Mark Ferguson’s future at Channel Seven has been decided after months of speculation.
The veteran newsreader will now co-anchor Seven’s Sydney 7News with Angela Cox, news.com.au reported on Sunday.
Ferguson was widely speculated to be facing the shaft amid an ongoing staffing bloodbath at the network – but he has made the cut.
‘I’m really looking forward to it. Ange will add so much extra to the bulletin each night – more experience, more energy and it will allow us to be much more versatile when that big stories break,’ Ferguson said in a statement.
There was earlier speculation that mark was set to be shafted as the weekday night newsreader at Channel Seven amid several high-profile resignations at the embattled network.
Insiders earlier suggested that the news anchor, 58, may be replaced by the network’s weekend team, Michael Usher and Cox.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that Seven’s news bosses have ‘warmed to’ the idea of replacing the newsreader with a duo.
Sources claimed the weekend news team have been in training since 2021 to take over the weeknight bulletin.
Mark Ferguson’s future at Channel Seven has been decided after months of speculation. Mark is pictured
The TV insiders also report that this change was suggested at the end of last year, but former news director Craig McPherson nixed the idea.
It comes after another staffer announced his departure from the Brisbane newsroom amid the network’s recent staffing carnage.
Senior Seven News reporter Steve Hart has become one of the latest to flee the top-rating network, according to the Courier Mail.
The outlet reported an internal email to staff on Tuesday cited ‘family reasons’ as being behind the TV veteran’s decision to quit.
Hart will be moving to WIN News in Wollongong.
It is understood the reporter’s wife is based in Sydney and Hart’s weekly commutes played a major part in his decision to leave the network.
The veteran newsreader will now co-anchor Seven’s Sydney 7News with Angela Cox (right)
Hart has been with the Seven Network for two years, and previously worked with 10 News and FOX Sports.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Seven for comment.
He becomes just the latest Channel Seven Brisbane star to quit, following Shane Webcke’s shock departure from the sports news desk last week.
In a statement, the Brisbane presenter revealed he will be leaving his post in January but will remain with Seven for NRL insights.
Webcke had recently been in discussions with Seven management to reduce his work hours so he could spend more time on his family business, according to the Courier Mail.
Insiders earlier suggested that the news anchor, 58, may be replaced by the network’s weekend team, Michael Usher (left) and Cox
‘After 18 years presenting sport for 7NEWS Brisbane, I’ve made the decision to take a slightly new direction and from January I’ll be stepping back from the news desk,’ he said.
‘It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, to allow me greater flexibility and more time to pursue my family agricultural interests.
‘But I’m not going far. I’ll still appear regularly on 7NEWS alongside my good mate Gilly, providing rugby league insights for our viewers.
‘I have been treated so well over the last 18 years, and I’m grateful to Seven for supporting me through this next phase.’
The former rugby league player spent his footy career with the Brisbane Broncos, representing Queensland at the State of Origin 21 times.
Senior Seven News reporter Steve Hart (pictured) has become one the latest to flee the top-rating network
Channel Seven Brisbane star Shane Webcke, 49, (pictured) has announced his shock departure from the sports news desk amid the network’s recent staff bloodbath
He retired from the sport in 2006 and went on to become the Sunday to Thursday sports presenter at Seven News in Brisbane, a position he will hold until January.
Webcke is one in a long line of Seven employees who have reduced their duties or been axed amid the network’s cost-cutting bloodbath in recent months.
Seven West Media slashed 150 editorial staff in a round of redundancies which claimed big names including Queenslanders newsreader Sharyn Ghidella and veteran weatherman Paul Burt.
Seven Network’s recently appointed news and current affairs boss Anthony De Ceglie has been replacing sections leaders across the country with younger managers.
He has also introduced a Friday night comedy spot and astrology to the news.
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide all have fresh news directors, and new executive producers have been put in charge of Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight.
The network has also axed veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, who is known among friends as the ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ due to his grim news beat.
On the Sydney front, Ovadia – perhaps the most high profile of all the figures axed up until Ghidella’s – has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
The staffing changes come amid the network’s recent staffing carnage
