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Stormy clouds ahead? Horoscopes vanish from Seven News.

One of the boldest ideas in television this year may not have seen its own future....

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EXCLUSIVE:

They were launched in July as part of Seven News‘ bold ambitions to attract new audiences but this week Horoscopes have vanished without trace.

The most recent predictions by ‘AstroTash’ screened last Friday night, ominously warning “Accept what you can’t change,” but offered no insight into their own fate as part of a news bulletin future.

The introduction of horoscopes by news boss Anthony de Ceglie has been an attempt to try new ideas in the most routine of all TV formats. But if bold is the word, it has also been met with more than its share of criticism.

Social media has variously described their inclusion as “taking the piss / laughable / rubbish / bullshit / not news / treating the viewers as morons” and more…

TV Tonight understands they have also raised eyebrows within Seven network itself and were a matter of some discussion at a recent Seven News weekly meeting.

In October De Ceglie defended their inclusion and impact on audience numbers.

“For those keeping count, since we introduced our Star Signs and our satire, our ratings have gone up, not gone down….. My point is simply that Seven is trying new things and the world isn’t coming to an end,” he told the Melbourne Press Club.

But the gap with Nine News is now tight, last week with Seven’s weeknight news only narrowly ahead at 1.08m to Nine’s 1.06m.

A Seven News spokesperson told TV Tonight, “During the holiday, non-ratings period some segments will take a breather as we take a look at how they could come back next year. ….We’re really proud of how we’re trialing new things and will continue to do so in 2025.”

A satire segment with Mark Humphries was also introduced in July as the 6:57 News on Friday bulletins.

Humphries has been absent for the past two Fridays due to touring commitments but Seven has confirmed he continues in 2025. He returns on December 20.

13 Responses

  3. Yeah…can’t say I’m particularly disappointed the Horoscopes may have quietly disappeared. Maybe they’ll return in 2025, but I personally won’t be surprised if both them and Mark Humphries’ 6.57pm News take a Summer break they don’t return from.

    In regard to the tight ratings gap, can it be presumed that Perth, Adelaide and most of Regional Australia are the main markets keeping Seven News afloat? I’d assume Nine may have taken out key East Coast markets like Sydney (where if I’m not mistaken, Seven only narrowly won a couple of weeks during the ratings year) in 2024, possibly with improved ratings as a result of Tipping Point Australia and Paris.

  4. It looks like Astrotrash got those predictions straight out of Xmas crackers. As a Libran the advice is intriguing but wasted as I take a sickie and hide myself away on Friday the 13th. Maybe I should read some other Astrology columns until I find one more suitable.

  5. I told you’s this was going to fail, when De Ceglie said it has gone up, more like Gone Down!!
    Next, the same will happen with Mark Humphries Satire..
    The 7 team are Completely Stubborn, nobody wants & needs more changes, like they say don’t change it if it ain’t broken. Instead with more unnecessary changes they do it will now be broken!

  6. Why is all the responsibility for these “ideas” being placed squarely on Anthony de Ceglie?

    Where does Gemma Acton fit in this and her “Anthony de Ceglie and I are wasting no time in tearing up the rule book”
    (TV Tonight 19June)?

    Regardless of whether one’s title is above the other, if she wants to “share” the credit of the changes (De Ceglie and I), should she not also be “sharing” the consequences?

    1. I kid you not, but one day I drove to the shopping centre and the signs in the median strip said “psychics convention cancelled. due to unforeseen events.”

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