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Helen Kapalos confirmed to front Today Tonight

Updated: Ex-TEN presenter has been confirmed as the new host for Today Tonight.

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2013-01-12_2033As expected, Helen Kapalos has been confirmed as the new host for Today Tonight, in both Victoria and New South Wales.

The former TEN newsreader will front the new state-based edition comprising more “hard-hitting stories” than under her predecessor Matt Whit, according to the the Sunday Herald Sun.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Seven Network and Today Tonight,” she said.

“The role represents a wonderful opportunity to connect with the audience on a broader scale, and offer good, solid journalism which remains accessible to all.

“I look forward to actively contributing quality stories and interviews and working alongside an excellent reporting team to bring you a content-rich, compelling public affairs program.”

Seven’s Director of Public Affairs, Neil Mooney, said: “Today Tonight is a proven winner in public affairs, telling the stories that matter to everyday Australians, and Helen’s appointment as the host for Melbourne and Sydney – as well as reporting on the big issues nationwide – will only add to the strength of the program.

“Helen has proven herself over a significant period of time to be a first-class journalist and presenter. And there is a real affection for her in Melbourne, where she is based, and in Sydney, where she grew up and started her career. We look forward to her joining the team.”

Kapalos was one of many TEN presenters given redundancies as part of a cost-cutting measure late last year, but her exit triggered considerable criticism in the Melbourne market.

It’s not clear who will front a Queensland edition, but Bill McDonald as been rumoured, or if there are other big changes coming to Seven’s early evening line-up.

One of the biggest shortcomings of Today Tonight has been its decided lack of interviews with Matt White doing little more than reading the autocue. A Current Affair has managed to showcase feature interviews although it too has a staple of tabloid stories with supermarket wars, diets, red light cameras and neighbourhood wars.

If Seven offers up a more intelligent mix it will be interesting to watch Nine’s response. The key for both will be to not go as far as 6:30 with George Negus. It was a bold broadside into the early evening landscape but the audience quickly sent back a message that it was too early to be dissecting the latest from the Gaza Strip.

Kapalos will begin on air with Today Tonight next month.

Updated.

36 Responses

  3. I remember years ago when ACA tried the intelligent mix thing and got Ray Martin to host. They said as soon as they interviewed a polititian,people turned off.We have been here before. They have got Helen in to try and match Tracey Grimshaw. They will not stop doing the light and fluffy stuff because people watch it. Thats a reality, proven by the ratings. Real journalism is best left to ABC an SBS as they do not have to react to daily ratings as much.

  5. “cnrmlj January 13, 2013 at 12:23 pm –

    I really don’t get why once credible news presenters join these trashy comedy shows.”

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  6. I reckon it’s possible the Negus experiment could work, just not with Negus in it… I’d enjoy these shows more if they maybe just ran with a “story of interest” (or maybe two – shock horror) the main news and dissect it. Then let’s do the Friday “tabloid” format. I get sick of seeing one story on ACA then the same mirror image story few days later on TT and vice versa. One of them need to promote their real point of difference else both shows will slowly perish.

  8. @Russell

    Live/Recorded/Vic.or Nsw content/Rehashed Topics/ Mirror Image of ACA Chicken or the Egg?/Dressed up stories that lead to Mini Avertorials……………and so on.

    There is probably only one thing for sure, and that is that it will Run Overtime( till the footy season that is)

  9. Im sorry forgive me for this stupid question but does adelaide, perth and brisbane get TT and do they get a local person to do it.

    I dont watch these shows but I just presumed on host owuld cover all states.

  14. [quote]comprising more “hard-hitting stories”[/quote]

    Neither ACA nor TT have ever set any lofty goals in this regard, so I guess their first ‘hard-hitting’ story will set a new benchmark. Or perhaps they’ll just continue doing advertising of this weeks specials at Coles and Woolies, or perhaps that new fat-burning program, or new bikini fashion line… yep, that’s it, need to show some titillation.

  15. I hope the “meatier” stories aren’t just dodgy butchers and their questionable sausage ingredients! I fear they may have told Helen what she wants to hear to get her over the line and then continue with TT’s tabloid history, if thats not being demeaning to tabloids!

  17. Good luck to Helen – she can only improve TT, it couldn’t get any lower.

    I seem to remember ACA trying to go down this path some years ago in an effort to give a bit of class to the program, but it didn’t work, so they sank back down again.

    It’s the viewers’ fault of course, although why so many watch all the recycled crap stories year after year, is a mystery to me.

  18. Oh Helen, how far you have fallen 🙁

    I hope that you will bring some class to the odious TT, but Tracey Grimshaw has shown that no matter how gracious the presenter, they cannot lift utter garbage into the realm of journalism (poor or good).

    In fact, the reverse seems to be sadly true.

  21. “More hard hitting stories?” What a joke! TT and ACA both bring out this phrase every few years when they refresh their shows. Little ever changes. They’ll crack and they’ll crack quickly and the same repeated cycle they do every month will occur again. It really does amaze me that anyone could watch this drivel every night…

  24. Let’s see if the programming content actually changes?.. and NSW/Vic based, so what has actually changed, like with Matt White will be full of NSW rubbish, and will we see Helen Wellings again, get someone new and contemporary

  25. So she’ll record 2 versions – one for NSW and one for VIC?

    How can both be “state-based” when clearly she will be hosting the NSWf edition from Melbourne.

    If Seven wants local editions – do local editions.

    But having a show produced, taped and hosted in Melbourne – no matter how many local NSW they inserted into it – is still kinda odd to me.

    My guess isthe NSW edition will be taped and VIC edtion be live

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