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6PM without George Negus

Just ten days into his new show and already George Negus is absent from the host desk.

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“Good evening, I’m Hugh Riminton, George is taking a night off.”

Just ten days into his new show and already George Negus is absent from the host desk.

Last night Hugh Riminton hosted the show.

A TEN spokesperson told TV Tonight, “George will have alternate Fridays off. Hugh Riminton and Hamish MacDonald will regularly share anchoring duties on alternate Fridays when George Negus is on a day off and also when he is reporting from location.”

Nice contract, George.

Negus isn’t the only personality not to front every edition of his show. Chris Bath used to front Seven News for Ian Ross on Friday nights on Seven. Denise Drysdale isn’t contracted for all 5 daily shows of The Circle. ABC1’s Lateline has shared hosts. The team at The 7PM Project regularly draw upon guest presenters. And it’s very common with other breakfast shows.

But 6PM hasn’t yet established its audience, which makes such an early move all the more surprising. On Thursday it pulled just 398,000 viewers.

Meanwhile media are debating its success and fuelling speculation that shareholders have questioned the inclusion of so much overseas news (this has been denied by TEN). David Gyngell has told the Australian Financial Review the figures are lower than he expected. But TEN News Director reiterated to The Australian that, “This is alternative news programming pitched against the most established programs on television.

Ever-professional Riminton was perfectly smooth behind the desk last night.

What happened if viewers actually appreciate his style more than that of Negus?

45 Responses

  1. I think the issue with the ratings is that Ten’s news is not taken seriously (pun not intended) by the public. It will be a looong time before ten news is regarded as being the one to watch. I hope they stick with it.

  3. So, Hugh’s on first…

    Sorry.

    For mine TEN messed up image and promo wise. They’ve kept the same old branding and only only tweaked the graphics a little. 6PM logo looks like the 7PM Project logo. After spending all that money on journalists and a new line up, I’d have thought they’d completely revamp their image.

  5. I like the show very much and watch it every night. I like the amount of overseas news content. I have long been a fan of George Negus. He’s an acquired taste, but I have been watching him since I was a teenager when he was first on 60 Minutes. so have grown up with him. I was out last night, so didn’t see Hugh hosting it, but I’m sure he would have been terrific. It’s a bad look, though, to be taking nights off when the show has yet to establish an audience. It is never going to have a big audience, as it is too much of a culture shift to expect people to switch off the 6pm news. That is never going to happen, it will be like pushing a boulder uphill with a pointed stick.

  8. I can’t believe how the new Channel 10 news hour has flopped. When I heard George was coming to 10 I thought that he would attract record viewers. Channel 10 has had a major problem withe the 6.00pm – 7.00pm timeslot for many years owing to that horrid Neighbours and The Simpsons. A total change normally works wonders….but not in this instance……..

  9. George is great, I have enjoyed watching him for years, so what if he has a day off once in a while.We would all take a 9 day fortnight if we could afford to…….After his career so far he is earned it.

  12. they should switch to 6.30 and take on ACA and TV tonight I think they would be on to a winner! it feels a bit odd to be watching a current affairs program at 6 knowing that the other channels are broadcasting standard news – but we’re getting used to it 🙂

  13. 6.30PM with Hugh Riminton. I would watch that every night. 6PM not a chance because i watch Seven news. And i think George is starting to annoy me. What i saw of Hugh Riminton last night was really impressed as a host. First step for Ten is to move it to 6.30

  14. I watched it for the first time yesterday (with Hugh). I really liked it, but like with the news, it’s not something I ‘remember’ to tune into. And people like my mother, just automatically switch to nine (or seven).

    They should take away the “with George Negus”

  17. Hugh Riminton is the man for the job. George Negus is a hasbeen and even he must have been surprised when he was offered a contract with 10 that includes every alternate Friday off!
    He stumbles through the links and is no Walter Cronkite even if he thinks he is. The Aussie TV landscape is entirely different when it comes to Presenters or “Anchors” of a certain age.
    I guess the whole aim of this exercise is to fill the TV time cheaper than before and Negus may have been less expensive than anyone else.

  20. I’m really liking 6pm. I think their first week was a bit rough. They seem to have ironed out a few kinks in their second week. I liked Hugh last night, but I do like george’s interview style. Well worth a second look if you ditched it after week one.

  21. At first my reaction was, well if Dave Hughes can do it….But you are right, David, if they want to build an audience – consistency and routine for viewers is paramount. It is a big committment for a journo of George’s long career, to make at this point – he used to commute a fair way when he worked at the ABC – so probably has a city dwelling, a beach dwelling, a bush dwelling….

  22. Wonder if it rates better will George be out?

    I hope they keep with it, look at 7pm Project, many here calling for it to be canceled but look it’s still going,

    I hope TEN sticks with it, but at this point I guess they have no choice with the promotion they have done for their new news package.

  23. l watched last night and did prefer Hugh.Hope he fills in more often when George goes on the road.I did read before the show even started on air that George would only be hosting mon-thurs,so not surprising to me last night.

  24. Definitely prefer Hugh, and I think Hamish anchoring at this stage is a mistake. I also think the content needs to catch up, it seems a bit “also ran”. Nothing I Have to tune in for, like you often see on 730 or Lateline.
    Again, George is the wrong host, the set isn’t inviting, some of the reporters are a bit lacklustre. I’d have George as the chief on the road international correspondent and celebrity interviewer, Hamish his more serious deputy, Hugh hosting the show, a faster paced opener, dump the news update up the top or jazz it up a bit.
    It just needs to be tighter and more entertaining. There’s no problem with a serious program, but you can’t bore people.
    After two weeks of watching every couple of nights, this is the one news program I won’t be racing home to watch.

  25. I heard so many people comment how much they love George and his unique style.
    Since seeing him host 6pm – I’ve got to say – wow – I wish i could be that bad at my job and have people like me for my ‘unique style’

    He’s a rambling fool, he comes across like it’s his first day on TV. I have no idea how people could watch him.

    On the other hand Hugh – best newscaster on TV

    Also, I think 6pm should become a little more newscast and a little less current affairs. If hundreds of thousands of people are still switching from Ten News at 5 to Seven and Nine news – it shows even after they have watched local news at 5 – they still want more local news at 6

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