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Helen Kapalos departs as host of Today Tonight

Helen Kapalos is out as host of Today Tonight, but remains with Seven News and Sunday Night.

2014-01-20_1231Helen Kapalos is out as host of Today Tonight in Sydney and Melbourne, but will remain with Seven News team and joins Sunday Night.

A new host for Today Tonight is to be announced shortly.

Kapalos joined Seven a year ago after being let go by TEN, to host the current affairs show replacing former host Matt White.

But her transition was a bumpy one, especially with media in the Sydney market. She attracted particular attention during a now-infamous autocue meltdown on the night Kevin Rudd took over as PM from Julia Gillard, while working with a new production team.

National ratings, which include other locally-produced versions of TT in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, have declined allowing A Current Affair to win more survey weeks in 2013. Seven points to summer improvement where it has won 6 out of 7 weeks.

But Nine has now extended its 6pm news to one hour, pushing ACA to a 7pm start for 2014, avoiding a head to head scrap this year.

Seven maintains its news service remains “flexible” enough to extend news events such as bushfires, but that Today Tonight as a stand-alone brand remains important to the network. At this stage there is no change to a permanent one hour news.

Today Tonight‘s summer edition is currently being hosted by Nick Etchells.

There are no changes for TT in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Seven today also announced former Nine correspondent Denham Hitchock has joined Sunday Night.

“I’ve been glued to Sunday Night for the last five years. I’m delighted to join its ranks, and thoroughly look forward to a much-promised ‘baptism of fire,’” he said.

“As a foreign correspondent, I’ve had the opportunity to cover some of the world’s biggest stories but for the first time in a long time I’ll have the chance to come home between stories. It’s a dream job. Not only do I get the chance to work with some of the best in the business but I have the added bonus of being based in the country that I love.”

22 Responses

  1. In terms of 7 trying to win over 9 in the 6pm news bulletin front. I feel as if Mel could be used to a much bigger capacity. It seems as if it is almost a downgrade for her going from Sunrise to an afternoon news bulletin and a 7pm bulletin.

    I think Chris Bath and Mark Ferguson should present news 3 or 4 times a week, with Melissa Doyle and Matt White presenting the other days.

  2. Don’t know why they need to replace her, just have Sharon Gidella host Sydney & Melbourne as well. That’s what they used to do when Matt White & others hosted it.

    Was sad to hear another ch 9 person has jumped ship to 7. I like Denham Hitchcock, ch 9 is a fool to let him go.

  3. Pleased Kapalos has left Today Tonight but she should be back at ten heading 5pm news now that Mal’s gone. Ten absolutely shot themselves in the foot when they sacked her knowing Mal would soon retire – they’ve made some stupid decisions in recent years but that one just about takes the cake.

  4. Looks like Seven’s attempt to install a “sexy” host and bring in more male viewers has failed. Time to get a bloke in again to give it some credibility. Nick Etchells has been doing a good job over summer, Seven should give him the gig. As far as Kapalos moving to Sunday Night, don’t do it Seven. Just kick the bimbos out the back door out altogether.

  5. I never seen her host TT because I live in Perth but I did see her host ten news when I went to Melbourne for holidays.

    I can’t Perth channel7 changing. Susanna Rick been at 7 for long time and the TT host been there long time so can’t see it changing

  6. Channel 10 shot themselves in the foot when they sacked Kapalos at the end of 2012, with the retirement of Mal Walden, she would of been a better replacement than stephen quartermain as main news reader. Her going to Today Tonight was a mistake.

  7. Are Channel 7 going to leave this role open and not announce someone to fill it? They have done this with the newsreader and female host on Weekend sunrise and weather presenter on Sunrise.

  8. Looks like Seven are now panicking about Nine’s one- hour News results! I give TT a couple of weeks before it is cancelled. All will depend how ACA goes directly against H&A, if ACA wins then TT will be history. Seven originally had the idea for a one hour News but have now let Nine beat them to it! I’m a Seven fan but now they seem to be paying catch up.

  9. After the year Helen had it might be the best thing. New year, new start…all that stuff. Sunday Night might be just what she’s looking for.
    Good luck to you Helen! 🙂

  10. i pray that they get a female host, perhaps rebecca madern since she is rarely on seven news? will it still be produced in melbourne?? jennifer keyte maybe

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