Is Channel 7 going to introduce fresh presenters for its Melbourne news?

Channel 7 has been shaking up the look of its nightly news across the country, with changes sweeping through Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. Is Melbourne next?

With changes afoot for the Channel 7 newsdesk in Sydney, are the winds of change about to blow through Melbourne?

Melbourne has already had a new newsreader, Karina Carvalho, join its experienced team of Peter Mitchell, Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor and the network is looking for ways to attract a new and younger audience to its offering.

Carvalho has been hosting the weekend bulletin with Amor for the past month while Maddern has been on holidays in Europe.

Former ABC news presenter Karina Carvalho joined Channel 7 in August 2024. Picture: Supplied

Seven announced on Sunday that Angela Cox will be joining Mark Ferguson to present its nightly news bulletin in Sydney.

The move means 7 now has two news readers presenting the weeknight bulletin in Sydney, Adelaide (Rosanna Mangiarelli and Will Goodings), and Perth (Susannah Carr and Rick Ardon).

The remaining solo presenters are Max Futcher in Brisbane and the iconic and much loved Mitchell in Melbourne.

Rumours have persisted for months that the Melbourne newsroom is set for a freshen up. With changes to newsreading line ups in other states, is Melbourne the next to face change?

A well-placed insider yesterday denied there were any plans to shake up the Melbourne presenting team. It is understood Mitchell, 64, is on a long-term contract as chief news reader.

Maddern was back on air yesterday (Saturday) after her break and Carvalho is soon heading to Sydney on fill in duty while another presenter is on leave.

Seven News presenters – Tim Watson, Peter Mitchell and Jane Bunn

Seven’s national news boss Anthony De Ceglie has made no secret of the fact he is looking for ways to attract new and younger viewers and has shown he is not afraid to make change; look at the introduction of horoscopes and a comedy segment to the news bulletin.

“The truth is, there’s no point being number one if your audience is declining and there is no getting around the fact that the broadcast audience at 6pm for both Seven and Nine is declining,” De Ceglie told the Mumbrella podcast.

“What we need to do is slow the rate of decline, which we have successfully started doing – both us and Nine.

“But the only way we’re going to slow the rate of decline and actually start growing new audiences is by trying things. I don’t want to be in charge of a company which is just clinging on for dear life, (or) to an audience that’s gradually declining. I want to grow our audience.”