Chris Bath steps back from Seven News to concentrate on Sunday Night role
Seven looks set for an overhaul to its current affairs division with Sydney news anchor Chris Bath stepping back from the role to concentrate on Sunday Night, to be replaced by Mark Ferguson.
Bath has hosted the 6pm Sydney bulletin for the last four years as well as taking a lead on the “flagship” Sunday Night show, which is expected to be expanded, while speculation mounts the station will launch an hour-long news bulletin and drop Today Tonight.
Ferguson presents the weekend news bulletins, but will take over from tonight on the Monday to Thursday bulletins, with Bath hosting Friday and Saturday night news, and Sunday Night, Seven has confirmed.
Speculation around an overhaul was fuelled last week when the station announced Helen Kapalos was moving to be a reporter on Sunday Night after presenting Today Tonight, with the show also picking up former Channel Nine chief of staff Denham Hitchcock.
Today Tonight has already been cut to 20 minutes in Sydney and Melbourne as Seven looks to claw back ratings from nine in those markets, with speculation rife it will copy its rival in moving to an hour-long bulletin across the country and cut the show from its schedule.
Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner said: “The appointment of Chris to this new role will see the development of the next phrase of her distinguished career. Sunday Night is the flagship program from our News and Public Affairs division, hosted by Chris since the first edition five years ago.
“Chris is a big part of the success of the program and is perfectly placed to lead Sunday Night into its expanded series in 2014.
“It’s a mark of the depth of skill and ability inside the Seven News team that we have a news reader of the calibre of Mark Ferguson to take up the reins from Chris. Mark’s news gathering experience at home and abroad perfectly qualify him for this new role.”
Director of news Rob Raschke added: “Chris Bath is peerless when it comes to covering breaking news, and she will continue to play a central role in this for the network.
“Mark is an immensely experienced journalist and presenter who has covered some of the biggest stories in the world. He’s held in very high regard by those who work with him and those who compete against him.”
Seven has today announced it has secured broadcast rights to The Masters golf tournament in April, where Australian Adam Scott will be looking to defend the title he won last year.
Big mistake! Chris Bath is 7NEWS. Now I can permanently switch to 9NEWS where visually it is more appealing, the reporting is stronger and the production qualities are just better.
Chris was dogged by poor promotion, the lead-in, quality of reporting and lack of resources.
Didn’t watch Mark over the summer period and won’t now.. goodbye 7NEWS.
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First sensible thing 7 has done for ages. Mark Ferguson should have been in the chair a long time ago . Chris Bath is terrific on Sunday Night but as a news reader she always looked uncomfortable. Seven should also not allow their News readers to go on Dancing With The Stars . You reckon 9 would allow that to happen – no way .
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Seven have forced me to switch to Nine News. Ferguson was overlooked for the top job at Nine because he didn’t resonate with audiences. He still doesn’t. Chris Bath has been used as a scapegoat. Woeful production, tabloid stories and a terrible lead in are the reasons for the drop in ratings, not the anchor. Seven best brace themselves for a further decline over the coming months.
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Terrible mistake taking Chris Bath off the news she is an amazing lady who has taken the 7 News to high standards and will be sorely missed
Love Mark Ferguson but he was better doing the weekend and holidays news and he did join after Chris was there so ….please re consider
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I watch 7 News every night, but I had to go searching to find out what has happened to Chris Bath. I had a sneaking suspicion, from what I had read in the Sunday Telegraph stating that rumours had it that Chris was being replaced by Mark Ferguson.
Chris Bath is one of the most professional News Readers, it seems that being a woman has gone against her.
It’s a shame that Channel 7 handled it in such a way as to sweep the announcement under the carpet. Shame on you Channel 7.
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We are very disappointed in Chris’ departure from weeknight news. She is very personable and friendly and has a good rapport with the audience. Mark Ferguson just doesn’t have the same charisma.
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I have been wondering where Chris Bath was and have just found out via the internet that she has been replaced by Mark Ferguson. Shame, shame, shame on you Channel 7 you’ve lost me for good, I’m switching to Channel 9 news.
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ITS GREAT MARK IS PROMOTED. HIS VOICE IS EXCELLENT ON TOP OF HIS RHYTHEM OF READING NEWS FANTASTIC.
CONGRAULATIONS MARK. WELL DONE CH 7
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I am horrified to learn Chris has gone. I only ever watched seven news because of Chris. She has always brought the human touch. Sorry mark, you are okay but no Chris
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Shame! Shame! Shame! channel seven. How low can you go Chris Bath just swept under the carpet. I have only found out today as I was wondering where she had gone and had to go searching
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Swept under the carpet?? Is it because you weren’t personally called and told?? Grow up!
I love Chris on Sunday night and been a Mark fan for years!! Congrats to both going forward
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Very disappointed Chris Bath has been replaced on 7 nightly news not keen on
Mark Ferguson at all much prefer Chris Very disappointed I have always been a Channel 7 viewer
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About time I have found that Chris Bath has not been as good since her Dancing with the Stars stint and with Jim Wilson co-sharing I did not think they worked well. Chris seems to have been allowing to much of her person opinions to come through when reporting the news and it was rather off-putting, but she was great on the Sunday Night.
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Glad to know what happened to Chris Bath, why was there no announcement one night she was there then poof she’s gone. Good to know you are still doing weekends & the Sunday program. I will miss the banter between you & Jim you 2 are so lovely together. Mark Ferguson will fill your shoes well I do enjoy watching him too. Glad to see Helen Kapalos has gone with Today Tonight I found her very cold. Keep doing well channel 7 best Sydney news.
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Chris Bath is just amazing and my husband and I always that that Tony Squires and Chris were a great team. Not sure what 7 is thinking but Chris has done something very personal and special for my family When my father died Chris was advised by a family member and she phone my mother (they had been married over 60 years) and she took quite some time to speak with my mother. My mother was a very big fan of Chris because she is so genuine. She didn’t have to do that but she did and that shows how genuien she is. Channel 7 news has a lot to work on now. Wtched it religiously with Chris but now no more dedication to 7. Will just flick channels to see what appeals. Your loss 7. Mark Ferfuson is nice but loved Chris.
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Like so many other people, I had to go searching to find the reason for Chris Bath not presenting the news….and again, like those other people will now turn to 9 news. Mark Ferguson is Ok but too bland plus he dyes his hair, I prefer people to be natural and then they are more believable.
Today Tonight was a waste of time, didn’t really like Helen Kapalos’ style so used to do other things or switch to another channel at that time.
So until (and unless) Chris Bath returns to 7 news I’ll be found watching other channels.
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I just found this website when searching to find out why Chris wasn’t reading the news. I’m really, really disappointed that she’s been replaced. She’s the best news reader ever. I haven’t even told my Mum yet as she’ll be devastated.
Chris and Jim work so well together and were great to watch. They made a unique team. Because of this, and the axing of Today Tonight, I’ll be switching to 9 for the 6pm to 7pm time slot.
Big mistake Chanel 7!!!
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Chris Bath brought a breath of fresh air to Channel 7 news – she was (and still is) “Simply the Best” but now she no longer reads the news from Sunday to Thursday my family will be watching the news on another channel. Mark Ferguson wasn’t very popular when he read the news on nine as he was replaced after only a short time, so what does that tell you. Chris and Jim Wilson work so well together. Still can’t believe the powers that be at channel 7 replaced Chris Bath on the nightly news………………………………….BIG, BIG, BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!!!!! Hope your ratings for the nightly news plummet.
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Loved loved Chris Bath reading the news so genuine I looked forward to seeing her every night. So good to see her and Jim Wilson working together Iwont be watching Chanel 7 anymore switching to channel 9 news .hope you don’t take her off Sunday Night
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Sorry not to see you reading the news Chris Bath. I really enjoyed your style and genuine empathy when reporting a human or particularly tragic news story. I look forward to watching you on Sunday Night but you will be sadly missed during the week.
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