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Seven plans under wraps but Melissa Doyle comes out on top

Industry is speculating over Mel Doyle's move to primetime but she couldn't be more grateful.

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2013-06-20_2208Yesterday’s announcement that Melissa Doyle is leaving Sunrise for primetime has triggered nearly as many rumours and conspiracy theories as the ones that have peppered her 14 year career on the show.

But with it come questions about how it will impact on everything from Sunrise to Today Tonight and Seven News.

Already some are asking why Samantha Armytage was annointed as her replacement instead of Natalie Barr? Will the move impact on Helen Kapalos at Today Tonight? Or was Doyle looking for a change?

Yesterday Doyle told TV Tonight the network had approached her with the proposal.

“I’ve never had anyone say ‘It’s time to go’ or tap me on the shoulder or anything. I would never have left Sunrise unless it was an opportunity that I felt was the next step for me,” she said.

“The network has come to me and placed this incredible level of trust in me.

“They said to me ‘This is what we want you to do. How do you feel about it?’

“They’ve approached me with this amazing opportunity and I went home and said ‘Maybe this is it? Maybe it’s the next step?’

“I discussed it with my husband. I’ve been getting up, for 14 years of my 17 year marriage at 3:00 in the morning.

“It took something big to drag me away from what has been the best job I ever dreamt I could have had.”

The unspecified role has been described as “a new, prime time Network News initiative.” With so many state-based presenters, sources note the move is part of a plan to give Seven a national news identity in primetime. Doyle is recognised as a strong live television performer, with much admiration for her work covering disaster zones.

Amongst the various rumours there is speculation over whether she might front Today Tonight in Sydney, leaving Helen Kapalos to cover Melbourne, or whether Seven might return to a one-hour news bulletin as it trialled over summer.

But other suggestions are much bolder, including a possible new 7pm programme on 7TWO to go head to head against ABC News timed with the end of digital switch-off. Based on a Channel 5 News show with a couch and relaxed presenting style, such a role might also include regular Sunday Night reports, reporting global events, and effectively becoming the network’s own Women’s editor.

Doyle was tight-lipped about the new role, having only made her decision on Wednesday. She was determined to tell viewers before leaving for a planned 2 week break starting tomorrow.

“We’ve still got to nut out a few of the details about what we’re going to be doing, but I really wanted to announce it on Sunrise first, because I owed it to our viewers to hear it from me, straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak,” Doyle said yesterday.

“Our viewers have been so loyal for so many years I wanted them to hear it from me. I didn’t want them to read it somewhere or read something that was incorrect.

“I clearly know what I will be doing. I wouldn’t have made the decision and taken the move if I didn’t. But I’m really excited.

“It will be this year,” she confirmed.

“I’ve got lots of ideas and they’ve got lots of ideas but we just have to work it all out.”

The timing of the announcement has also got the jungle tom-toms talking.

Was the move triggered by a desire to effect change within Sunrise or to address Seven’s early primetime performance?

Seven sources “categorically” denied the move was triggered by research about their Melbourne numbers, where Today beats Sunrise. Sunrise still wins nationally, but its lead over Nine has narrowed. The timing also comes ahead of its own former Director of Morning TV Adam Boland gearing up to launch a breakfast and morning programme on TEN. Some staff are believed to have already been poached by their former boss.

Seven still has headaches in its early primetime numbers, starting with Deal or No Deal and ending with Today Tonight in Sydney and Melbourne.

Armytage is also considered a good performer, with 6 years experience co-hosting Weekend Sunrise, but many will question why the loyal and likeable Natalie Barr was not rewarded. Seven sources indicated she wanted to remain presenting News.

After years as a successful brekkie duo, this is a dangerous move that is yet to ricochet around the network.

Despite the risks there were plenty of winners yesterday:  Doyle, Armytage and -and with some mountains still to climb- Sunrise and Seven News.

For her part, Doyle is used to conspiracy theories. Her love of Sunrise has always been genuine.

“No-one has been a bigger supporter or mine than Kochie, and vice versa. When stuff has been written and is incorrect and is basically lies, of course it’s upsetting,” she acknowledges.

“I can tell you hand on my heart, there is no issue with any of my colleagues. Kochie and I are the dearest friends and forever will be. It is what it is. It’s a shame that some people don’t want to believe that.”

20 Responses

  2. I remember watching sunrise from day 1 as a kid when kochie was still the financial reporter. I don’t get to watch sunrise nearly as much as I would like to due to time constraints but I will still be a little bit sad to know that Mel will not be there when I wake up if I need to see her in the morning. Love ya Mel!

  3. Something is not right here. If Mel was so important to Sunrise, why offer her a role that is not really specified. They could hardly just dump her from Sunrise as this would cause an uproar so offer her a job that doesn’t really exist, a bit like the one they offered KAK to get her on DWTS. Sounds like Adam Boland’s new show is already causing nervousness. My guess is that TENs breakfast show will be skewed younger, a bit like Sunrise 12 years ago. So they put Sam in to try to compete with Ten. yes, I know this sounds like a conspiracy theory but you have to take any new show from Adam Boland seriously as he has the runs on the board.

  5. I hoped Natalie would take over as she has zero personality. That way Today could really rule the roost.
    Karl & Lisa have a natural rapport with themselves & you can see that the whole Today team really do like each other.
    Sam & Koch are a disastrous match. No way that they will draw me to Sunrise.

  7. Samantha Armytage’s personality is virtually zilch when she is not feeding off Andrew O’Keefe’s personality and presence, I predict that very shortly either Sam or David Koch, will be the next to go, because whilst Mellisa Doyle and David Koch have been longtime friends, and as a team have worked well together, where Mellisa has had a leveling influence because of their friendship, that Samantha Armytage will possibly never be able to match in skill and personality.

    One name that no one has mentioned is Eddie Batholomew, who has the skills, ability and personality, to match Kochie and despite all his joke books, she also actually has something else he is sadly lacking, that being a natural sense of humour.

    So if she didn’t make it to Sunrise this time, I hope they match Eddie up with Andrew O’Keefe on Weekend Sunrise, in readiness to move both Eddie and Andrew into Sunrise, when and if Adam Boland’s venture at network Ten is as successful as he was with Seven.

  9. I don’t think Nat is the one to take over, Sam is ok, that Rachel gal would have been the best. Also over the next 6-18 months, Kochie, Barretts and that other old bloke who steps in every so often need to go. Generational change is what is needed….

  10. @carolemorrissey: she seems to be popping up on The Project quite a bit recently, so perhaps a deal with Ten is in the works for their breakfast/morning relaunch.

    It would be good to see her regularly again!

  12. I read an article in the paper recently saying Kerri-Ann’s contract was only for 12 months and hadn’t been renewed. So not sure what’s happening there, hope someone snaps her up.

    I would have thought Nat would replace Mel, and they would then replace her, as that’s what usually happens when Mel is on holidays. But maybe she was offered and didn’t want it. I like Sam and think she will be good, now the question is who will replace her on weekend Sunrise.

  13. @Bullswool: the thought crossed my mind. Though I prefer Sam myself, being the host of a show like Sunrise means being the first point of call to be on location (and Mel does a lot of last minute travel around the country). At the moment Nat gets all the positives about the job, hosts segments solo, interviews etc without the baggage that comes with hosting.

    Now we will never know but I myself am happy Sam is there. I do think it should come with a brand refresh as well though.

  14. I doubt Mel would want to do TT. You really just read an autocue and cannot reveal too much of your personality as you can on Sunrise. I mainly watch Sunrise as I find Karl a bit too much on Today, but I am really looking forward to Adam Boland’s new show as I think the timing is ripe for something really fresh.

  16. @smit0847 Not everybody wants more money. Taking on the hosting role would mean sacrificing more time with family. Who knows, maybe she will replace Sam on Weekend Sunrise?

  17. But what-ever happened to KAK’s “exciting new and different prime time show” that was screamed from the rooftops when she was axed from 9 and signed up for DancingWTS?

  18. @Bullswood – why would anyone in TV not want a promotion? Nat is already there every morning on the sidelines – why wouldnt she want more money and more exposure? You don’t get into television if you are a shrinking violet!

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