George Negus, confirmed as the spearhead of Ten's evening news line-up (Source: Negus Media International)

George Negus, the Dateline presenter nabbed by Ten, has confirmed that he will be the anchor of the network's new 6pm news programme.

Ten has now announced that Negus will spearhead its overhaul of news coverage, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The official confirmation follows on from Friday's revelation that Negus would be leaving SBS at the end of this year.

The national programme will go head-to-head with established evening news bulletins on Seven and Nine. Negus acknowledged that making Ten's offering a competitive alternative would be difficult.

"It's a tough time slot and entrenched viewing habits for a lot of people. I hope the reappearance of my estranged, some would say ugly dial, invading people's living rooms at that time of night will encourage them to watch, not discourage them," said Negus, 68.

But he told The Daily Telegraph that the programme would be distinct from the conventional evening news bulletins, with a greater focus on both national and international news.

"It is a genuinely different way at looking at the things going on around us that matter, picking the eyes out of what's going on in this country and around the world, sometimes tying the two together and explaining to people why these things are happening," he said.

He added that he believed Ten was serious about reforming its news output and establishing itself as a credible player in the news business, saying that "I wouldn't have said yes if I thought it was same old, same old".

The signing of Negus - a familiar name for three decades through his work at Nine, the ABC and SBS - will help to provide a recognisable face as the network attempts to transform its news output. Ten announced in August that it would increase its news offerings from next year, establishing a two-hour block of news running from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Ten has also signed on the Walkley Award-winning investigative journalist Chris Masters as an editorial consultant.

Negus will continue to present Dateline on SBS until the current season ends in November.

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