Peter Overton is reportedly feeling the pressure amid rumors of a Nine newsroom shake-up following the drama unfolding at rival network Channel Seven.
The 9News Sydney presenter, 58, is said to be “worried about his future” as the network prepares to make some staff changes after Melbourne‘s Tom Steinfort and Alicia Loxley were promoted to co-anchors of the city’s 6 pm bulletin.
Nine News Gold Coast also has two co-hosts, Eva Milic and Paul Taylor, while Overton has always presented 9News Sydney alone.
“Pete has been alone at that desk for 15 years and, like a fine wine, at 58 he seems to get better with age, but big bosses always have an eye on what their competitors are doing,” a source said. Women’s Day.
“For now, management will do everything possible to reassure Pete that he is safe, but he is right to be concerned.”
Peter Overton is reportedly feeling the pressure amid rumors of a Nine newsroom shake-up following the drama unfolding at rival network Channel Seven.
“There’s the argument that if they gain ratings year after year with just one host, then why change him, but Pete would be equally concerned,” the source continued.
“But knowing Pete, if that’s how the industry is changing, then he’s going to adapt; if he wants to keep up, he’s going to have to adapt and go with the flow.”
The 9News Sydney presenter, 58, is “feeling worried” and “concerned about his future” as restructuring and personnel changes take place among his colleagues.
In March, fans asked the veteran anchor to co-host the nightly news show after playing the solo role for 15 years.
“It’s a shame Sydney is still doing the only presenter at the desk, I wish they’d do two,” wrote one fan on industry blog Media Spy.
It comes after the Channel Seven staff bloodbath took a turn earlier this month, days after reports claimed Mark Ferguson would be “displaced” as weekday news presenter.
It also follows the successful move within its own company, as Melbourne’s Tom Steinfort (right) and Alicia Loxley (left) co-host the city’s 6pm bulletin.
Nine News Gold Coast also has two presenters, Eva Milic and Paul Taylor (both pictured).
News Corp previously reported that seven bosses had become “excited” about replacing Ferguson, 58, with the network’s weekend team Michael Usher and Angela Cox.
However, a Seven source told Daily Mail Australia this is not the case.
Instead, the source was told that seven bosses are ready to fire Usher, leaving Cox to anchor the Friday and Saturday night bulletins alone.
Executives hope to “save money and improve gender balance” with Cox as a one-woman show on weekends.
It comes after the Channel Seven staff bloodbath took a turn earlier this month, days after reports claimed Mark Ferguson (pictured) would be “dumped” as weekday news presenter.
News Corp previously reported that seven bosses had become “excited” about replacing Ferguson with the network’s weekend team, Michael Usher (left) and Angela Cox (right). A Seven source has since told Daily Mail Australia this is not the case.
The insider also believes that, unlike previous reports, Ferguson remains secure in his position.
“Mark (Ferguson) is the ultimate professional and loved in the newsroom,” Seven’s source said.
“It would be ratings suicide to replace Mark now, and it would be brave for a new news chief, who has no TV experience, to replace the 6pm reader as his first move,” they added.
Seven denied the claims when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
The rumored nightly news shake-up comes as the bloodbath continues at Channel Seven in the wake of Bruce Lehrmann’s sex and drugs allegations that hit the network’s flagship current affairs show Spotlight.
Seven confirmed last month that then director of news Craig McPherson, partner of Dancing with the Stars presenter Sonia Kruger, had suddenly left his role as the network’s director of news and public affairs after nine years in the role.
In the month of April alone, the network lost McPherson, CEO James Warburton, Chief Business Officer Bruce McWilliam and Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn.
A source has been reliably informed. Seven bosses are set to fire Usher, leaving Cox to anchor the Friday and Saturday night bulletins alone. Executives hope to “save money and boost gender balance” with Cox as a one-woman show on weekends.
