‘Hitch’ wins Melbourne news battle, signs for 5 more years with Nine.

EXCLUSIVE: Nine has signed a new 5 year contract with its Melbourne news presenter Peter Hitchener, who last week won his 21st week of the 40 week survey year -putting Nine in an unbeatable position against rival Seven News.

That makes it three years in a row Nine has toppled Seven in the Melbourne news battle, after turning around its ratings fortunes in 2012.

Nine has also won the 6pm news battle in Sydney for the fourth year in a row, while Seven takes out Adelaide and Perth where it has dominated for decades.

The battle continues in Brisbane where Nine has 17 weeks to Seven’s 4.

While Nine declined to confirm contract details, Peter Hitchener, who took the anchor chair in 1998, is now signed at Nine until 2019 which, at a 21 year straight run, would topple the terms by Brian Naylor and Sir Eric Pearce.

“We’re most humbled by the support of our viewers. I’d personally like to thank them for their ongoing loyalty and for the privilege of inviting us into their homes,” he said.

‘Hitch,’ 68, said he couldn’t recall a time when he had enjoying my work as much as he is now.

“Everyone at Nine is like a family to me. With technological changes in news gathering and news delivery, you never stop learning in this role. I love everyone that I work with. We have such a great mix of talented people at Nine.

“There are journalists with decades of experience, as well as a fresh, young crop of reporters who bring so much eagerness and enthusiasm to the newsroom. I really do feel privileged to still be doing what I do and plan to be on air for many years to come.”

Nine News boss Darren Wick recently told TV Tonight, “It’s good. Touch wood with Nine the business is going well, people have jobs here, so we’re solid.”