Chris Bath: Media speculates over salary negotiations
It hasn't taken long for speculation over the reasons behind Chris Bath's resignation.
- Published by David Knox
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It hasn’t taken long for speculative articles surrounding Chris Bath’s resignation from Seven, with theories over salary negotiations.
The Australian reports Bath retained an $800,000 a year salary when she moved to Fridays and Saturdays, as Mark Ferguson became weekday anchor. It suggests execs sought to reduce her pay to $500,000 in recent negotiations.
However Fairfax reports the $800,000 figure is grossly exaggerated.
A senior Seven executive said today: “No, that is incorrect. It was never about the money with Chris, we did everything we could to get her to stay.”
The Australian is standing by its report.
Whether ratings were a factor is also not clear. Nine News Sydney has won 134 weeks straight against Seven News.
Chris Bath announced she was leaving Seven to explore new horizons.
Melissa Doyle will replace Bath on Fridays and Saturdays as well as Sunday Night duties from August.
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- Tagged with Nine News, Seven News, Sunday Night
9 Responses
It’s clear that she was slowly demoted and pushed into the background. I have no doubt she will be on 9 or 10 by year end. Rumours are 9 is launching a new national late news bulletin – she would be perfect.
7 news needs to get it together and look at a relaunch across the board including Adelaide where 9 news is surprisingly catching up quickly! Mark Ferguson as a national leader for 7 news is a scary thought.
If Station TCN-Sydney is planning a new late-night news show, I hope it won’t be seen on Station NBN-Newcastle because Sydney newsreaders should not be seen on regional screens!
Nine should pick her up for 60 Minutes or they could use her to replace Sylvia Jeffreys on Today.(I still haven’t warmed to Sylvia yet as she has zero chemistry with the rest of the team.)
Chris Bath is the same person she was 20+ years ago – down to earth and genuine. Good luck in your new endeavours Bathie.
These days why can’t people be able to quit there job without adding scandal to it. Chris wanted to leave. She has been at 7 for over 20 years. These days that is very hard to find. Just let her leave in peace.
Anyway im rpat to see Melissa Doyle back on our screens hosting sunday night.
Oh my….that is a shock??!!?
I find that newsreaders generally have an grossly inflated opinion of their own importance. This is just another example.
I can only presume that Vince has neither worked with, or has ever had any contact with Bathie or Peter Overton for that matter. Two finer people you shall not meet and I take offence on their behalf to his comment. There are many in the industry with an inflated opinion of themselves, but your comment here in not warranted.
Very true, oldschool. They don’t come anymore down to Earth than Chris Bath. The messages from the crew, make up artists, hairstylists etc paint a very different picture to that which has sold papers in the past. What seems to be missing in many articles is the fact Bath may have been moved to the Fri-Sat bulletins, but she was still hosting and contributing to Sunday Night – roles worthy of the salary if Doyle was being paid $700,000 for 4pm News reading.
Seven’s spin that Bath chose to move to weekends to spend more time with family was ridiculous considering she ended up spending all weekend working and a lot of time on the road filing stories.
Reports Ferguson is making $1mil per year? Seven certainly aren’t getting value for money. He’s been a dud.