The Seven Network has bid farewell to its Martin Place window, a broadcasting icon nestled in Sydney’s vibrant CBD for the past 19 years.
This week sees the news and public affairs division of the station began its transition to a state-of-the-art newsroom and studios located at South Eveleigh.
Mark Ferguson, the anchor for 7NEWS Sydney, inaugurated the broadcasting from the new studio on Monday evening, with The Latest following at 11.00pm.
The transition of the 7NEWS team to the new studios this week signifies the beginning of a phase that will see Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise, and The Morning Show make their move over the next month. This marks a pivotal chapter in the Seven Network’s history as it embraces modernity and technological advancements in its operations.
The high-tech facility, spanning two floors of Seven’s head office, will house the network’s complete news operation. This includes 7NEWS, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Latest, 7NEWS Spotlight, and 7NEWS.com.au. The move brings together the network’s Sydney-based broadcast and operational staff for the first time in four decades.
The newly developed studio space is five times larger than the previous Martin Place location. It allows for permanent sets for all programs, features two complete control rooms, and boasts over 40 square metres of LED screens. All newsroom operations will now be consolidated on a separate entire floor.
The relocation is part of a significant transformation project of Seven’s headquarters that has been ongoing for the past two years.
Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said:
“Today marks the beginning of a landmark chapter in Seven’s history. For the first time in over 40 years, we’re uniting our entire Sydney operation under one roof.
“Martin Place has served as an exceptional home for us but as we aim to unite even more Australians across our much-loved news and public affairs content, our transition to the purpose-built, state-of-the-art studio space in South Eveleigh is a pivotal move.
“7NEWS’s relocation to South Eveleigh marks the start of this exciting phase and we look forward to Sunrise and The Morning Show joining our cutting-edge, new location soon.”
Network Director of News and Public Affairs, Craig McPherson, said:
“Since first turning the lights on at Martin Place on August 30, 2004, Seven’s News and Public Affairs team has broadcast a mammoth 70,000 hours of television from the Martin Place studio. Hundreds of careers started there, as did programs. Not all lasted but the constant demand for the content never wavered. It was a wonderful workplace for all of us, but it had served its time.
“Today marks a new beginning for 7NEWS. Monday, 26 June 2023 will be the first night our flagship 6.00pm bulletin will beam across Sydney from the state-of-the-art South Eveleigh studio. A big thanks to James and the Board for supporting and investing in the new home for Seven’s News and Public Affairs operation.
“It is a world class facility. Floors two and five are purpose-made for functionality with the studios and control rooms on the second floor. The space on the studio floor – five times bigger than Martin Place – allows our sets to remain intact, unlike Martin Place where the small alleyway of studio floor required the constant bumping sets in and out, morning and night. You will see the difference that makes on-air. And the entire editorial teams on floor five, for the first time, assembled on one floor.
“This is Stage One of a two-stage process with Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and The Morning Show still broadcasting from Martin Place. They will join their 7NEWS and Seven Network colleagues in Eveleigh at the end of July when the new beginning will be truly underway.”
