Seven News
| Company type | Division of Seven Network |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television news broadcasting |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Headquarters | South Eveleigh, Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Sean Power (Sydney director) |
| Products | Television news programs |
| Parent | Seven Network |
Seven News (branded as 7NEWS) serves as the television news division of the Seven Network and, as of 2021, holds the position as Australia's most-watched news program.
The network's national newscasts are produced in high definition from studios located in South Eveleigh, Sydney. Its main 6pm bulletins are broadcast statewide from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Tasmania. Additionally, Seven News delivers local weeknight news segments tailored for regional audiences across Queensland, New South Wales (including the ACT), Victoria, and Western Australia.
For international reporting, the service utilizes content sourced from global agencies such as ITN, NBC, CBC, CNN, APTN, and Reuters.
History
Established in 1958 and formerly known under titles like ATVN News and Seven Nightly News, Seven News ranks among Australia's longest-standing television news programs.
In 2003, Peter Meakin—a former news director at Nine Network—joined Seven News to enhance ratings on the east coast by increasing locally focused content. Since 2005, Seven News has maintained its status as the leading national news service for all but three years. This success has been partly attributed to strong lead-ins from popular game shows including Deal or No Deal and The Chase Australia. Between 2007 and 2010, Seven News dominated the 6pm bulletins across Australia's five major cities.
In 2007, Seven News surpassed Nine News in Melbourne's ratings for the first time. From 2008 onwards, ratings between these two networks remained closely contested. After experiencing a decline in 2015—when Seven lost ground on the east coast and in Adelaide—it regained national leadership in 2016 with assistance from The Chase Australia.
July 2016 saw the launch of a Gold Coast bulletin airing at 5:30pm from studios in Surfers Paradise; it initially led its timeslot but eventually fell behind Nine's Gold Coast News. This bulletin was discontinued in November 2024 amid wider restructuring of news operations.
In November 2019, both Adelaide and Perth versions of Today Tonight were cancelled to allow expansion of their respective nightly news broadcasts to one hour.
In 2023, Seven News Sydney moved from its Martin Place location to a custom-built studio at the Australian Technology Park in South Eveleigh. The new facility provides larger space with permanent sets and upgraded technology.
In July 2024, to attract fresh viewers, Seven introduced a horoscope segment alongside a satirical feature called The 6:57 News within its evening bulletins; however, both were discontinued by December 2024 following negative audience feedback.
Sunrise Early News
Broadcasting weekdays at 5am from Seven’s Eveleigh studios, Sunrise Early News delivers updates on news, business, sports, finance, and weather. The program is anchored by Edwina Bartholomew (Monday to Wednesday) and Monique Wright (Thursday to Friday). Originally launched in July 2008 as Seven Early News, it was rebranded after Jodie Speers resigned in March 2024.
Seven's National News at Noon
Airing weekdays at noon from Eveleigh studios and hosted by Natarsha Belling since January 2025 following a rebranding and extension to a full hour. At this time, local editions for Adelaide and Perth were discontinued. Sports segments are presented by Liam Tapper while weather is delivered by Gertie Spurling or Casey Treloar.
Seven Afternoon News (Summer edition)
A nationwide news bulletin broadcast during the local news breaks at 4pm on weekdays, produced from the Eveleigh studios. Currently, Ann Sanders hosts from Monday to Thursday, with Sally Bowrey presenting on Fridays. Launched amid the 2003 Iraq conflict under the name Target Iraq, the bulletin has undergone multiple format and location changes before adopting its present format.
Seven News Updates
Brief, localized news segments air throughout afternoons and evenings across various states, delivering breaking news coverage from either Eveleigh or Melbourne studios.
Seven News at 5
This weekend news program is shown every Saturday and Sunday at 5pm from Sydney studios. Hugh Whitfeld anchors on Saturdays and Angie Asimus on Sundays, with sports segments by Matt Carmichael (Saturday) and Mel McLaughlin (Sunday). The Sunday edition does not broadcast during the AFL season in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. The Adelaide version began in 2021, featuring Elspeth Hussey and Gertie Spurling as presenters.
Afternoon news
In major cities, local one-hour editions of Seven Afternoon News gradually replaced the national bulletin: Melbourne and Brisbane in August 2015; Adelaide in July 2017; Perth expanded its previous half-hour edition to a full hour simultaneously. Sydney’s edition is produced at Eveleigh studios with Ann Sanders as the weekday presenter.
Melbourne’s broadcast comes from Docklands studios with Peter Mitchell anchoring weeknights; Brisbane’s edition is based at Mount Coot-tha studios with presenting duties shared by Katrina Blowers and Samantha Heathwood; Adelaide broadcasts from Hindmarsh studios with Mike Smithson and Elspeth Hussey hosting; Perth’s weather updates are delivered by Samantha Jolly from Osborne Park studios.
Sydney
Produced under the direction of Sean Power at Eveleigh headquarters. Weeknight presenters include Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox, while weekends feature Michael Usher and Angie Asimus. Sports segments are presented by Mel McLaughlin or Matt Carmichael; weather forecasts are delivered by Angie Asimus or Amber Laidler. This bulletin is also simulcast to regional NSW and ACT areas.
Following years of trailing behind Nine and Ten in Sydney ratings, strategic moves such as relocating to Martin Place studios in 2004 helped increase viewership. Presenter line-ups have evolved over time: Ian Ross remained until 2009, Chris Bath until 2014, Mark Ferguson took over from 2014, Melissa Doyle departed in 2016, Michael Usher joined from 2016 onwards, with further adjustments continuing up to the present day.
Melbourne
Weeknight broadcasts are anchored by Peter Mitchell from Docklands studios; weekend editions are hosted by Mike Amor or Karina Carvalho. Sports coverage is led by Rebecca Maddern, while meteorologist Jane Bunn handles weather reports. Although Seven briefly led Melbourne ratings after 2007 following years behind Nine Melbourne and Ten Melbourne, it has since slipped back in rankings.
Brisbane
Max Futcher anchors weeknights alongside Sarah Greenhalgh (starting October 2024), with Samantha Heathwood presenting on weekends. Sports are covered by Steve Titmus or Ben Davis; weather forecasts are provided by Tony Auden or Michelle Jensen. This bulletin is also simulcast across regional Queensland via Seven Central affiliates.
Adelaide
Weeknight editions are anchored by Rosanna Mangiarelli alongside Will Goodings, while weekend broadcasts are presented by Mike Smithson. Sports segments feature Mark Soderstrom, and weather updates are delivered by Amelia Mulcahy. The broadcasts are produced at the Hindmarsh studios and simulcast to regional areas throughout South Australia.
Perth
Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr host the weeknight news, with Angela Tsun and Tim McMillan taking over on weekends. Ryan Daniels handles sports coverage, while Samantha Jolly presents the weather during weekdays and Charlotte Goodlet on weekends. These programs are produced at Osborne Park studios and simulcast across regional Western Australia.
Regional Queensland
At 6pm on weeknights, local news is broadcast across seven regions: Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Wide Bay, Toowoomba/Darling Downs, Sunshine Coast, and Rockhampton. Joanne Desmond serves as the primary presenter with Nathan Spurling co-anchoring selected editions. Most bulletins are pre-recorded at Maroochydore studios, except for the Sunshine Coast edition which is aired live.
Regional New South Wales
Weeknight local news airs at 6pm across five areas: Albury/Border, Wagga Wagga/Riverina, Central West (Dubbo/Orange), North Coast (Coffs Harbour/Port Macquarie/Taree), and Northern Rivers/Tamworth/New England. Madelaine Collignon and Nick Hose present from Canberra’s CBN studios for pre-recorded editions, while the North Coast bulletin is broadcast live from Canberra.
Regional Western Australia
Seven News Regional WA is broadcast live weeknights at 5:30pm from Bunbury newsroom with Noel Brunning as presenter supported by a rotating team of weather reporters. Following the acquisition of GWN7 brand assets, production control has been centralized at the Canberra headquarters. The bulletin precedes Seven News Perth.
Tasmania (Nightly News)
Starting July 2025 after the purchase of Southern Cross Austereo’s Seven-affiliated stations, Nightly News will air nightly at 6pm from TNT studios in Launceston. Kim Millar presents on weekdays with various presenters rotating over weekends.
Sunrise
This weekday morning program broadcasts live from Eveleigh studios between 5:30am and 9am. It combines human interest features with national news updates every half hour. Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington co-host alongside Edwina Bartholomew (news), Mark Beretta (sport), and Sam Mac (weather).
Weekend Sunrise
The weekend edition airs live from Eveleigh studios on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am to 10am, maintaining a format similar to the weekday show. Monique Wright and David Woiwod anchor the program with Sally Bowrey delivering news and sport updates and James Tobin providing weather reports.
The 6:57pm News
A satirical comedy segment led by Mark Humphries that aired Fridays immediately following the main evening bulletin from mid-2024 until December of that year.
Seven News Gold Coast
Launched in July 2016 as a local half-hour bulletin aimed at the Gold Coast audience to compete with Nine Gold Coast News. Produced from Surfers Paradise studios, Rod Young was the original anchor until retiring in 2021 when Steve Titmus took over. Weekend bulletins ended in November 2017; the entire service was discontinued in November 2024 due to operational restructuring.
Seven News at 7
A weeknight news bulletin broadcast on the secondary channel '7TWO' from August 2013 until April 2014, featuring Melissa Doyle as the national presenter, alongside a distinct Western Australia edition anchored locally.
Today Tonight
A tabloid-style current affairs show airing weeknights at 6:30 pm immediately after the primary news bulletins. Local versions were previously produced for Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne until the program was discontinued in the early to mid-2010s, coinciding with the extension of main news programming.
Sunday Night
An investigative journalism-focused current affairs show broadcast Sunday evenings at 8:30 pm, hosted by Melissa Doyle, which was eventually cancelled.
The Latest: Seven News
A late-night news program airing around or after 10 pm, primarily presented from Perth studios since the early 2020s. The bulletin is scheduled for cancellation in January 2025 as the network reallocates resources within its news department.
Disclosure of David Campbell’s Sexuality
In 2010, Seven News, under news director Peter Meakin and reporter Adam Walters, faced significant criticism for broadcasting a report that publicly revealed New South Wales Transport Minister David Campbell’s homosexuality. Campbell resigned following surveillance footage showing him exiting a gay bathhouse. Former NSW Premier Barrie Unsworth criticized Campbell for frequenting locations where he was easily identified. The story sparked backlash from politicians and competing media outlets questioning its relevance to public interest. Michael Kirby condemned the coverage as "pathetic snooping" and "naked homophobia."
Seven initially defended the report by alleging improper use of Campbell’s ministerial vehicle; however, this claim was disproven since NSW ministers are permitted private use of their cars. The Australian Communications and Media Authority reviewed Seven’s actions but accepted the network’s argument that Campbell’s conduct rendered him "vulnerable to compromise or blackmail."
Young Achiever Awards
The 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards, administered by Awards Australia and sponsored by 7News, celebrate and highlight accomplishments of individuals aged 29 and under. Separate ceremonies are held for New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, each supported by regional co-sponsors.
Founded in 1989, Awards Australia also organizes Young Achiever Awards in Tasmania and Northern Territory, along with Community Achievement Awards across all Australian states and territories. Over time, the awards have seen various sponsors; for instance, in South Australia they were previously backed by the Nine Network (2004–2018) and known as the "Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year" Awards.