Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox to co-anchor 7NEWS Sydney

Angela Cox will join Mark Ferguson as co-anchor of 7NEWS Sydney, as the station continues to revamp its nightly bulletins in a bid to claw back viewers.

In the battle for ratings supremacy, 7NEWS Sydney has come out all guns blazing with a new weapon in its arsenal — and it’s double-barrelled.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Angela Cox will join veteran newsreader Mark Ferguson on the desk from Sunday to Thursday, in a bold attempt to close the ratings gap between 7NEWS and Nine News in Sydney.

While Seven is number one nationally, it is being propped up by the regional markets plus Perth and Adelaide. Channel 9 News is dominant on the east coast, especially in Sydney.

“I’m really excited,” Cox told The Sunday Telegraph.

“I adore Mark and I have for ages, and I get to do what I love doing more often, and I get to do it next to someone who I respect and have fun with.”

7NEWS co-anchors Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“And I’m really looking forward to it,” added Ferguson.

“I don’t see it as Ange joining me on the desk. I don’t think that sounds like the right balance. I think we’re co-anchors.

“In some ways, it’s a fresh start for me.

“I’ve been in that chair for about 10 or 11 years by myself.

“I have never really co-presented before, so I am hoping Ange can teach an older dog some new tricks.”

The announcement from Seven has raised a couple of key questions and comes after months of speculation surrounding Ferguson’s future with the network, with his rumoured contact (rumoured to be between $600k and $750k per year) understood to be up in December.

“Fergo” took six weeks off for the Olympics, which saw Seven trial hosts Michael Usher, Angela Cox and Angie Asimus.

Typically one to ignore external chatter and speculation surrounding his job, Ferguson admitted it had been hard to avoid.

“Usually, it’s very easy to stay in your own lane, but I’ve got to be honest, over the last few months there has been a lot of change at Seven and when there is a lot of change, it tends to build upon itself,” Ferguson said.

Anthony De Ceglie is the director of news and current affairs and editor-in-chief at Seven West Media. Picture: Supplied

“A new leadership team came in, and they’re obviously looking to do things a little bit differently.

“But I’ve sort of known for a fair bit of time that I’d be coming back to that gig in some way.

“And I was absolutely thrilled to find out that Ange and I will now sit there together.”

It is believed Michael Usher will be joined by Angie Asimus to present the Friday and Saturday night 6pm news bulletin. Seven wouldn’t confirm this on Saturday.

Seven Network Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief, Anthony De Ceglie, said: “This is a new and fresh approach for Seven’s flagship Sydney 6pm news.

“Mark Ferguson is an institution and deservedly one of the most trusted news voices in Australia.

“This new co-anchor approach brings a new sense of dynamism, innovation and flexibility to the hour-long program and I am incredibly excited to see Mark and Angela Cox work together.”

Seven is hoping Ferguson and Cox will win viewers from Nine. Picture: Jeremy Piper

De Ceglie came on board in April in a bid to lift ratings and improve Seven’s culture.

When you break down the figures, Nine News is dominant on the east coast, especially in Sydney.

De Ceglie has made a number of major changes in recent months, including the decision to have Fergo and Cox as dual anchors.

It is believed the idea of having two news anchors for the 6pm bulletin was suggested at the end of last year,but former news director Craig McPherson kiboshed the plan.

De Ceglie has added a horoscope segment to the nightly Seven News, as well as a satirical segment hosted by Australian comedian Mark Humphries every Friday and a specialised NRL segment by former rugby league star Willie Mason.

Despite dwindling ratings, the 6pm bulletin remains one of the most critical timeslots for all major networks.

In July it was revealed that Nine was winning the nation’s three key markets – Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — in the 6pm slot Monday to Friday, while Seven was well ahead in Perth and Adelaide.

In July it was revealed that, in Sydney, Nine’s weeknight news led by Peter Overton has a total average TV audience of 227,000 viewers per night, up 5 per cent this year, while Seven, presented by Mark Ferguson, had 199,000 viewers, down 1 per cent.

Cox has been a US correspondent for Seven, worked on its former regular current affairs special Sunday Night and helmed its nightly news program The Latest.

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