Channel Seven has confirmed a controversial change to its TV news bulletins, introducing an astrological report on ‘Astro Tash’, following divisions within the network over a major overhaul following the axing of 150 jobs at the channel.
Several insiders claim there is now a tense atmosphere at the station, with some staff feeling “miserable” and calling in sick to seek work elsewhere, after a new regime came to power and sought to shake things up.
A 20-second astrological report following the weather forecast in the 6pm bulletin and a weekly comedy sketch on Fridays at 6.57pm by Mark Humphries are some of the key changes viewers will notice over the coming week.
According to Daily Mail Australia, morale was already “low” following the Bruce Lehrmann fiasco on the Spotlight show and the firing of veteran reporter Robert Ovadia.
And the raft of new changes implemented following the appointment of new boss Anthony De Ceglie are being viewed with suspicion by some network news insiders, with one critic even describing the changes as “depressing.”
“All the journalistic credibility we’ve worked so hard to build for so many years is being destroyed,” they fumed. “People are devastated. It feels like a funeral here.”
De Ceglie, Seven’s new director of new and current affairs, has now confirmed for the first time that star signs will be part of the revamped weekday news, as has been the case in some newspapers and magazines for decades.
But the new boss hit back at critics, insisting that morale is “great” and that “trying new things” is part of the network’s bold new future.
Seven Network’s new news boss Anthony De Ceglie, pictured with former Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan in 2022, is pushing through changes at Seven, where insiders say the atmosphere is toxic and ‘like a funeral’
Instead, he presented the changes as a long-overdue overhaul of an outdated format that hasn’t changed in decades.
“If people think we’ve been inventive so far, they haven’t seen anything yet,” De Ceglie said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
Seven has been facing a major uproar in recent weeks, sparked by revelations that emerged during the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial.
Spotlight boss Mark Llewellyn left the company after former producer Taylor Auerbach revealed the network had played a role in facilitating cocaine and prostitutes for interviews with Bruce Lehrmann.
The departure of veteran journalist Robert Ovadia came after ABC Four Corners made inquiries into the alleged toxic culture in the Seven newsroom. Ovadia is now suing Seven for wrongful dismissal.
Those leaving – plus many in its digital division – have some journalists worried that many more are to come. Around 150 jobs are set to be cut, with Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard expected to announce cuts to its television and print divisions, sales and marketing teams.
On Tuesday, Seven described the planned redundancies as “unfortunate”, but added: “We will not comment on the details.”
Disgruntled TV workers fear they will be left with no other options if they now allow Seven to work for other TV networks, including Nine, which is also facing budget cuts.
One employee admitted, “There’s no other place you can go.”
Starting this Friday, a comedy spot with Mark Humphries (above) will follow the news hour, a feature that the regular editors dread, along with the rumors about astrology.
Seven also revealed that they will be adding an astrologer to their newsreader roster, with Astro Tash’s Natasha Weber reportedly taking on the new role
De Ceglie – nicknamed ADC – confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that stargazing reports will begin soon and will appear after the night’s weather forecast.
He added that ‘everyone is looking forward to the first Mark Humphries spot next Friday.’
De Ceglie, 38, was appointed director of news and current affairs and editor-in-chief of Seven West Media in May.
His promotion came after five years as editor-in-chief of West Australian Newspapers, during which time News Corp, where he had previously worked, tried to lure him back to a senior position in Sydney.
Veteran 7 newsreader Mark Ferguson (right) will leave his desk during the Paris Olympics, leading some observers to believe he will not return to his decade-long job
Humphries had a comedy show on the ABC program 7.30 and presented the Australian version of the BBC comedy show Pointless, which was cancelled in 2019 after four months.
The presenter himself later revealed that the franchise failed to catch on here because it lacked “the comedy gags” of the British version.
The most controversial of all the Seven redundancy rumours concerns regular newsreader Mark Ferguson.
‘Fergo’ worked for Channel Nine for 17 years, including as a newsreader, before being replaced by Peter Overton due to declining ratings. Since 2014, he has been the presenter of Seven News Sydney on weekday evenings.
Seven won the 2023 national ratings year, with wins in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, but in the key market of Sydney Overton beat Ferguson.
With the Paris Olympics next month, Nine will have the Australian rights and Ferguson will disappear from the screen while De Ceglie tests others on the desk during this ratings disaster.
Following the departures of Spotlight EP Mark Llewellyn (left) and veteran news reporter Robert Ovadia (right), newsroom staff fear they will be next and morale at the network is low
Ferguson is said to be wary of stargazing, but it seems he won’t be reading the constellations, which will only appear 20 seconds after the weather report.
But management had a warning for seasoned reporters fearful of a new kind of variety-show remake of the news: They better get used to it.
“Morale is actually great… and the team is embracing change and the future that lies ahead,” De Ceglie said.
“We’re not going to be afraid to try new things.”