 7 could perhaps let some of that show’s other reporters go. I suspect they’ll want to keep Angela for when Fergo eventually does call time.
No… but someone’s gotta be number 3, haven’t they? If he just focuses on Spotlight, presenting and filing reports, plus a few weeks a year filling in on Sunrise and/or 6pm, that’s a decent workload, surely?
I think that might work quite well actually… Mark and Ange on weeknights and weekends, respectively, with Mike filling in… if they’re clever they can schedule it so it’s only ever one of those three at 6. Would be great for consistency.
Whoever planted the story in the afternoon, seems to have achieved the desired result and no-one is talking about the morning report of Mark Ferguson being replaced anymore!
It’s still possible the article is both right and wrong, in that yes he’s leaving weekend news but not the network. Interesting to see what 7 does next
Well earlier yesterday there was another Daily Mail article claiming Mike and Angela were ‘in training’ to replace Fergo. So that paper is talking out of both sides of its mouth.
I know newsreaders are essentially public figures, but it can’t be nice to have your future employment speculated on an international newspaper.
Michael Usher is to leave Sydney’s News… to host Weekend Sunrise, the Morning News, Spotlight, the main fill-in on The Morning Show when Larry is away, the Carols in the Domain, the Election Coverage, and the return of The Daily Edition. … plus much much more.
Said to be moving in to 7’s Eveleigh headquarters so he can be on call 24/7. The network is clearing the entire top floor or “penthouse” to become the “Usher suite”.