All Stories FeedMike Munro signs to Sunday Night
Mike Munro has been confirmed to co-host Seven’s new current affairs show, Sunday Night.
News Limited says he has signed for one year while the female co-host role is being battled out between Chris Bath and Natalie Barr.
Sunday Night will premiere next month at 6.30pm (as tipped here) and not against 60 Minutes at 7.30pm.
Charging out of Seven News it will allow Seven to undermine 60 Minutes without going head to head with it and potentially losing.
Munro announced his retirement from Nine last year after years with the network, saying “I don’t think I’ll retire completely retire. I’ll still do a bit of charity work and volunteer, public speaking and things like that.
“David Gyngell’s been very good about asking me to come back and continue Missing Persons Unit which is still going to air,” he said.
“I guess it’s just being able to say that you’ll semi-retire, get your Super money and then decide what you might do.”
Narrating Missing Persons Unit for Nine would now seem unlikely.
Chris Bath is facing unexpected resistance from Seven executives who are trying to preserve her value to the evening news team in Sydney. Currently its newsreader on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays she is tipped to take over from Ian Ross at the end of the year.
Munro , a former 60 Minutes reporter himself, it is probably a blessing the new show isn’t going up against his old programme. He isn’t the only Nine name to join the new Seven project with former Sunday reporter Ross Coulthart also on board.
Widely considered a nice bloke in the biz, Munro will start at Seven on February 1 – a perfect night to start the show, given it is also the Men’s final at the Australian Open.
Source: news.com.au
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I watched the show on Sunday night regarding the lap banding operation and I have never heard of such rott from Mike Munro not only did he not get his fax correct but he was very rude to the doctor. I had this operation done last year and it has saved my life I don’t have high blood pressure any more and my energy levels up way up. I have always played golf and tennis but found it hard to breath now I don’t have any trouble at all. Mike’s last comment about people that have had this operation could not eat fruit and vegies is a lot of rott not only do I eat more vegies then before I enjoy them so much more. The only think I don’t eat is steak and I have to eat a lot slower but isn’t that what we all should be doing. And as far as not back up I have all the back up that I could wish for from my hospital.
Natalie who?
What can I say? I was absolutely appalled at the bias displayed by Mr Munro on SN regarding the vaccination debate – what happened to chairing an equal and fair discussion? I used to think very highly of him but after watching this debate I will be more than happy to change channels if I see him on TV again… not good Munro!
Mike Munro has done a lot of damage to his credibility with his biased reporting on the vaccination episode. His behaviour and intimidation was completely unnecessary. It would have been nice to see a fair debate from both sides and let the information speak for itself yet it was clearly orchestrated so that the pro-vaccination received air-time and support and the anti-vaccination crowd were belittled, cut off and intimidated.
Can you explain Mike Munro, why the woman from Brisbane (speak to your channel 7 crew if you arent aware or I can supply name out of this forum) who was prepared to appear on your show to voice her concerns believing that vaccinations killed her baby, was advised too late (the day before taping) she would have to pay her own fare there and she wasnt gauranteed any air-time!! Did the Mcaffrey’s pay for their own flight?? And you had the gall to ask Meryl where are these people claiming to have repercussions from vaccinations??? I think it is a disgusting bit of discrimination to say the least. put out all the facts and let people make up their own minds.
I thought I’d watch SN as the story on immunisation was of interest. But all I witnessed was an emotive story with a ‘forum’(!?) that showed absolute and incredible bias. No wonder the families with children adversely affected by vaccines didn’t come. They were probably tipped off it was only going to be a witch hunt. I won’t watch again and have lost any and all respect for Mike Munro. What a moron.
Munro got it completely wrong tonight. It’s just like all his other garbage over the years that he tries to sensationalise with the viewing public, this chap is completely in his right to do what he has done and was quite sincere about everything he said tonight. I’m no lawyer or barrister, but if the guy is trying to preserve these memorables at least he is doing something creditable for these poor flyers that died. Funny how the relatives of these men havent bothered to follow up on these flyers years ago (or have they?), surely they have had time. They probably enjoyed the free flight up there and I would be very dissappointed if they received payment for their time. If they did, it just shows you how low Munro will go to try and put a story on the show anyway he can. I hope he had a lot of viewers tonight, and I really hope the journo’s get stuck into him, just like he has with a lot of people he has hasseled over the years on his shows. Furthermore, if this chap had been selling this stuff for profit or whatever, then you may have had a story. Maybe!
Mike, I like your work, and have told you so before, but you got it wrong when you rubbished the guy who is preserving war relics. You got it wrong…. and you know it. Don’t go for sensationalism, you’re better than that. Mal
Tomorrow I see you have the sad story of the couple from Lennnox that lost their beautiful child to whooping cough – since I have seen the ads I have crumbled with tears & pain – my daughter died of measles – SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) – please…..tell the parents ‘thankyou’ for going public – and my full support is with them……if they ever want to meet me – please give them my details…I live 30mins from them…. difficult living in Byron/Mullumbimby/Lismore area as so many people dont immunise – I often go to the anti vaccination group meetings – and of course stand up & say immunise & tell them my story……I spoke with a Community Nurse from that area two days go & she doesnt agree with immunisation….what!!!! Have another Mum up here – here daughter caught measles at 6 months of age & sadly SSPE at 18 years of age – died….
Thanks for putting this story to air………helps us other Mums & families so much…
Cheers Cecily
A good coup for Seven. As to your suggestions David, I’d love to see Jana or Mary back on TV. Actually with Munro and Wendt on SN Nine would be really kicking themselves LOL.
As to whether Bath or Nat Barr as the co-host I don’t particularly care for either of them and hardly associate them with investigative journalism. But if I had to choose, probably Chris Bath.
It will be interesting to see how this rates. Im guessing 9 will put Domstic Blitz up agains it, no wonder they’ve been promoting it like hell. I think that it would be a very close battle between the two. If 9 decide to do this and Underbelly at 8 30 i think that 9’s line up would be too strong for Seven on Sundays. Still ouch for 9 with Mike Munro, although i couldnt really care.
Seven will need to humanise Mike Munroe. He is the uncle you are afraid of as a kid. He comes across as cold, grey and extremely bad tempered. I’d prefer to watch someone that bleeds when cut.
With him in the chair you can count me out as a regular viewer of this program.
Love Chris Bath, but think Natalie Bar would be a better match with Munroe.
Will be interested too see first show and see if it is really a serious current affair show and not spin off of today today crap.Hope Natalie Barr gets the co hosting gig,l have always enjoyed watching her.In regard to maybe Jana Wendt ,think her tv days well over.Just thinking seven could of put Chris Bath and Jim Wilson hosting together lol.Seriously think seven just needs one host for this show,waste of money for seven getting Munro.
This truly is massive blow to Nine. Like Alex said above this never would of happened five to ten years ago. No way in the world. But I must ask the question though, what are the hosts actually go to do. On 60 Minutes the reporters themselves introduces their own stories which they have done for that week and there are only ever three stories.
Going on what Jerome said above, there are going to be six reporters and two hosts. So that is a maximum of six stories a week with each co-host introducing three stories each. That setup to me doesn’t require two hosts as I can’t see the hosts doing much banter. Now unless the hosts will be conducting live interviews or debates I don’t see much point to a host at all under this format.
Something I always like about 60 Minutes is the length of the stories running anywhere between 9 to 13 minutes. Sunday Night, if they do more than three stories a week, will have to cap it less than that to fit them all into the one hour. However, saying all of that, healthy competition is good for everyone. If 60 Minutes lift their game because of Sunday Night entering the arena then I am all for it.
well this is one big well deserved slap in the face for 9.
i cannot think of any male more appropriate, sure he’s not a perfect person but neither are other australian “quality journalists” ray martin is a whingy bitch, laurie oakes really needs to work on his appeal, peter overton and the 60mins clan are just too sixty minutesie (wouldn’t want that scarring 7’s image).
i know that the quality of a CA show can only be judged by its content but munro is a big step in the right direction.
as for 60 mins, i know it has come up against a lot but no one has really tried to fight fire with fire (yes i know they’re in different timeslots). if anything can take it off its high horse it will be this, and that will be disastrous to 9.
I think Naomi is too far gone to be considered credible. Sure, Jana and Mary are extremely credible but I also see them as maybe too serious for what the show is trying to be. That’s hard to say seeing as no one knows yet exactly what sort of show it will be.
Which brings me to Natalie: yes, she’s on Sunrise which a lot of people don’t see as serious or credible but she has actually studied journalism and spent years out in the field honing her craft. I’d love to see her get her teeth into something meaty!
Also, love ya work Knoxy – throwing hypothetical names into the ring – brilliant!
I hate the idea of a new current affairs show on Sunday Nights but its going to work for 7. They’ll score big numbers.
Nice selection there David.
Mary Kostakidis would bring huge credibility to show and if Seven promoted this right and brought back decent current affairs, this showcould be a winner.
Reason I gave up on Sixty Minutes – cross promotion stories,soft stories,too much emphasis on Hollwood/film stars or media nobodies andabove all total lack of concentration on “current affairs”
No thankyou to Naomi Robson! She should be left in early retirement, though isn’t there speculation she may join 9’s 5.30 vehicle with Eddie???
Jana and Mary are authoritive and would be a leap in the right direction for quality journalism, but I think 7 weill want someone with a bit more appeal.
I think Nat would be great in the role, she is quite authoritve, but at the same time quite likable. Bath seems very straight edged, though that may be the direction 7 want to take with Sunday Night.
It’s hard to know who would be suitable as co host when we dont know exactly what market this show is aimed at. I’m guessing it will be aiming similarly to 60 Minutes, a mix of hard hitting journalism and bullshit Ramsay puff pieces.
Well let’s throw some other hypothetical names in the ring then….
Naomi Robson
Jana Wendt
Mary Kostakidis
Thoughts?
I don’t think Chris or Nat (especially Nat) would be right for a show like this, unless they’re going to talk about a water-skiing budgie or count down the 50 worst dressed celebrities or something.
I cannot stand Mike Munro. I don’t know many that can. Wasn’t he flicked from ACA because he was unpopular with the viewing public?
Nooooooooo! I cant stand Natalie Barr! She is so annoying on Sunrise. Chris Bath is such a better news reader than Nat
Probably the best male host they could have chosen, since none of the existing men in the Seven stable really have the gravitas required if they want this to be a credible show rather than some tabloid horror. I’m reserving judgement until it airs though. Given Seven’s recent record in news and current affairs shows, it’s hard to see this being particularly serious or upmarket. (I’m thinking of the transformation of Sunday Sunrise, a decent morning interview and debate show, into Weekend Sunrise, a celebrity- and lifestyle-based Andrew O’Keefe vehicle. They sacrificed journalistic quality for populist appeal there, so I’m sceptical of the idea that they won’t do it again for Sunday Night.)
Also: Ian Ross is leaving? Hallelujah! I may be able to watch Seven News once in a while.
this is great news
im with Adam, Munro is smug and i find him just unwatchable, so i wont be tuning in, I think nine were probably expecting this to take the 6.30pm slot and thats why they have been promoting the shit out of Domestic Blitz with that really annoying Delta Goodrem song, I would expect that will return to the 6.30pm slot to go head to head with this
Johnson, with that in mind it is highly unlikely Sunday Night will be able to start the night of The Aus Open Mens Final. As for the foxtel AFL games, most can be played on a half hour delay, which would hence push 7’s schedule out by merely half an hour, which has happened before. There are a couple foxtel exclusive games that have to air in their entirety before 7 can air, but based on both WA teams performance last year, I can see those games being pushed out to 10.30pm on seven…
Munro has done a bit of a dog act to 9, kind of funny retirement eh. IMO Natalie Barr would be the perfect fit for this, though Chris Bath isn’t a bad second option.
What a slap in the face for Nine. Just goes to show that all the nice words they mock up for media releases aren’t all that true.
Who’ll be the next Nine personality to switch to Seven? Ray? Trev? “The Cheif”?
Oh No!! I was looking forward to this show, but I flatly refuse to watch it if Munro is involved. What a pity.
Goodluck to Mike but in my books he’s still a snake so i don’t think I’ll give this show a chance. With just a 1-year contract with Seven, if the show tanks, I reckon it’ll be pretty hard for him to pick himself up.
Sport could well be the biggest enemy of Sunday Night. The first episode, for example, won’t be shown in Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australia at 6.30pm due to Seven’s coverage of the Australian Open men’s final (unless the network does the unthinkable and delays the coverage for those regions). Then during the AFL season, SA and WA will each have four specified home games involving the Crows, the Power, the Eagles and the Dockers that must be shown on Foxtel first before it is aired on Seven on 3 hour delay in Perth, or 4 hour delay in Adelaide. The result is fans will only see these matches at 4.30pm in Adelaide or 5.30pm in Perth! This arrangement (as part of Seven’s broadcast deal with the AFL expiring in 2011) will no doubt affect Seven’s Sunday schedule as we saw with Where Are They Now (2007) and Gladiators (2008). It also means that Sunday Night may not be shown until 10.30pm in SA and WA, reducing the program’s national audience figures.
At the end of the day, the show should be judged on its content not on their expensive looking sets or choice of presenters/anchors & reporters – whether its quality balanced journalism or just the same trash seven usually fills its news programs with. for me… commercial tv in australia has a real problem with quality journalism, which is sad
It won’t matter too much who hosts if the content and presentation is crap. This road has been used before where a cred host e.g J. Wendt fronted a CA program on 7 and it didn’t work, neither using P. Barry. Before that, 10 tried it’s hand.
Established CA shows even if they are now light weight are hard to topple since viewers are rusted on and releuctant to change.
SBS Dateline and ABC 4 Corners again well established, Foreign Correspondent these all have low steady ratings. I think 7 will lose patience and go for a low brow version when the ratings don’t live up to the hype.
PS Why add a bimbo as co-host. Someone needs to the the entertainment stories when Hollywood vists promoting a film.
The thought of anyone of Nine’s stars going to Seven would be unheard of 10 and even 5 years ago.
Sunday Night might do well but I doubt it’ll be a hit.
We need to remember Nine News often does the best on Sundays so NIne’s 6.30 slot may have the better lead in. And if Underbelly is on Sundays this year – which is where I’d put it – then 60 Minutes will be boosted as well.
Is it being broadcast live and if so would this mean Natalie would give up her Sunrise gig? Talk about burning the candle…
“widely considered a good bloke…”
You are kidding aren’t you David… taking the piss for sure?
He’s a nasty, nasty little sneak. Thank God he’s gone from Nine.
Yeah, my money is on Elizabeth Vargas..opps I mean Natalie Barr for the co-host role.
Hahaha thats crazy. This news will make a lot of Nine plants unhappy (kudos to Zambora for coining the term). This really is a kick in the face for Nine and really, there isn’t anyone better in the male role that Seven could have chosen to host the program. And Mike Munroe is a hell of a lot more likable than that ponce Ray Martin, I’m really glad Seven didn’t sign him
do i smell a 60 minutes killer brewing?? i think so
tommyk: “i guess he wanted his career to go in one direction and 9 was heading in another so he just retired. i bet he never expected to see an opportunity like this to pop up”
that sounds about right, 9 is turning away from quality journalism so he didn’t see a future there. He is probably wanting to have an outburst at 9 like ray martin did, but wants to stay professional without burning bridges.
whoa, things are getting serious now, just his name will shutup all those speculations that it will be an hour long todaytonight.
munro is one of the most credible names there is on aussie TV. something that this show is really going to need in proving itself.
i guess he wanted his career to go in one direction and 9 was heading in another so he just retired. i bet he never expected to see an opportunity like this to pop up. @ella, i don’ think there was a plan to this because he has been “leaving tv” for ages and sunday night was only announced a few months ago.
glad to see they did the smart thing and put it at 6:30, its where 60 minutes should have always been.
i’m so proud of our sam armytage getting this gig, shes such a great person. i also hope mark riley gets a job here too. i am torn between bath and barr, both great
good to see it will be anchored by actual quality journalists rather than some channel seven personality
to my surprise its looking like this will be a quality news program, i though it would probably be like a feel good sunrise like program but in the evening, this is still possible as we wont know until it airs but it looks like a will be good quality journalism
A very impressive move by 7 indeed. The 6.30 timeslot is a very wise one, and starting the night of The Australian Open will also give it a huge boost.
Word circulating that Natalie Barr absolutely nailed the screen tests. IMO she would be a very good fit (probably better than Bath) with Munroe.
I can just imagine that going into a commercial break they will have an ad for Today Tonight…..From the supposed highs of journalism to the lows so low that you won’t stop digging.
well, i am so glad i checked TVtonight at 11:20pm
when i heard early talks of this i thought it was one of those things that stays as a rumour that we would laugh about in a few weeks. i never thought it would ever actually happen
this is a huge loss to 9 and a great pick up for 7. why did he retire if he thought he had this in him? or was this the plan? he is only 56 i have been thinking that was quite early to retire. surely 7 can still get a decent amount of years out of him. he must have really wanted this job. it is probably what he’s been looking out for for years.
well i guess this shows who’s who for news in this day and age. i guess this adds a touch of experience to 7 as a news network. this will hurt because 9 seem to be singing “but we have experience” to the hills.
they have collected quite a credible team here. i thought that was something that they would muck up.
muhahah, and the battle begins.
in the last few minutes i have heard this on the radio, got an email form news.com, seen it in a comment in the tv lounge, and of course trusty TVtonight. news spreads fast.
i am soo looking foreward to seeing how this rates. the radio was saying that there would be 6 contracted reporters. 5 have pretty much been confirmed ross coulthart, sam armytage, jane hanson, molly meldrum and monique wright. the 6th will probably be mark riley or maybe john laws (i have my fingers crossed for riley)
i hope sam does us proud, i heart her.
anyway 7 are really putting a lot into this this Munro, coulhart, and hanson have such rich backgrounds in this field.
i’m sure 9 will be kicking themselves, he was such a 9 icon.
I hate Mike Munro. He’s always seemed greasy and sleazy to me.
Wow !
Instant cred for this new show getting Munro.
Well done David on 6-30 pm tip , seems nice time as Ten do not have TGYH anymore
What’s the odds re Barr or Bath getting the role and who do you think is best suited ?