Mark Ferguson’s future at Channel Seven has been decided after months of speculation.
The veteran news presenter will now co-host Seven’s Sydney 7News alongside Angela Cox, news.com.au reported on Sunday.
There was widespread speculation that Ferguson would face the sacking amid an ongoing bloodbath at the network, but he has made the cut.
“I’m really excited. Ange will bring a lot more to the nightly bulletin – more experience, more energy and it will allow us to be much more versatile when those big stories come along,” Ferguson said in a statement.
There was previously speculation that Mark was to be axed as Channel Seven’s weekday evening news presenter, amid several high-profile resignations at the troubled network.
Sources close to the outlet previously suggested the 58-year-old news anchor could be replaced by the network’s weekend team of Michael Usher and Cox.
He The Telegraph newspaper It has been reported that Seven’s news bosses have been “enthusiastic” about the idea of replacing the news anchor with a duo.
Sources said the weekend news team has been in training since 2021 to take over the weeknight bulletin.
Mark Ferguson’s future at Channel Seven has been decided after months of speculation. Mark is pictured
Television experts also report that this change was suggested late last year, but former news director Craig McPherson dismissed the idea.
This comes after another staff member announced her departure from the Brisbane newsroom amid the network’s recent staffing crisis.
Seven News senior reporter Steve Hart has become one of the latest to leave the top-rated broadcaster, according to Courier mail.
The outlet reported that an internal email sent to staff on Tuesday cited “family reasons” as behind the television veteran’s decision to step down.
Hart will move to WIN News in Wollongong.
Hart’s wife is known to be a Sydney resident and Hart’s weekly travels played a role in his decision to leave the network.
The veteran news presenter will now co-host Seven’s Sydney 7News alongside Angela Cox (right)
Hart has been with the Seven Network for two years and previously worked with 10 News and FOX Sports.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Seven for comment.
He becomes the latest Brisbane-based Channel Seven star to quit, following Shane Webcke’s shock exit from the sports news desk last week.
In a statement, the Brisbane presenter revealed he will be leaving his role in January but will remain at Seven to cover the NRL.
Webcke had recently been in talks with Seven management to reduce his working hours so he could devote more time to his family business, according to the Courier mail.
Insiders previously suggested the 58-year-old news anchor could be replaced by the network’s weekend team, Michael Usher (left) and Cox.
“After 18 years presenting sport for 7NEWS Brisbane, I have made the decision to go in a slightly new direction and from January I will be stepping away from the news desk,” he said.
‘It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, to allow me more flexibility and more time to pursue my family’s farming interests.
“But I won’t be going too far. I will continue to appear regularly on 7NEWS alongside my good friend Gilly, bringing rugby league news to our viewers.
“I have been treated very well over the past 18 years and I am grateful to Seven for supporting me in this next stage.”
The former rugby league player spent his football career with the Brisbane Broncos, representing Queensland in the State of Origin 21 times.
Seven News senior reporter Steve Hart (pictured) has become one of the latest to leave the top-rated broadcaster.
Brisbane’s Channel Seven star Shane Webcke, 49 (pictured), has announced his shock departure from the sports news desk amid the network’s recent staff bloodbath.
He retired from the sport in 2006 and went on to become a Sunday to Thursday sports presenter on Seven News in Brisbane, a post he will hold until January.
Webcke is one of a long list of seven employees who have had their roles reduced or been laid off amid the network’s cost-cutting bloodbath in recent months.
Seven West Media has cut 150 newsroom staff in a round of redundancies that included big names such as Queenslanders news presenter Sharyn Ghidella and veteran weatherman Paul Burt.
Seven Network’s newly appointed head of news and current affairs Anthony De Ceglie has been replacing section leaders across the country with younger managers.
It has also introduced a comedy slot on Friday nights and astrology on the news.
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide have new news directors and new executive producers have taken over Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight.
The network has also fired veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, known to friends as the “Harvester of Sorrows” for his grim reporting.
On the Sydney front, Ovadia – perhaps the most high-profile figure in all the dismissals until Ghidella’s – has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
The staff changes come amid the network’s recent staff massacre.
