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Monday night’s 7 News Brisbane broadcast, viewers were left scratching their heads when the local bulletin abruptly switched to Sydney’s Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox mid-show.
The surprise handover occurred around 6.37pm, shortly after an ad break, following a power failure at Seven’s Mount Coot-Tha studios in Brisbane.
According to TVBlackbox, for several minutes Brisbane viewers found themselves watching the Sydney edition of the news – with the broadcast running all the way through to the final news segment before sport and weather.
It wasn’t until Sydney’s sports presenter Mel McLaughlin popped up onscreen that the unusual crossover was finally acknowledged.
‘Welcome back, and welcome to our Brisbane viewers joining us due to a technical issue,’ she said, as the segment shifted gears to the sports headlines.
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In an unexpected twist during Monday night’s 7 News Brisbane broadcast, viewers were left scratching their heads when the local bulletin abruptly switched to Sydney’s Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox mid-show. (Pictured: Mel McLaughlin)
A Seven spokesperson confirmed the mishap to TV Blackbox, revealing: ‘There was a power failure on station and the team worked incredibly hard to get back on air in time for the Sunshine State’s critical weather forecast.’
Queensland’s weather guru Tony Auden eventually returned to screens to deliver the all-important local forecast, before presenters Max Futcher and Katrina Blowers reappeared for the bulletin’s wholesome ‘Sunny Side’ segment.
Local sports presenter Steve Titmus was also briefly spotted at the desk during the handover but didn’t get a chance to present the final sports stories due to the disruption.
Meanwhile, fans trying to catch the full replay on 7plus were met with a surprise of their own – only the first 30 minutes of the Brisbane bulletin were uploaded, with the Sydney takeover absent from the stream.
The Sydney edition had yet to appear online as of Tuesday morning.
In a lighthearted sign-off, Max Futcher offered a sly nod to the on-air blunder, telling viewers: ‘Hope your night is going smoothly.’
It follows the news that three senior reporters at Channel Seven have jumped ship to rival Network 10.
Seven’s award-winning former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace, 7News Sydney reporter Bill Hogan and Spotlight producer-reporter Denham Hitchcock all resigned from the network last week, The Australian‘s Media Diary reported.
Queensland’s weather guru Tony Auden eventually returned to screens to deliver the all-important local forecast, before presenters Max Futcher and Katrina Blowers (pictured) reappeared for the bulletin’s wholesome ‘Sunny Side’ segment
They are reportedly set to join a new investigative show set up by Channel Ten’s news boss Martin White.
Brace and Hitchcock exited Seven’s studio in Sydney within hours of quitting and are set to start their new jobs at Ten on Monday morning while Hogan will begin with the network in three weeks’ time.
Ten has reportedly offered Brace a $50,000 increase on the $220,000 a year she had been getting paid.
In a message to colleagues on Friday, she said: ‘It feels off to not have an official ‘last day’ to say goodbye, but it’s best for me to just fade away for now.’
‘Stand up for yourselves, and each other … and think of me every time you have to find a f**king case study.’
Meanwhile, Hitchcock departs only three months after having returned to Seven after a couple of years off living on a catamaran with his young family.
‘I’m back. It’s time to wash some of the salt out – and get back to what I do best,’ he said in an Instagram post.
‘Back in 2019 the network asked me to start what would eventually become the Spotlight program with one producer and one cameraman – and as the limited shows proved successful – the team quickly grew and it would turn into the network’s flagship program.
The mishap follows reports that Seven’s award-winning former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace (pictured), 7News Sydney reporter Bill Hogan and Spotlight producer-reporter Denham Hitchcock all resigned from the network last week
Brace and Hitchcock exited Seven’s studio in Sydney within hours of quitting and are set to start their new jobs at Ten on Monday morning while Hogan (pictured) will begin with the network in three weeks time
Meanwhile, Hitchcock had announced his return to work at Seven in an Instagram post back in February
‘I stepped away for a few years to go sailing with the family – and have returned to find a new EP, a new team, new reporters, a fresh energy, an abundance of stories, and some genuine excitement about the year ahead.’
He ended the message by asking followers and fans to send ‘research ideas’.
‘But please – researched ideas – not just wild theories,’ he warned, before adding: ‘Keep an eye on @7newsspotlight it’s going to be quite the year.’
Hitchcock’s short return to Seven came after he welcomed his second child in December with his wife Mari.
He returned to screens in May 2023, in the true crime documentary ‘Who Killed Marea?’, which examines a 20-year-old cold case.
Hitchcock led the Sky News investigation into the mysterious and brutal slaying of Marea Yann who was killed in her home in rural Victoria in 2003.
The departures confirm industry whispers that Ten will launch a ‘news magazine show’ to take on the likes of Nine’s 60 Minutes, Seven’s Spotlight, and the ABC’s Four Corners.
The Australian reported last month that a ‘crack team’ of producers, referred to as the ‘investigations unit’ was being assembled to helm the new program.
It was claimed that Channel Ten reporter Dan Sutton would be the show’s executive producer, with potential reporters currently being screen tested.
A Network Ten spokesperson confirmed the establishment of the investigation unit to Daily Mail Australia.
‘Following the continued growth and success of our news brand, 10 News, we are investing in a 10 News investigative unit that will work on long-form investigative stories as part of our news offering across all our platforms,’ the spokesperson said.
