Entertainment reporter Peter Ford yesterday suggested that Peter Overton is rumoured to takeover hosting National Nine News Sydney from Mark Ferguson.
Speaking on The Steve Price Morning Show on 2UE, Ford said that Overton was originally promised the job after Jim Waley and to keep Overton happy, he is paid the highest salary of the four 60 Minutes reporters.
With Mike Munro’s retirement, Nine now have to find a new person to fill the weekend newsreader’s chair from November. The seat must be reserved for former Nightline anchorman, Michael Usher with Ferguson therefore continuing to anchor the weekday News.
Overton enjoyed some success hosting National Nine News over summer and the op_inion highlighted this in January when Overton read the news for two weeks, he actually beat Seven on a few occasions.
At the time, I jokingly remarked that Mark Ferguson may have to watch his back but could this now eventuate into reality?
Unfortunately for Ferguson, he is beaten every night by former Nine newsreader, Ian Ross who fronts Seven News. Last night for example Ross had 480 000 viewers for Seven News and Ferguson had only 316 000 viewers.
Despite these ratings, Nine should stick with Ferguson as the anchorman for the news. He has the opportunity to front Nine news for the next twenty to thirty years and become the next Brian Henderson.
He is likeable, a family man and has a terrific television persona which comes across in his delivery and presentation and Ian Ross is not going to be fronting Seven News in five years.
Ferguson is still building up trust, loyalty and a relationship with his audience, since fronting the news in December 2004 and at the age of 42 he has a long career ahead of him.
Nine’s news figures are a concern for the network but Ferguson is not the problem.
The Sydney newsroom has had its share of controversy over the last twelve months with the ‘boning’ of weather girl Majella Wiemers and United States correspondent, Christine Spitteri. Nine has also seen Brad Schmitt, Adam Walters and Dale Paget depart Nine to become media advisors to the NSW Government and crime reporter Shawn Fewings has recently left the network.
With the departure of these six senior reporters, Nine has had to make changes to introduce new journalists which will take some time for the audience to develop a rapport with the new faces and voices.
Nine is tweaking its News and Current Affairs department with the axing of Nightline and Sunday, the latter program to be replaced with Sunday Morning News at 8AM, hosted by 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown.
Might this decision to appoint Brown as host of the Sunday Morning News, be hinting at some more changes at the network?
Brown also presents The Gift so she may have to cut-down on her involvement with 60 Minutes or maybe she is leaving 60 Minutes?
With her first child due shortly, Brown might not have the time to travel around the world to report for 60 Minutes, so her role maybe reading the Sunday Morning News and fronting The Gift. With the solid ratings of 60 Minutes, news executives would not want to lose Brown and Overton which is why they would be reluctant to move Overton.
Nine should leave Peter Overton on 60 Minutes, appoint Michael Usher to the weekend news and retain Mark Ferguson as the Sydney anchorman because he is the best in the business.
Speaking on The Steve Price Morning Show on 2UE, Ford said that Overton was originally promised the job after Jim Waley and to keep Overton happy, he is paid the highest salary of the four 60 Minutes reporters.
With Mike Munro’s retirement, Nine now have to find a new person to fill the weekend newsreader’s chair from November. The seat must be reserved for former Nightline anchorman, Michael Usher with Ferguson therefore continuing to anchor the weekday News.
Overton enjoyed some success hosting National Nine News over summer and the op_inion highlighted this in January when Overton read the news for two weeks, he actually beat Seven on a few occasions.
At the time, I jokingly remarked that Mark Ferguson may have to watch his back but could this now eventuate into reality?
Unfortunately for Ferguson, he is beaten every night by former Nine newsreader, Ian Ross who fronts Seven News. Last night for example Ross had 480 000 viewers for Seven News and Ferguson had only 316 000 viewers.
Despite these ratings, Nine should stick with Ferguson as the anchorman for the news. He has the opportunity to front Nine news for the next twenty to thirty years and become the next Brian Henderson.
He is likeable, a family man and has a terrific television persona which comes across in his delivery and presentation and Ian Ross is not going to be fronting Seven News in five years.
Ferguson is still building up trust, loyalty and a relationship with his audience, since fronting the news in December 2004 and at the age of 42 he has a long career ahead of him.
Nine’s news figures are a concern for the network but Ferguson is not the problem.
The Sydney newsroom has had its share of controversy over the last twelve months with the ‘boning’ of weather girl Majella Wiemers and United States correspondent, Christine Spitteri. Nine has also seen Brad Schmitt, Adam Walters and Dale Paget depart Nine to become media advisors to the NSW Government and crime reporter Shawn Fewings has recently left the network.
With the departure of these six senior reporters, Nine has had to make changes to introduce new journalists which will take some time for the audience to develop a rapport with the new faces and voices.
Nine is tweaking its News and Current Affairs department with the axing of Nightline and Sunday, the latter program to be replaced with Sunday Morning News at 8AM, hosted by 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown.
Might this decision to appoint Brown as host of the Sunday Morning News, be hinting at some more changes at the network?
Brown also presents The Gift so she may have to cut-down on her involvement with 60 Minutes or maybe she is leaving 60 Minutes?
With her first child due shortly, Brown might not have the time to travel around the world to report for 60 Minutes, so her role maybe reading the Sunday Morning News and fronting The Gift. With the solid ratings of 60 Minutes, news executives would not want to lose Brown and Overton which is why they would be reluctant to move Overton.
Nine should leave Peter Overton on 60 Minutes, appoint Michael Usher to the weekend news and retain Mark Ferguson as the Sydney anchorman because he is the best in the business.
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