First look inside Channel 7’s new Sydney studios at Eveleigh
Sydney’s Channel 7 has relocated from its Martin Place studios into a new home. Take a look inside the new location.
Confidential
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Anchor Mark Ferguson is cutting the ribbon on the Channel 7’s new home at Media City in Eveleigh, after 19 years of broadcasting from Martin Place in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.
Ferguson, sports anchor Mel McLaughlin and weather presenter Angie Asimus gave The Daily Telegraph an exclusive first-look tour of the brand new studios ahead of their maiden broadcast on Monday night.
“I’m feeling good, it’s a big day. I have a few butterflies,” Ferguson said.
The 57-year-old anchor signed off for the final time from Martin Place on Sunday night, drawing the curtains on two decades of news.
“It was a little bit sad saying goodbye last night. “I’ve been absolutely privileged to host out of there for almost 10 years now from the main 6 o’clock desk and have many, many memories in that studio. Some of them aren’t that fond; of very big, tough events.”
The Paris attacks, “relentless” Covid-19, the Lindt Cafe siege, the Queen’s funeral, and the night Donald Trump became President stand out.
Ferguson will present the first historic broadcast from the new studio on Monday a 6pm.
“I got teased for carrying out an old lamp last night as I was packing up my desk,” Ferguson added. “They wanted to know what I was doing. I said I’m very fond of my lamp and I was taking it to my new desk.”
The move to Eveleigh, which started in 2018, “will for the first time in over 40 years, unite our entire Sydney operation under one roof,” Seven West Media CEO James Warburton said.
The hi-tech facility, spread across two floors at 8 Central Ave, is five times larger than Martin Place and will house the station’s entire news operation.
That includes permanent sets for all programs, two control rooms, more than 40sqm of LED screens, and an entire floor for newsroom operations.
“Walking in, the size and scale really blew me away,” Ferguson said. “I was expecting darkness and the set to be in one corner. Everything seems to be brighter and sharper, I might need to spend more time in the makeup chair.”
Moving out was part of a major building transformation project of Seven’s Headquarters, intended to be completed by the end of 2022.
However, it will take until July for everyone (including Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and The Morning Show) to follow in July.
As a competitor of Seven when the network moved into Martin Place, Ferguson recalls thinking it was “a really interesting move”.
“I will miss the interaction with people in the city cruising by, the knocks on the windows, the big crowds during Vivid, and lots of waves,” he said. “There’s been the odd flasher or two.”
Although extensive refurbishment will be required before a new tenant takes occupancy of Seven’s old digs, several high-end retail, supermarket chains, and government agencies have expressed interest.
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