Natarsha Belling to help shake up Seven’s news bulletins

Network Seven is shaking up their news offering with a new national midday bulletin kicking off tomorrow

Natarsha Belling will host Seven’s National News at Noon. Picture: Seven

Channel 7 is shaking up its news with a new national midday bulletin kicking off tomorrow.

Sunday Confidential can reveal Natarsha Belling will front National News at Noon, a new hour-long live news bulletin that will air at 12pm weekdays on Seven and 7plus.

But the change will have a significant on flow effect with the much-loved Ann Sanders losing her 11.30am bulletin as part of the changes.

Sanders will continue her main slot at 4pm.

Belling has been brought on after it was announced she had joined 104.9 Triple M this year as a breakfast presenter alongside former NRL player Beau Ryan and former West Tiger Aaron Woods.

Previously, she worked for Channel 10, however, she got caught up in a brutal round of budget cuts in 2020.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the 7NEWS team and be part of this innovative new news bulletin,” Belling said.

“Seven’s National News at Noon will be more than just headlines; it’s about breaking the major stories of the day and analysing and investigating the issues that matter most to our audience.”

Ann Sanders.

Anthony De Ceglie. Picture: Supplied

An insider confirmed the Sanders change.

“Ann will no longer present the 11.30 morning news,” an insider said.

“But Ann isn’t going anywhere. She is very much still a part of the Seven family.”

It will however affect the airing of the daytime movie.

“The day time movie will be pushed back on the days that they are scheduled,” an insider said.

“Seven haven’t been airing movies every day. Some days they run encore screenings of tentpole programs, for example My Kitchen Rules and The Voice.”

The hiring of Belling is one of the many major changes Seven’s director of news and current affairs and Seven West Media editor-in-chief Anthony De Ceglie has made since he came on board in April last year.

De Ceglie has brought Angela Cox on to co-anchor the 6pm bulletin with Mark Ferguson.

He introduced horoscopes into its nightly bulletins, although that has disappeared since December 13.

He hired Hugh Whitfield to take on director of the 7NEWS national newsdesk, Sean Power as the director of news for Seven Sydney, recruited former ABC News presenter Karina Carvalho and, most recently, Natalie Wolfe to the role of editor of 7NEWS.com.au

Among his most controversial moves was to axe presenter Sharyn Ghidella and journalist Robert Ovadia.

Ovadia dropped his civil case against Seven in September.

With the launch of Seven’s National News at Noon, The Morning Show will extend to 12pm each weekday, with hosts Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur returning for their 18th year tomorrow after Sunrise.

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