All Stories FeedMark Ferguson signs with Seven
Nine News presenter Mark Ferguson has suddenly signed with the Seven Network.
It is believed he will read weekend news for Seven.
Ferguson was demoted from his role as Nine’s Sydney weeknight newsreader earlier this year, when Peter Overton was elevated to the role by John Westacott in January. Ferguson was shuffled to weekends.
This week he also began on Nine’s new afternoon show, THIS afternoon, as its news presenter. The show has had a slow start, premiering with 321,000. On Wednesday its Sydney audience dropped to a paltry 48,000. Yesterday it had 307,000 nationally.
Ferguson has also appeared in promos for the new show, co-hosted by Andrew Daddo and Katrina Blowers.
John Westacott recently retired as head of Nine’s News and Current Affairs with Mark Calvert now in his place.
Updated: The Daily Telegraph now reports Ferguson will finish his contract in October, continuing with THIS afternoon and Nine News weekend bulletins before moving to Seven. It also reports his contract negotiations with Nine would have seen a pay cut. However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports CEO David Gyngell made a “significant” offer to retain him. There is wide speculatation Chris Bath would take over from a retiring Ian Ross at Seven at such time as that occurs – a long held notion in the industry.
In a statement issued by Nine, the network said it was very disappointed Ferguson has turned down the generous offer that was made to re-new his contract:
Nine CEO David Gyngell said today, “Mark has been a colleague and friend for many years. I wish him all the best. We’re actually flattered that another network had to look to Nine to find a new newsreader.
“Our own news service is the strongest its been for many years, it’s building a dedicated audience. We’re delighted that Georgie Gardner is joining Pete Overton and the 6pm team to continue the fight back. They both bring a warmth and authority which Nine’s viewers appreciate.”
Mark Ferguson said: “I’ve had a wonderful journey at Channel Nine – and worked alongside some great people – but it’s time for a change. I wish David and his team all the very best.”
Mark Ferguson will continue on air as part of the Nine News team until his current contract ends later this year.
Nine added the Ferguson will be greatly missed by his colleagues: “Everyone at Nine wishes Mark and his family all the best for the future.”
Meanwhile Seven finally confirmed its signing mid afternoon, saying Ferguson will join Seven News when his contract with Nine expires towards the end of this year.
CEO of Seven Media Group, David Leckie: “Ian Ross, Chris Bath and Samantha Armytage are brilliant. Mark is Nine’s best news anchor. We clearly have the best in the business.
“It will be great to have Mark onboard with our market-leading news and public affairs teams.
“Although we are not announcing his job description just yet, I know we can offer him something far more challenging and exciting than THIS Afternoon. We’re number one. And, unlike some, we don’t need to toss money at viewers to persuade them to watch our news and public affairs and breakfast television programmes.”
Ian Ross said: “I welcome Mark’s decision to come to Seven. It’ll fun working with again.”
On today’s THIS afternoon, Andrew Daddo hinted at the news even acknowledging the loss of another ‘icon.’ But his repeated teases of “any more news to tell us?” went unanswered by Ferguson, a pro through and through.
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For two presenters to work, you need good chemistry between the newsreaders (look at 10, especially when they had Ron Wilson and Deborah Knight/Jessica Rowe). I haven’t watched 10 news lately, so I don’t know how Bill Woods is going though. Bath and Ferguson seem a bit too much of a contrast to me for Seven to ever pull it off
IMO all that double header stuff going around is just the media doing their thing. I think Chris Bath will do weekdays and Mark weekends. Bath has been waiting for weekdays and if she isnt given them i have a feeling she might walk the first chance she gets.
As for the double header stuff i dont think it would work. IMO Sydney/NSW viewers including myself prefer the one newsreader. Again i think its media going around trying to make a story. Still who knows. I just think it would be totally unfair for him to get weekdays when Bath has been waiting for them.
@ Kenny
I know Seven News Sydney pulls about 25% more viewers than This Afternoon. I was just questioning if going to a one city newscast is that big of a deal. If we had network news in Australia – absolutely. But this isn’t a national profile.
If Channel 9 had any brains, they’d spend the time between October and now making this guy look as silly as possible so he doesn’t have any credibility left by the time he gets to 7. I’m not sure how they would achieve that and not look bitter themselves but that’s what I would attempt to do if I were in charge to ensure 7 ends up with damaged goods.
It’s a brutal tactic but hey, it’s a rough landscape at the moment….
With Seven confirming that Ian Ross will retire at the end of this year, the Daily Tele and The Australian are both reporting that Seven are expected to have a double header News next year with Mark Ferguson and Chris Bath.
He’s a fairly strong *news* presenter.
Leave it at that.
Russell: Ask Sharyn Ghidella. She did the exact same thing, and look where she is now.
Nine News Sydney is actually up this year.
A 319K average so far compared to last year where the ABC was in front with 317K and Nine News less than that.
However, big shame – Fergo seemed like one of the nicest newsreaders on telly.
switching to 7 – 10/09
Russell – This Afternoon=307,00 nationally, 9News Sydney=351,000, 7News Sydney=421,000 – so your point is?? Anyway, inside sources say Fergo made the first contact with Seven, so Gyngell’s “We’re actually flattered that another network had to look to Nine to find a new newsreader” is baseless sour grapes. Lucy – Newsreader on $500,000 -v- Eddie the game show host on $5m is absolutely ridiculous. But then again, that’s Nine.
Dear Mr Gyngell and Mr Leckie,
You both are ridiculous children… dare I say worse than politicians in Canberra. Please leave the TV industry and stop comparing sizes in public, I’m embarrassed for you.
PS: Channel Nine, when you launch a new show, make sure your talents are signed… Unbelievable!
I think Seven will put Mark in the hot seat doing the weekday news replacing Ian next year,going head to head with Peter on Nine.He will be moved around for rest of year filling in for other readers while they away l recoken.And Georgie Gardner going to weekends on Nine,great move shes a great newsreader,will be interesting too see who replaces her on Today reading the news……..maybe they might get Jessica Rowe back on Today show reading news lol.
Yeah that’s a good line from Gyngel… saving face to say the least…
Good move for Mark, I reckon 7 will use him as the 6pm anchor when Ian Ross retires. I bet he kick Peter Overtons butt as well, I bet channel nine watch Peter Overton every night and shake their heads thinking, what have we done! Channel nine have lost their best news reader, another reason too give nine a miss
Fergo is deliocious. Hopefully he will take over from ross at the end of the year.
Obviously Ch9 didn’t care too much for him if they punted him from prime time news, then stuck him with weekends then stuck him with ThISaFtERNOon then offered him a pay cut for the privilege.
Kudos to Meakin and Leckie, smart signing of good talent.
Oh My God! Things are turning ugly on THIS afternoon. After Mark read the news at 5:00pm, Andrew replied by saying:
“Is that all the news, is there anything else you’ll like to tell us?”
Then at the end of the show when Mark wrapped up the news, he ended by saying:
“That brings you up to date with all the news, I’ll be back next week with more news.”
Then Andrew replied by saying:
“Oh you will be back next week? I thought you might have been somewhere else.”
The funniest line I have heard from channel 9 all year comes from their own press release:
“We’re actually flattered that another network had to look to Nine to find a new newsreader.”
Surprise,Surprise!
Wow David – you do work too fast. You replied in under 5 minutes!
Yeah their second release corrected that. Pity I work too fast…
Ian Ross: “It’ll fun working with again.”
I think Ian needs some English lessons!
It speaks volumes when you have such people like Ian Ross and Sharon Ghidella, who both left 9 at different stages to “retire or rest” then popped up on 7. Good luck to the dapper Fergo.
As much as Sunrise and 7 grates on me mostly I do have to admit, their network is like a fresh packet of tim tams, where as 9 is like a packet that’s been out on the shelf in the local milkbar since 1996.
Maybe Seven are gearing up for the return of Late News @ 11:30pm in 2010?
Anyway this is fantastic news for Seven because basically that leaves Channel 9 with no good news readers at all except for Georgie Gardener who was at Seven to start with. I think Mark may start by hosting the News at 6 in the Summer while the regulars take time off then after that anything is possible. Maybe a twosome like in Melbourne and other city’s?
is it that big of a deal to read the weekend news on a local newscast versus a national news show?
His contract was being renewed and he was offered less so you can’t blame him going elsewhere.
Eddie must be nervous of the size cut he faces when his contract finishes next year. A game show airing outside of primetime does not need a $5M/yr host!!!
Why do you all insist that this guy and the rest mentioned actually matter, the shpows they present have little genuine news and basically are a nothc above infotainment for the most part. Simply call it that and get rid of the suit/tie wardrobe and go fo the low brow himbo and bimbos who if you ask them a minute after the bulletin would have no idea which reports/issues were presented and why. pay a robot and use some cgi and presto problem solved re: ego’s / salary etc
leave news to abc and sbs and any other organisation that gives a s**t – 9/7 don’t
I wish him the best at Seven.
But with Seven signing for between $500 – 700,000 something has to give in the News-department at Seven and I wonder who that will be??
This is not the 1980’s and money is tight all round …. stay tuned!
suck on that 9…you fools…i swiched news channels when 9 bought in the creep overton into the 6pm bullitin…and went to seven ..so now fego is there too…..ill never go gack to 9….monsterous mistake by 9…
He’s a great newsreader, but has absoluetly no personality…. and I guess we don’t want to know our newsreaders on that level. Just give us the news…
Georgie Gardner is Gorgeous….and a great reader. Sydney-siders are very lucky….
i’m in melbourne so i haven’t seen much of him as news anchor but putting principal before paycheck is always a courageous move. i applaud him.
i think his story is something that a lot of people can relate to. being demoted for the scary arch-enemy arrogant guy with less talent just because they he has a better CV. good to see him taking a stand and i think viewers will respond.
Pretty funny considering he is the healm of Nine’s new flagship afternoon news program (their words, not mine).
muhahah
THIS Afternoon will be long gone before his contract is up in October.
Good, Saw him on This Afternoon and he has the personality of a dead fish. Not that the others are much better.
Great move by both parties. Ian Ross is supposed to have Fri, Sat, Sun & public hols. off, but he’s had to rearrange that to accommodate Chris Bath & Sunday Night. We’ll probably see Ian Mon-Thurs, Chris Fri plus Sunday Night, Mark weekends. Anne Sanders does daytime. No it won’t be a Mark+Chris “Ken+Barbie” at 6:30. Peter Meakin hates twosomes. Will be delightful when he does get head-to-headwith Peter Overton. Remeber, with Natalie, Anne, Chris, Ian & Mark each on holidays for 4-6 weeks a year, that means one of them is not there for 5-8 months of the year anyway.
He was crap on This Afternoon. Talk about stiff. He didn’t know what was a joke and what wasn’t. He’s better behind the desk reading the news…still don’t like him though.
Good luck to him. Would’ve preferred to see Musher make the switch, though.
Admired Fergo’s dignified silence when he was shafted earlier this year… rolled up his sleeves and got on with the job.
Fondly remember those N9N ads featuring Fergo, Hendo and Meakin in which Fergo takes a gentle swipe at that “other newsroom” he’d been working in (7).
Meakin obviously thinks highly of him.
Didn’t Seven recently tell a high profile newsreader there was no room at the inn?
Can’t remember who it was. Jessica Rowe?
Seems like news presenters are constantly changing in Sydney. In Melbourne we’ve had Mitch, Hitch, Jen and Jo (and Mal!) for years.
Wow! I’ve never really watched him as I’m a Channel 7 fan but what I have seen of him I haven’t been that impressed. He does come across as quite bland. I hope I’m proven wrong and that he will be a great asset to 7.
Gee whiz,
Another deserts the sinking ship.
I can remember the time when Nine led the country in news – now it is becoming a laughing stock.
Only good for gossip and even that they get wrong.
P.S. Get Richard Wilkins to read the news, at least we know then it is total fabrication.
This is big! Great scoop for Seven, especially if they can put him to good use, as well as keeping other popular and talented newsreaders (such as Bath) happy. So much for Nine and news. And as many others have said he was the only thing good about THIS Afternoon.
David, You are like Australia’s TMZ. Great scoop!
Jerome if he does, I hope he wins against peter. No disrespect to Peter but I did not like the way Nine booted Mark from there 6.00 News service early this year. Expect Kelli Connely to move to weekends. Michael Usher is now heavily involved in 60 Minutes. As for this Afternoon, well I really have know idea.
As much as I am a huge Nine fan, I wish Fergo all the best.
I like Mark Ferguson but this is a shock! And Chris Bath wasn’t happy with just weekends either so where does it leave her? Maybe Roscoe and Bath co-hosting weeknights; prepping Seven’s audience for Ian’s eventual retirement…..
Good on him, “Today in the afternoon” is going nowhere fast..and he knows it…..good move getting off the SS Titanic that is Nine at the moment…
Mr Boring goes to Seven. Hopefully Nine promotes a decent newsreader to weekends, such as Kellie Connolly.
@Michael: I would say Nine would make it effective immediately
Wow that was fast!
Is this departure effective immediately?
That is a big shock! Mark Ferguson will join his former Nine colleague Ian Ross at Seven, but for how long?
There goes nines last hope of beating seven unless Brian Henderson comes back which I doubt oh well serve nine right they shouldn’t have shafted fergo in the first place they get they deserve
LOL. Sucked in Nine. The 15 minutes of THISafternoon that i wasted my life watching, he was the only good thing on it.
Anyone remember “Live at Five” – Dead by Six? Talk about deserting a sinking ship…
That’s huge! What is happening with Chris Bath? Is Ian Ross going somewhere?
This is very surprising news. Atleast he got off that sinking ship this afternoon before it sunk much further.
If he does take over weekends, where would that leave Chris Bath? She’ll obviously take over weekdays when Roscoe retires, but I didn’t think that was happening for a while yet.
He’ll be missed by Nine…Who’s going to be the main face of THIS AFTERNOON now?? Dodo?!
Good move Seven! Bring the Patrick Jane (aka the Mentalist) out of him – the Smart, Cool & Savvy that is…Good Luck Fergo!
lol i wonder if he will ever be put head to head with peter overton.