In a grand reveal on Thursday evening, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inaugurated Seven Network’s cutting-edge newsroom and studio space in Sydney.
Located across two levels of the South Eveleigh head office, this revamped facility will serve as the nucleus for Seven’s Sydney and national news functions.
Programs including 7NEWS, Sunrise, The Morning Show, and 7NEWS Spotlight will emanate from here, marking the first time in 40 years that Seven’s Sydney-centric operational and broadcasting teams are housed under one roof.
The event garnered attention, with the NSW Premier Christopher Minns, Ministers John Graham and Tanya Plibersek, Seven West Media’s top-tier officials – Chairman Kerry Stokes AC and CEO James Warburton – in attendance.
Sunrise’s Natalie Barr and 7NEWS’s Mark Ferguson played hosts, joined by notable faces like Sonia Kruger of Big Brother, Dancing With The Stars, and The Voice, as well as stars from Home and Away and The Morning Show.
Departing from their 19-year old Martin Place hub, Seven’s news and public affairs segment is now amidst a transformative phase at their headquarters. This new, expansive studio, boasting dimensions fivefold to Martin Place, integrates permanent sets, dual control rooms, and an expanse of over 40m² adorned with LED screens.
Commenting on the transformation, PM Anthony Albanese lauded the network’s adaptability and innovation. He highlighted Seven’s achievement in broadcasting each Matildas match, applauding them for their stellar presentation, ensuring fans nationwide felt connected.
“This new home showcases Seven’s unwavering commitment to being an integral part of Australia’s narrative,” Albanese expressed.
NSW Premier, Christopher Minns, commended Seven for their substantial dedication to journalism and Australian stories.
“This isn’t just a studio; it’s a cradle for the next-gen journalists, a haven for nurturing Australian tales and traditions,” Minns observed.
Kerry Stokes took a moment to reflect on Seven’s journey, emphasising the trust the nation places in them. “It’s a mutual bond, decades in the making,” he said, also mentioning 7plus, the network’s digital extension, as pivotal for future growth.
CEO James Warburton stated that the evening symbolised more than a mere inauguration. It represented a commitment to news and lauded the Albanese Government’s push for legislation to enhance local TV’s visibility on connected devices, pivotal for trusted local news’ survival.
Craig McPherson, Seven’s Network Director of News and Public Affairs, emphasized news and public affairs’ integral role in moulding television networks.
“Our responsibility is to be a beacon of trusted news, especially during challenging times. We’re the go-to for Australians, delivering almost 9,000 hours annually of news and public affairs, free of cost. It’s embedded in our essence,”
Sorry but what is so special about this, it’s just another TV studio for Sydney-centric production, co-located with the “headquarters”…
More importantly, gone are days where Seven was a powerhouse of local television production, especially at BTQ7 Brisbane. Mount Coot-tha had some very impressive operations in Nine, Ten and Seven back in the day. This new Seven Sydney studio is nothing impressive despite the “future-ready”, “nucleus” and “cutting-edge” lingo.
The move from Martin Place as an engaging backdrop/community interface for the national morning programs is totally retrograde. Just my opinion….
Curt Schuurman Agree with you 100% I worked at 7 and 2 in the day. Barely an opportunity these days. All produced elsewhere apart from news and I can’t see that happening for much longer. The ABC has nearly empty monoliths in the Branch states.
Future ready 😂 that would mean the vision switcher could see what’s going to line 100% of the time !
Wonder if Kerry got a tour of where all the Packer Wackers are located just incase more of his employees decided to collapse on the same day in at Redfern as was the case in 2021 ?
😬