Whispers about possible changes at 7News Melbourne

While the jungle drums have all been about the changes in the footy media landscape, there has also been plenty of whispers about what 7News Melbourne will look like moving forward.

There is nothing quite like Grand Final week to get the conversations started on TV network musical chairs.

Because we all know Melbourne bigwigs like to talk, and when there are a few frothies, or 10, involved at the countless AFL soaked lunches, not to mention Monday’s Brownlow Medal count, so too loose lips.

Which is just where Page 13 likes to ruminate.

While the jungle drums have all been about the shake up in the footy media landscape with Seven poaching talent after talent from asleep at the wheel Nine, there has also been plenty of whispers about what 7News Melbourne will look like moving forward.

Talk of a fresh two-person nightly news is being bandied about, but word is it is unlikely to get off the whiteboard in 2025.

But what does all this mean for well-respected head anchor Peter Mitchell?

The ghost of former Melbourne boss Lewis Martin lives on in the form of a long-term costly contract he happily signed to Mitchell well before he exited earlier this year.

There could be changes on the way for the team at 7News Melbourne.

Seven’s plans of a “new era” to be complete next year are being pooh-poohed for now, with lunching TV types saying Mitchell will live on in 2025.

A bounce back in the prized 6pm news bulletin ratings to Seven from Nine post Olympics hasn't’ hurt either.

New addition to the Seven line-up, Karina Carvalho, is at the centrepiece of the bold change with two options again on the whiteboard for a future wingman, reporter Blake Johnson and the network’s new flavour of the month, US Bureau chief David Woiwod.

Newsreader Karina Carvalho is considered “rolled gold” by new executives.

One such loose-lipped insider told us Carvalho is considered rolled gold by new executives who have been watching closely since she signed on in late July, with the ratings proving she is a winner.

The dominoes have started to fall with long-time sports reader Tim Watson announcing he would be leaving at the end of the year.

This has opened up an opportunity to shuffle Rebecca Maddern, who currently reads the weekend news alongside Mike Amor, into the nightly sports chair.

Like what happened at rival Channel 9 when they moved on veteran newsreader Peter Hitchener, pushing him to the weekend and installing Alicia Loxley and Tom Steinfort to Monday-Friday, the Seven hierarchy is said to be considering a similar outcome.

US Bureau chief David Woiwod is the network’s new flavour of the month.

But it’s understood Mitchell, who has been the chief news presenter of Seven News Melbourne since 2000, has made it clear he isn’t keen on weekend reading and the length of his costly contract clouding the situation.

This time last year Mitchell was in his element as a diehard Pies supporter, signing off on the 6pm News wearing a Collingwood guernsey.

Leading the “new era” is new Seven news boss Anthony De Ceglie who has installed a fresh face, Chris Salter, as the Melbourne boss after the departure of Shaun Menegola. And we hear Salter is not afraid to ruffle feathers among his newsreaders.

And quickly back to Carvalho, any thoughts of a star-crossed relationship between Seven and Nine are no longer, with the newsreader and Nine sports journalist Sam McClure understood to have parted ways.