The Seven network, under siege from a resurgent Nine, has purged its Seven News executive and installed a new leadership team in one dramatic afternoon at its Martin Place headquarters.
Veteran Sydney news director Chris Willis has stood down after 24 years at Seven after failing to halt the slide in ratings for Seven News which has been running second to Nine News at 6pm for six years.
Also out is Rob Raschke, Seven’s network director of news, a former foreign correspondent for the ABC.
The catalyst for all the changes was the poaching of Nine executive Craig McPherson who was hired to be Seven’s network director of news and public affairs several months ago.
McPherson has been on gardening leave while he sees out his contract with Nine but on his first day in the job on Wednesday he removed Willis and Raschke and installed former shock jock Jason Morrison as Sydney news director.
Morrison, a conservative radio presenter at 2GB and 2UE and a columnist for News Corp, has been acting as media adviser to billionaire Gina Rinehart in recent months.
He was unsuccessful in his bid for Liberal preselection in the seat of Ku-ring-gai earlier this year.
Morrison will now try to improve Seven’s Mark Ferguson-led Sydney news bulletin which is being beaten by Peter Overton on Nine.
McPherson has taken over running Seven News, Sunday Night, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Daily Edition and Today Tonight, which is still on air in Adelaide and Perth. He is said to be considering restoring the tabloid TV show to the Sydney and Melbourne markets.
McPherson said Morrison was a born leader with a brilliant news sense. “He’s Sydney from his bootstraps to his gingertop,” McPherson said. “He was an outstanding TV type before chasing multimedia glory. He’s taking over from one of the best and I’m extremely confident he’ll flourish at the helm of an extraordinarily talented and dedicated news team.”
Seven’s bloodless coup came as Nine was unveiling its bold plans for 2016, which include introducing a fourth free-to-air channel – 9Life – for dedicated lifestyle and reality television content.
The best news for viewers is that from 26 November Channel Nine will be simulcast in high definition, giving fans of the upcoming cricket season and the 2016 NRL season a better picture. Gem will return to standard definition.
Nine Entertainment Co also announced a new streaming and video on demand product, 9Now, which will launch in early 2016.
All Nine’s broadcast channels will be available online through 9Now for live streaming, catch up and on demand, a strategy Seven announced for its channels last week, too.
Highlights from the programming slate for 2016 include a new drama about businessman Alan Bond, House Of Bond, and a contemporary crime thriller, Hide & Seek, about a network of potential terrorists who have entered Australia under false passports.
After a 12-month break Australia’s Got Talent will return with new judges: US fashion commentator Kelly Osbourne, Ian “Dicko” Dickson, Eddie Perfect and Sophie Monk.
And Nine will debut a rare new comedy –Here Come The Habibs! – which is billed as the boldest Australian comedy in decades.
In surprising news, given the low ratings and the poor reception, Karl Stefanovic’s The Verdict will return in 2016.
Former Hey Hey It’s Saturday host Daryl Somers makes another comeback as host of a new game show “You’re Back in the Room” in which contestants get the opportunity to win cash prizes while being under the power of hypnotism.
