Channel 7 backs 6pm newsreader Mark Ferguson for ‘long haul’ with new five-year deal

SEVEN News has reinforced its commitment to embattled 6pm newsreader Mark Ferguson by inking a new five-year-deal.

CHANNEL 7 has inked a new five-year contract with newsreader Mark Ferguson, committing to the embattled anchor as their ratings saviour “for the long haul”.

Seven’s news director in Sydney, Chris Willis, confirmed the deal was signed with Ferguson to front the 6pm bulletin before Chris Bath shocked the industry with her surprise decision to leave the network after 20 years.

Despite Nine’s stranglehold on the news ratings title — winning for more than 134 consecutive weeks in Sydney — Willis told NewsCorp: “the reason we’re committing ourselves to Mark is that we’re confident he’s got what we need ... 30 years experience overseas covering major news stories; great knowledge of the business; he understands people in the way people from the country do [Ferguson was born in Tamworth] ... he’s the man we want to do the job.”

Melissa Doyle. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Chris Bath. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The boyish-faced veteran, who turns 50 in February, will also take over the afternoon timeslot (12-3pm weekdays) of Chris Smith on 2GB as a fill-in later this month — an opportunity for him to charm and hopefully convert many of the station’s large and loyal metropolitan audience.

A marketing campaign promoting Ferguson and Seven’s news credentials will continue to roll out next month — when Bath’s replacement as weekend newsreader and Sunday Night host Melissa Doyle is expected to assume the positions on her return from a pre-planned family holiday (from tomorrow).

Willis said: “we actually acknowledge we have got a long way to go (to catch Nine) but we are seeing some signs of progress. People forget Ian Ross took two years to win us the ratings [after coming out of retirement in 2003 following 38 years at Nine] and we do see Mark as the future.”

“Our strategy is one of perseverance. We have the same number of reporters (as Nine), the same number of stories most nights, and I would argue we break more stories than they do.”

NO TANTRIC SEX WITH STING BUT LAUGHFEST

HE may be one of the sexiest men on the planet and boast Grammys galore. But when it came to filming a skit for tonight’s episode of Foxtel’s hilarious comedy series Open Slather (7.30pm, Comedy Channel), Sting was a poor second to stand-in Glenn Robbins in the eyes of the singer’s co-star Dave Eastgate. Working around the Police frontman’s Australian tour schedule in February, the show rehearsed the sketch with Robbins in the lead — a moment which saw super fan Eastgate go ga-ga. “I like Sting but I don’t own any of his music. To work with Glenn Robbins, who is my hero, I was more star struck and fan-girling over him. I was looking into his eyes ... I just worship him.”

EMMA’S BOLD ENTRANCE AS BEACH BUM

IT’S a brave way to introduce yourself to the Australian TV audience but Emma Leonard’s stark entrance on new Channel 7 drama series 800 Words was hardly going to go unnoticed. The 29-year-old appears to be buck naked when her character Tracey meets former Packed To The Rafters favourite Erik Thomson (as widower George) on a remote beach in New Zealand. The Brisbane beauty has had minor roles in Home And Away, All Saints and Wonderland, as well as scoring regular work as a voiceover artist. Whether she did her own wiggle work in the new series — or relied on a booty double — is unknown

WHO WILL RULE AS HOUSE NARK?

THE elimination of House Rules’ resident narks Brian and Karina last week has left a vacancy for one couple to fill their villainous gap. And as the competition gets to the pointy end, a few teams are in contention for the WA pair’s title as those remaining go about renovating a holiday home in Hervey Bay, Queensland (with the $800,000 property to be won by one lucky viewer). The stress of the one-week build continues to take its toll on Bronik and Corinne, who both cry their way through most of the episodes. Meanwhile, the dirty tricks of another couple could come back to bite them. Sunday-Tuesday, 7.30pm, Seven.

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