Sydney news anchor Mark Ferguson has reduced his role from five nights to four behind the desk at Seven, joined by co-anchor Angela Cox. The pair have stepped away from the Thursday 6pm bulletin, passing it to Michael Usher and Angie Asimus.
New Weekly Lineup
Ferguson, 60, and Cox now anchor the news from Sunday through Wednesday. This adjustment aims to refresh the end-of-week programming and draw more viewers in the intense ratings competition with Nine.
Network sources indicate the shift strengthens the weekend team’s presence during the week, boosting overall performance. “It gives the weekend team a bit more weight and presence during the week, which helps on weekends,” one source stated. “This isn’t a demotion for anyone. It’s more about flexibility and making the overall line-up feel stronger and even more competitive across the full week.”
Early Ratings Success
Seven already reports positive results. A recent extended bulletin hosted by Michael Usher and Mark Riley averaged 1.216 million viewers across Seven and 7plus from 7pm to 7:30pm, topping its timeslot and outperforming A Current Affair’s 1.181 million by 3 percent.
Background on Changes
The move follows rumors late last year that Ferguson might scale back amid cost pressures and rivalry with Channel Nine. Insiders suggest he accepted a pay reduction to help ease financial strain. “It sounds like Mark has taken a pay reduction,” a source noted. “Revenue is down, so that’s what happens and Mark wouldn’t be in a position to refuse.”
In December, a network spokesperson stated no announcement had been made to newsroom staff. Details on the exact schedule, such as Sunday to Wednesday or Monday to Thursday, were unclear at the time.
