EXCLUSIVE: The Seven Network looks set to increase its investment in news content across Australia with the introduction of a new late-night news service this month.
THE LATEST: SEVEN NEWS is set to premiere on Wednesday 19th December. The new 30-minute bulletin will premiere on the same night as Seven’s opening Big Bash clash, the network hoping to make the most of an expected massive audience tuning in to see Brisbane Heat take on the Adelaide Strikers.
Seven is yet to confirm details regarding the experimental new bulletin, however DeciderTV understands THE LATEST will air 7 nights per week across the summer from Seven’s Martin Place studios in Sydney.
Michael Usher will take the role of lead presenter, with the network budgeting for a journalist working late in each of the major cities across the country.
The executive producer for THE LATEST will be Sean Power. The young producer who previously worked on Nine’s 60 Minutes is highly regarded Seven’s Director of News and Public Affairs, Craig McPherson.
Announcing the new bulletin, McPherson said: “The time is right to have a nightly news programme post 6pm. The Latest will be exactly what the title says. Big stories of the day develop throughout the night and many stories are breaking. We’ll be live to wherever we need to be. It will be a destination for Australians to get the very latest on the happenings at home and abroad as well as digging deeper on key issues.”
THE LATEST: SEVEN NEWS will be the networks biggest investment in late-night news since axing its previous late bulletin in 2003.
Late night news was once a hotly contested timeslot, however in recent times commercial broadcasters have been reluctant to invest in local programming past 9:30pm. Seven has only been producing a 3-minute update for its viewers. TEN hasn’t had a late bulletin since 2014, while Nine aired its final Nightline bulletin in 2010.
The LATEST: SEVEN NEWS will launch at 10pm on Wednesday 19 December, straight after the first Big Bash League clash, LIVE on Seven and 7PLUS.
Co-Creator and Editor of the TV Blackbox website, Kevin Perry is an experienced media commentator focused on TV Production, Consumer Tech, SVOD & Sports Broadcasting.
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