[TGIF]

The Spy Report:

Quote

In officially announcing the resignation of Ian Ross today, Seven have confirmed that weekend newsreader Chris Bath will take over from Ross beginning on Monday, November 30. Roscoe will read his last bulletin for Seven News on Friday, November 27.

“It will be easier for me to walk away knowing I’m leaving the job in such good hands. Chris Bath is such a great communicator and a presenter who already enjoys the respect and affection of Sydney’s TV audience. She has nothing to prove. I wish her all the luck in the world and hope she enjoys the experience as much as I have” said Ross.

It is expected that Bath will also remain a presenter on the network’s current affairs show Sunday Night. Sydney news director Chris Willis also confirmed the appointment of former Nine weekday presenter Mark Ferguson to present weekend bulletins.

“This is a bittersweet moment,” said Peter Meakin, the network’s director of news and public affairs. “On the one hand, we are sorry that Ian is leaving. He has led Seven News to victory for five consecutive years and we are hugely in his debt. But we rejoice that someone as talented and popular as Chris is available to replace him.”

http://www.mediaspy....http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2009/11/09/bath-confirmed-to-take-over-from-ross/

I've also attached the press release for your perusal:

Attached File(s)

•  Roscoe Retires Bathie Begins 091109.pdf (114.76K)
  Number of downloads: 140

[-David-]

So does that mean that Mark isn't on air until the 28th or will he be doing 4.30pm while Sam is on holidays this week? I swear it was announced that he started today.

[thisiscnn]

I'm a big fan.
Anyone who will be recording his last night, please DM me. Keen on a copy.

[Reuder7]

Seven should really go all out in promoting the new face of Sydney's 6pm news. A few specially produced promos surely wouldn't hurt.

[craig77]

Reuder7, on 09 November 2009 - 08:40 AM, said:

Seven should really go all out in promoting the new face of Sydney's 6pm news. A few specially produced promos surely wouldn't hurt.

one would think Chris Bath would look better on a billboard than Ian Ross, or Peter Overton for that matter..

[gossipcom]

-David-, on 09 November 2009 - 09:18 AM, said:

So does that mean that Mark isn't on air until the 28th or will he be doing 4.30pm while Sam is on holidays this week? I swear it was announced that he started today.

He's officially a Seven employee from today, which means Mark can now fill in when need be. Though he won't probably be in the 6pm slot until the first week of December (unless he does the weekend shift in the final week of ratings).

[-David-]

I'd say he will do 4.30pm while Sam's away then if that's the case.

I really like both Chris and Mark so I'm very excited for our new team. Interesting that she starts full-time during summer though and not January like the rest of Australia.

[news10]

What are the chances of Bath being teamed with Ferguson, or replaced by him, if Overton makes further inroads into Seven's lead in the first few months of next year? I'm betting we'll see a change by August 2010.

[Michael Westen]

I think many of us are forgetting that Chris Bath has been doing this a long, long time now. She has a great profile in Sydney from doing outside events, such as charity fundraisers and radio (2UE and Steve Price) ... these things Ian Ross didn't do because of time and travelling commitments. Bath is also loved here in Newcastle still and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Prime's audience here in Newcastle lift.

I honestly think many people here just don't like the fact that it is a woman solo-anchoring the commercial news bulletin and are urging her failure. I can't see her failing at all myself. Juanita Phillips is highly successful in NSW so I cannot see why Bath cannot be and will not be.

[-David-]

It shouldn't be a problem. Chris regularly beats Peter on Thursdays and Fridays and Sydney loves her. I think the transition will be very smooth and simple. Mark should be able to beat Georgie on the weekend too.

[Cyril Washbrook]

The Spy Reporter, on 09 November 2009 - 12:16 PM, said:

I honestly think many people here just don't like the fact that it is a woman solo-anchoring the commercial news bulletin and are urging her failure. I can't see her failing at all myself. Juanita Phillips is highly successful in NSW so I cannot see why Bath cannot be and will not be.

Indeed. (Can't really remember the last time I agreed with you on something to do with television. )

[news10]

The traditional viewers of 6pm news will not like having it delivered by a woman. ABC's viewers are a little more wordly and discerning, but attempts at having a female read solo have always ended badly on commercial television. Katie Couric was America's sweetheart for over a decade on NBC Today but that meant nothing when she took over the CBS News chair. CBS was making inroads with the older, distinguished Bob Schieffer but as soon as Katie turned up they switched to the gents on the other networks. Seven should have taken the safe option and installed Ron Wilson. I'd rather have a strong Father figure guiding me through the news than some overly coiffed young bird I can't relate to.

[Michael Westen]

news10, on 09 November 2009 - 02:03 PM, said:

The traditional viewers of 6pm news will not like having it delivered by a woman. ABC's viewers are a little more wordly and discerning, but attempts at having a female read solo have always ended badly on commercial television. Katie Couric was America's sweetheart for over a decade on NBC Today but that meant nothing when she took over the CBS News chair. CBS was making inroads with the older, distinguished Bob Schieffer but as soon as Katie turned up they switched to the gents on the other networks. Seven should have taken the safe option and installed Ron Wilson. I'd rather have a strong Father figure guiding me through the news than some overly coiffed young bird I can't relate to.

Ok, Bath is 42. Not really a "young bird," but I do understand what you mean. IIRC she was at RVN2/AMV4 when she was 19, so there is around 23 years of newsreading experience there.

Couric was a morning anchor who also did a lot of softer, lifestyle-based reporting and anchoring. I also firmly believe CBS News is the best 6.30pm news in the US, but is weakened by CBS's early evening affiliate news woes. I can't think of a major market CBS station offhand that is #1 at 5, 5.30 or 6pm.

Bath has read 2-3 nights a week now for ages and I haven't seen the ratings for Seven News plummet off the edge of a cliff in that time. Sure, they fluctuate a bit, but since the 5.30 battle has tightened then of course the 6pm battle will as well.

I still really think we need to get over this attitude about women in the media. The same applies for radio. There's a perception in radio that women hate listening to other women on the radio. It's time to move on from that I reckon. Let's be honest, Bath will be an autocue jockey, just like Peter Overton, Bill Woods, Deborah Knight, Ron Wilson et al. I can't see how a change of anchor can be an earth-shattering event, especially since the audience is already used to her.

[craig77]

news10, on 09 November 2009 - 11:11 AM, said:

What are the chances of Bath being teamed with Ferguson, or replaced by him, if Overton makes further inroads into Seven's lead in the first few months of next year? I'm betting we'll see a change by August 2010.

Peter Meakin hates doubled headed newsteams for 30 min bulletins, it wont happen.

[BJT]

news10, on 09 November 2009 - 01:03 PM, said:

The traditional viewers of 6pm news will not like having it delivered by a woman. ABC's viewers are a little more wordly and discerning, but attempts at having a female read solo have always ended badly on commercial television. Katie Couric was America's sweetheart for over a decade on NBC Today but that meant nothing when she took over the CBS News chair. CBS was making inroads with the older, distinguished Bob Schieffer but as soon as Katie turned up they switched to the gents on the other networks. Seven should have taken the safe option and installed Ron Wilson. I'd rather have a strong Father figure guiding me through the news than some overly coiffed young bird I can't relate to.

Jennifer Keyte presented Melbourne's weeknight news for 6 years solo, the ratings lifted during her time on air in the early 90s. Melbourne also like their male presenters, but Jenn came through with the goods. Bath will be fine, Sydney are ready for it and the timing is right!

This post has been edited by BJT: 09 November 2009 - 01:32 PM

[craig77]

BJT, on 09 November 2009 - 01:25 PM, said:

Jennifer Keyte presented Melbourne's weeknight news for 6 years solo, the ratings lifted during her time on air in the early 90s. Melbourne also like their male presenters, but Jenn came through with the goods. Bath will be fine, Sydney are ready for it, the timing is right!

you remember that rather differently than I do, her ratings were fairly ordinary (like sevens ratings everywhere at that time) in 1995 (I think) David Johnston was poached from 10 to co-present with her, Jen took exception to this, promptly quit and went to nine and hosted "good medicine" for a few years.

[Tranquility]

It also wasn't hard to lift Seven's ratings at that time - they were literally at zero when she started. In one week, she beat Brian Naylor but other than that, was always second and occasionally third to Ian Henderson.

[BJT]

Tranquility, on 09 November 2009 - 03:03 PM, said:

It also wasn't hard to lift Seven's ratings at that time - they were literally at zero when she started. In one week, she beat Brian Naylor but other than that, was always second and occasionally third to Ian Henderson.

yeah true! but ratings also sank when david took over and later when ann came on board! A woman... like bath or jenn can do the job just aswell.

This post has been edited by BJT: 09 November 2009 - 04:56 PM

[Mike]

Chris Bath is so well known to viewers in that slot now, with Ian Ross off so often and her doing Weekends. I don't think its a massive jump. It might decrease a bit (probably for the short term) but Peter over at Nine is hardly a Brian Henderson.

[antzzz]

Chris Bath would rate well in any market - she is talent that Seven should be proud of, because she isn't just someone they brought into the network to revive things, she's stuck with them through the good and the bad. This is where it pays off.