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Mike Munro signs to Sunday Night

Former Nine man Mike Munro is confirmed to co-host Seven's new Sunday Night current affairs, set to screen in the 6:30pm timeslot.

Mike Munro has been confirmed to co-host Seven’s new current affairs show, Sunday Night.

News Limited says he has signed for one year while the female co-host role is being battled out between Chris Bath and Natalie Barr.

Sunday Night will premiere next month at 6.30pm (as tipped here) and not against 60 Minutes at 7.30pm.

Charging out of Seven News it will allow Seven to undermine 60 Minutes without going head to head with it and potentially losing.

Munro announced his retirement from Nine last year after years with the network, saying “I don’t think I’ll retire completely retire. I’ll still do a bit of charity work and volunteer, public speaking and things like that.

“David Gyngell’s been very good about asking me to come back and continue Missing Persons Unit which is still going to air,” he said.

“I guess it’s just being able to say that you’ll semi-retire, get your Super money and then decide what you might do.”

Narrating Missing Persons Unit for Nine would now seem unlikely.

Chris Bath is facing unexpected resistance from Seven executives who are trying to preserve her value to the evening news team in Sydney. Currently its newsreader on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays she is tipped to take over from Ian Ross at the end of the year.

Munro , a former 60 Minutes reporter himself, it is probably a blessing the new show isn’t going up against his old programme. He isn’t the only Nine name to join the new Seven project with former Sunday reporter Ross Coulthart also on board.

Widely considered a nice bloke in the biz, Munro will start at Seven on February 1 – a perfect night to start the show, given it is also the Men’s final at the Australian Open.

Source: news.com.au

52 Responses

  1. I watched the show on Sunday night regarding the lap banding operation and I have never heard of such rott from Mike Munro not only did he not get his fax correct but he was very rude to the doctor. I had this operation done last year and it has saved my life I don’t have high blood pressure any more and my energy levels up way up. I have always played golf and tennis but found it hard to breath now I don’t have any trouble at all. Mike’s last comment about people that have had this operation could not eat fruit and vegies is a lot of rott not only do I eat more vegies then before I enjoy them so much more. The only think I don’t eat is steak and I have to eat a lot slower but isn’t that what we all should be doing. And as far as not back up I have all the back up that I could wish for from my hospital.

  2. What can I say? I was absolutely appalled at the bias displayed by Mr Munro on SN regarding the vaccination debate – what happened to chairing an equal and fair discussion? I used to think very highly of him but after watching this debate I will be more than happy to change channels if I see him on TV again… not good Munro!

  3. Mike Munro has done a lot of damage to his credibility with his biased reporting on the vaccination episode. His behaviour and intimidation was completely unnecessary. It would have been nice to see a fair debate from both sides and let the information speak for itself yet it was clearly orchestrated so that the pro-vaccination received air-time and support and the anti-vaccination crowd were belittled, cut off and intimidated.

    Can you explain Mike Munro, why the woman from Brisbane (speak to your channel 7 crew if you arent aware or I can supply name out of this forum) who was prepared to appear on your show to voice her concerns believing that vaccinations killed her baby, was advised too late (the day before taping) she would have to pay her own fare there and she wasnt gauranteed any air-time!! Did the Mcaffrey’s pay for their own flight?? And you had the gall to ask Meryl where are these people claiming to have repercussions from vaccinations??? I think it is a disgusting bit of discrimination to say the least. put out all the facts and let people make up their own minds.

  4. I thought I’d watch SN as the story on immunisation was of interest. But all I witnessed was an emotive story with a ‘forum'(!?) that showed absolute and incredible bias. No wonder the families with children adversely affected by vaccines didn’t come. They were probably tipped off it was only going to be a witch hunt. I won’t watch again and have lost any and all respect for Mike Munro. What a moron.

  5. Munro got it completely wrong tonight. It’s just like all his other garbage over the years that he tries to sensationalise with the viewing public, this chap is completely in his right to do what he has done and was quite sincere about everything he said tonight. I’m no lawyer or barrister, but if the guy is trying to preserve these memorables at least he is doing something creditable for these poor flyers that died. Funny how the relatives of these men havent bothered to follow up on these flyers years ago (or have they?), surely they have had time. They probably enjoyed the free flight up there and I would be very dissappointed if they received payment for their time. If they did, it just shows you how low Munro will go to try and put a story on the show anyway he can. I hope he had a lot of viewers tonight, and I really hope the journo’s get stuck into him, just like he has with a lot of people he has hasseled over the years on his shows. Furthermore, if this chap had been selling this stuff for profit or whatever, then you may have had a story. Maybe!

  6. Mike, I like your work, and have told you so before, but you got it wrong when you rubbished the guy who is preserving war relics. You got it wrong…. and you know it. Don’t go for sensationalism, you’re better than that. Mal

  7. Tomorrow I see you have the sad story of the couple from Lennnox that lost their beautiful child to whooping cough – since I have seen the ads I have crumbled with tears & pain – my daughter died of measles – SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) – please…..tell the parents ‘thankyou’ for going public – and my full support is with them……if they ever want to meet me – please give them my details…I live 30mins from them…. difficult living in Byron/Mullumbimby/Lismore area as so many people dont immunise – I often go to the anti vaccination group meetings – and of course stand up & say immunise & tell them my story……I spoke with a Community Nurse from that area two days go & she doesnt agree with immunisation….what!!!! Have another Mum up here – here daughter caught measles at 6 months of age & sadly SSPE at 18 years of age – died….
    Thanks for putting this story to air………helps us other Mums & families so much…
    Cheers Cecily

  8. A good coup for Seven. As to your suggestions David, I’d love to see Jana or Mary back on TV. Actually with Munro and Wendt on SN Nine would be really kicking themselves LOL.

    As to whether Bath or Nat Barr as the co-host I don’t particularly care for either of them and hardly associate them with investigative journalism. But if I had to choose, probably Chris Bath.

  9. It will be interesting to see how this rates. Im guessing 9 will put Domstic Blitz up agains it, no wonder they’ve been promoting it like hell. I think that it would be a very close battle between the two. If 9 decide to do this and Underbelly at 8 30 i think that 9’s line up would be too strong for Seven on Sundays. Still ouch for 9 with Mike Munro, although i couldnt really care.

  10. Seven will need to humanise Mike Munroe. He is the uncle you are afraid of as a kid. He comes across as cold, grey and extremely bad tempered. I’d prefer to watch someone that bleeds when cut.

    With him in the chair you can count me out as a regular viewer of this program.

  11. Will be interested too see first show and see if it is really a serious current affair show and not spin off of today today crap.Hope Natalie Barr gets the co hosting gig,l have always enjoyed watching her.In regard to maybe Jana Wendt ,think her tv days well over.Just thinking seven could of put Chris Bath and Jim Wilson hosting together lol.Seriously think seven just needs one host for this show,waste of money for seven getting Munro.

  12. This truly is massive blow to Nine. Like Alex said above this never would of happened five to ten years ago. No way in the world. But I must ask the question though, what are the hosts actually go to do. On 60 Minutes the reporters themselves introduces their own stories which they have done for that week and there are only ever three stories.

    Going on what Jerome said above, there are going to be six reporters and two hosts. So that is a maximum of six stories a week with each co-host introducing three stories each. That setup to me doesn’t require two hosts as I can’t see the hosts doing much banter. Now unless the hosts will be conducting live interviews or debates I don’t see much point to a host at all under this format.

    Something I always like about 60 Minutes is the length of the stories running anywhere between 9 to 13 minutes. Sunday Night, if they do more than three stories a week, will have to cap it less than that to fit them all into the one hour. However, saying all of that, healthy competition is good for everyone. If 60 Minutes lift their game because of Sunday Night entering the arena then I am all for it.

  13. well this is one big well deserved slap in the face for 9.

    i cannot think of any male more appropriate, sure he’s not a perfect person but neither are other australian “quality journalists” ray martin is a whingy bitch, laurie oakes really needs to work on his appeal, peter overton and the 60mins clan are just too sixty minutesie (wouldn’t want that scarring 7’s image).

    i know that the quality of a CA show can only be judged by its content but munro is a big step in the right direction.

    as for 60 mins, i know it has come up against a lot but no one has really tried to fight fire with fire (yes i know they’re in different timeslots). if anything can take it off its high horse it will be this, and that will be disastrous to 9.

  14. I think Naomi is too far gone to be considered credible. Sure, Jana and Mary are extremely credible but I also see them as maybe too serious for what the show is trying to be. That’s hard to say seeing as no one knows yet exactly what sort of show it will be. 🙂

    Which brings me to Natalie: yes, she’s on Sunrise which a lot of people don’t see as serious or credible but she has actually studied journalism and spent years out in the field honing her craft. I’d love to see her get her teeth into something meaty!

    Also, love ya work Knoxy – throwing hypothetical names into the ring – brilliant!

  15. Nice selection there David.
    Mary Kostakidis would bring huge credibility to show and if Seven promoted this right and brought back decent current affairs, this showcould be a winner.
    Reason I gave up on Sixty Minutes – cross promotion stories,soft stories,too much emphasis on Hollwood/film stars or media nobodies andabove all total lack of concentration on “current affairs”

  16. No thankyou to Naomi Robson! She should be left in early retirement, though isn’t there speculation she may join 9’s 5.30 vehicle with Eddie???

    Jana and Mary are authoritive and would be a leap in the right direction for quality journalism, but I think 7 weill want someone with a bit more appeal.

    I think Nat would be great in the role, she is quite authoritve, but at the same time quite likable. Bath seems very straight edged, though that may be the direction 7 want to take with Sunday Night.

    It’s hard to know who would be suitable as co host when we dont know exactly what market this show is aimed at. I’m guessing it will be aiming similarly to 60 Minutes, a mix of hard hitting journalism and bullshit Ramsay puff pieces.

  17. I don’t think Chris or Nat (especially Nat) would be right for a show like this, unless they’re going to talk about a water-skiing budgie or count down the 50 worst dressed celebrities or something.

  18. Probably the best male host they could have chosen, since none of the existing men in the Seven stable really have the gravitas required if they want this to be a credible show rather than some tabloid horror. I’m reserving judgement until it airs though. Given Seven’s recent record in news and current affairs shows, it’s hard to see this being particularly serious or upmarket. (I’m thinking of the transformation of Sunday Sunrise, a decent morning interview and debate show, into Weekend Sunrise, a celebrity- and lifestyle-based Andrew O’Keefe vehicle. They sacrificed journalistic quality for populist appeal there, so I’m sceptical of the idea that they won’t do it again for Sunday Night.)

    Also: Ian Ross is leaving? Hallelujah! I may be able to watch Seven News once in a while.

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