Mark Ferguson signs with Seven
Updated: David Gyngell says, "We’re actually flattered that another network had to look to Nine to find a new newsreader." Seven declines to name Ferguson's job description.
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Nine News presenter Mark Ferguson has suddenly signed with the Seven Network.
It is believed he will read weekend news for Seven.
Ferguson was demoted from his role as Nine’s Sydney weeknight newsreader earlier this year, when Peter Overton was elevated to the role by John Westacott in January. Ferguson was shuffled to weekends.
This week he also began on Nine’s new afternoon show, THIS afternoon, as its news presenter. The show has had a slow start, premiering with 321,000. On Wednesday its Sydney audience dropped to a paltry 48,000. Yesterday it had 307,000 nationally.
Ferguson has also appeared in promos for the new show, co-hosted by Andrew Daddo and Katrina Blowers.
John Westacott recently retired as head of Nine’s News and Current Affairs with Mark Calvert now in his place.
Updated: The Daily Telegraph now reports Ferguson will finish his contract in October, continuing with THIS afternoon and Nine News weekend bulletins before moving to Seven. It also reports his contract negotiations with Nine would have seen a pay cut. However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports CEO David Gyngell made a “significant” offer to retain him. There is wide speculatation Chris Bath would take over from a retiring Ian Ross at Seven at such time as that occurs – a long held notion in the industry.
In a statement issued by Nine, the network said it was very disappointed Ferguson has turned down the generous offer that was made to re-new his contract:
Nine CEO David Gyngell said today, “Mark has been a colleague and friend for many years. I wish him all the best. We’re actually flattered that another network had to look to Nine to find a new newsreader.
“Our own news service is the strongest its been for many years, it’s building a dedicated audience. We’re delighted that Georgie Gardner is joining Pete Overton and the 6pm team to continue the fight back. They both bring a warmth and authority which Nine’s viewers appreciate.”
Mark Ferguson said: “I’ve had a wonderful journey at Channel Nine – and worked alongside some great people – but it’s time for a change. I wish David and his team all the very best.”
Mark Ferguson will continue on air as part of the Nine News team until his current contract ends later this year.
Nine added the Ferguson will be greatly missed by his colleagues: “Everyone at Nine wishes Mark and his family all the best for the future.”
Meanwhile Seven finally confirmed its signing mid afternoon, saying Ferguson will join Seven News when his contract with Nine expires towards the end of this year.
CEO of Seven Media Group, David Leckie: “Ian Ross, Chris Bath and Samantha Armytage are brilliant. Mark is Nine’s best news anchor. We clearly have the best in the business.
“It will be great to have Mark onboard with our market-leading news and public affairs teams.
“Although we are not announcing his job description just yet, I know we can offer him something far more challenging and exciting than THIS Afternoon. We’re number one. And, unlike some, we don’t need to toss money at viewers to persuade them to watch our news and public affairs and breakfast television programmes.”
Ian Ross said: “I welcome Mark’s decision to come to Seven. It’ll fun working with again.”
On today’s THIS afternoon, Andrew Daddo hinted at the news even acknowledging the loss of another ‘icon.’ But his repeated teases of “any more news to tell us?” went unanswered by Ferguson, a pro through and through.
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- Tagged with Nine News, Seven News, This Afternoon
58 Responses
Good, Saw him on This Afternoon and he has the personality of a dead fish. Not that the others are much better.
Great move by both parties. Ian Ross is supposed to have Fri, Sat, Sun & public hols. off, but he’s had to rearrange that to accommodate Chris Bath & Sunday Night. We’ll probably see Ian Mon-Thurs, Chris Fri plus Sunday Night, Mark weekends. Anne Sanders does daytime. No it won’t be a Mark+Chris “Ken+Barbie” at 6:30. Peter Meakin hates twosomes. Will be delightful when he does get head-to-headwith Peter Overton. Remeber, with Natalie, Anne, Chris, Ian & Mark each on holidays for 4-6 weeks a year, that means one of them is not there for 5-8 months of the year anyway.
He was crap on This Afternoon. Talk about stiff. He didn’t know what was a joke and what wasn’t. He’s better behind the desk reading the news…still don’t like him though.
Good luck to him. Would’ve preferred to see Musher make the switch, though.
Admired Fergo’s dignified silence when he was shafted earlier this year… rolled up his sleeves and got on with the job.
Fondly remember those N9N ads featuring Fergo, Hendo and Meakin in which Fergo takes a gentle swipe at that “other newsroom” he’d been working in (7).
Meakin obviously thinks highly of him.
Didn’t Seven recently tell a high profile newsreader there was no room at the inn?
Can’t remember who it was. Jessica Rowe?
Seems like news presenters are constantly changing in Sydney. In Melbourne we’ve had Mitch, Hitch, Jen and Jo (and Mal!) for years.
Wow! I’ve never really watched him as I’m a Channel 7 fan but what I have seen of him I haven’t been that impressed. He does come across as quite bland. I hope I’m proven wrong and that he will be a great asset to 7.
Gee whiz,
Another deserts the sinking ship.
I can remember the time when Nine led the country in news – now it is becoming a laughing stock.
Only good for gossip and even that they get wrong.
P.S. Get Richard Wilkins to read the news, at least we know then it is total fabrication.
This is big! Great scoop for Seven, especially if they can put him to good use, as well as keeping other popular and talented newsreaders (such as Bath) happy. So much for Nine and news. And as many others have said he was the only thing good about THIS Afternoon.
David, You are like Australia’s TMZ. Great scoop!
Jerome if he does, I hope he wins against peter. No disrespect to Peter but I did not like the way Nine booted Mark from there 6.00 News service early this year. Expect Kelli Connely to move to weekends. Michael Usher is now heavily involved in 60 Minutes. As for this Afternoon, well I really have know idea.
As much as I am a huge Nine fan, I wish Fergo all the best.
I like Mark Ferguson but this is a shock! And Chris Bath wasn’t happy with just weekends either so where does it leave her? Maybe Roscoe and Bath co-hosting weeknights; prepping Seven’s audience for Ian’s eventual retirement…..
Good on him, “Today in the afternoon” is going nowhere fast..and he knows it…..good move getting off the SS Titanic that is Nine at the moment…
Mr Boring goes to Seven. Hopefully Nine promotes a decent newsreader to weekends, such as Kellie Connolly.
@Michael: I would say Nine would make it effective immediately 🙂
Wow that was fast!
Is this departure effective immediately?
That is a big shock! Mark Ferguson will join his former Nine colleague Ian Ross at Seven, but for how long?
There goes nines last hope of beating seven unless Brian Henderson comes back which I doubt oh well serve nine right they shouldn’t have shafted fergo in the first place they get they deserve
LOL. Sucked in Nine. The 15 minutes of THISafternoon that i wasted my life watching, he was the only good thing on it.
Anyone remember “Live at Five” – Dead by Six? Talk about deserting a sinking ship…
That’s huge! What is happening with Chris Bath? Is Ian Ross going somewhere?
This is very surprising news. Atleast he got off that sinking ship this afternoon before it sunk much further.
If he does take over weekends, where would that leave Chris Bath? She’ll obviously take over weekdays when Roscoe retires, but I didn’t think that was happening for a while yet.
He’ll be missed by Nine…Who’s going to be the main face of THIS AFTERNOON now?? Dodo?!
Good move Seven! Bring the Patrick Jane (aka the Mentalist) out of him – the Smart, Cool & Savvy that is…Good Luck Fergo!
lol i wonder if he will ever be put head to head with peter overton.