Channel Seven has had one of its biggest shake-ups, with Mark Ferguson reducing his duties after leading the nightly news bulletin for 17 years.
Instead of presenting the news five days a week, he and co-anchor Angela Cox will be on air only four days a week.
The news of the change follows months of rumours that his on-air role would be reduced.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, Michael Usher and Angie Asimus will now lead the 6pm bulletin on Thursdays.
TV sources said it was a strategic decision to strengthen the weekly line-up of presenters.
“It gives the weekend team a bit more weight and presence during the week, which helps on weekends,” they said.
“There’s also a bit of a broader shift going on where anchors aren’t just desk-bound anymore. You’re seeing more of them out in the field and across specials, which this kind of set-up allows for.
“This isn’t a demotion for anyone – it’s more about flexibility and making the overall line-up feel stronger and even more competitive across the full week.”
Another insider added that the decision was a way to go up against Nine, which was starting to pay off.
“Thursday’s extended bulletin from Canberra, with Michael Usher and Mark Riley on the lawn at Parliament House, beat ACA,” they explained.
“Seven’s Extended news coverage (1900 to 1930) averaged 1.216m across Seven and 7plus. Number 1 in its timeslot, beating ACA (1.181m) by three per cent.”
Two months before the shake-up was confirmed and right before his 60th birthday, Mark told Sunday Confidential that he had thought about retirement.
“I don’t want to say I’m running out of time, but you start to think you are running out of a little bit of time to do all the things that you always planned to do,” he said.
“There’s a few mountains I’d like to walk up, a few seas I would like to swim in and a few islands I would love to visit.”
“You start thinking, reflecting, planning, changing your mind.”
