Five years after the east coast edition of TODAY TONIGHT was axed, the Seven network has ultimately decided to have consistent programming across the country and has decided to axe the Perth and Adelaide edition of the current affairs program.
in October TV Blackbox revealed the future of the two state based programs was under review when we reported;
we can confirm the future of Today Tonight editions airing in Adelaide and Perth are currently being reviewed, as part of wider-report on all network programming.
That review has seen the network swing the axe with the final editions to screen this week, Adelaide Thursday 28 November, Perth on Friday.
While still dominating their timeslot, ratings for TT had been declining, while 1-hour news is doing better in other states.
In a statement from Perth, Director of News and Public Affairs, Craig McPherson said:
“For 25 years Today Tonight has dominated in Perth and Adelaide. Producing more than 25,000 stories reflecting the good, the bad and everything in between of their constantly growing markets. To end such a successful reign has been one of the toughest decisions but a necessary one as the audiences shift and change along with the economics. I want to thank all both past and present Today Tonighters. Always committed. Always passionate.”
The axing of Today Tonight in addition to Sunday Night means Seven no longer has a prime time current affairs vehicle. Speaking to TV Blackbox, McPherson tells us this won’t necessarily always be the case;
“It’s disappointing but doesn’t mean that will be the state of play forever,
“It doesn’t mean we won’t get into the public affairs space in future”
But McPherson says there are no immediate plans and Today Tonight will not return in any format, including a national edition.
The news was broken on twitter by Mark Gibson who said;
I’m enormously proud of our little show and the stories we have produced in the 11+ years that I’ve been a part of it
After 25 years, @TodayTonightWA has been axed. I’m enormously proud of our little show and the stories we have produced in the 11+ years that I’ve been a part of it. @SevenPerth #riptt
— Mark Gibson (@markgibbo) November 26, 2019
Some staff will be redeployed into the Adelaide and Perth newsrooms as the network reverts to a one hour format from Monday 2 December.
Just goes to show that Sydney-based TV execs will never learn. 7 Sydney did the same thing to 7 Brisbane’s State Affair in 1987 and the ratings for the 6pm hour plummeted from twenties to sixes and sevens allowing 9 to take the lead and dominate the market for years.