Today Tonight dilemma for Seven | @Channel7

The possible return of TODAY TONIGHT to the TV screens of east coast viewers has been the source of much speculation this year.

Ever since TV news guru Craig McPherson returned to lead Seven’s news division in October it has been widely expected that a return for TT would be the logical next step.

As one leading TV insider said to this website last night,

“Craig will definitely be trying to make it happen but it’s about $s”

The latest round of rumours went into overdrive yesterday with talk Nine’s Today Show host Karl Stefanovic was about to jump ship to host Today Tonight on Seven. The story went that a frustrated Karl was keen for a move to primetime and had been offered the role of anchor for Seven’s Olympic coverage as a sweetener.

While introducing reports on ‘dodgy butchers’ for Today Tonight would be considered a promotion compared with hosting the train wreck that is THE VERDICT, DeciderTV can confirm Karl Stefanovic will be part of the Nine stable in 2016 with a lucrative new contract in the final stages of negotiation this week.

A CURRENT AFFAIR has experienced a ratings surge since the east coast axing of Today Tonight in early 2014. Many within Seven would dearly love to return TT, but its not an easy decision. Much has changed in the TV landscape in the last two years, and the dilemma now for Seven is should they the cutback the more cost effective one hour news bulletins and give TT a thirty minute head start on ACA, or should the declining Home and Away be moved to a multichannel so that TT and ACA can engage in a 7pm showdown – a move that would instantly halve the audience for H&A.

Adding to Seven’s pressure around the decision are declining audiences for Today Tonight in Adelaide. While the public affairs show remains in an unbeaten position since 2007 the margin between it and Nine’s 6:30pm News is slimmer than ever, and to see that record broken would be a PR disaster.

Seven might be better off investing in real news.