‘Just getting started’: Horoscopes added in bid for more eyes on Seven’s news bulletin
Seven is taking a more light-hearted approach to the evening news. Photo: TND
Seven has confirmed its latest bid to shake up its nightly news bulletin will take a page from newspapers and magazines with the introduction of an astrology segment.
Reports emerged this week that Natasha Weber, known as AstroTash, is set to deliver horoscopes as part of Seven’s 6pm evening news.
Weber will reportedly produce a 20-second, infographic-based presentation to be aired after the weather forecast.
Although AstroTash is already a resident astrologer for Seven’s The Morning Show, the addition to a serious evening news bulletin is unusual. The reports were quickly met by critics.
One X user wrote they were “beyond disappointed” in the change, while another posted they had thought the announcement was a joke.
On Wednesday, Melbourne 3AW Mornings host Tom Elliott labelled astrology a “load of rubbish”, while NewsFlash Media co-founder and former Seven news director Steve Carey said including astrology in the news bulletin was a “huge risk”.
“My firm view is that brand reputation and trust are the cornerstones of news, and when you mess with that, you mess with the formula,” Carey said.
“On the flip-side, you’ve got an hour news, and news shouldn’t be all heavy. We’ve got so much heavy news at the moment, so sometimes putting it after weather, is it really such a bad thing, 20 seconds?
“For me personally, I would prefer more news … We all have the ability to do one big thing with commercial TV news … if I’m not happy, I turn off.”
News bulletin additions come amid job cuts
New Seven West Media director of news and current affairs ,and editor-in-chief Anthony De Ceglie seems to be standing by the change.
He told News Corp that the network was exploring ideas to “bring in new audiences so that we can showcase them this journalism”.
“We’re not going to be afraid to innovate and we’re only just getting started,” he said.
“One thing that will never change is our absolute commitment to telling the stories that matter to our viewers.”
Comedy, horoscopes … circus acts?
The decision comes as part of a raft of eyebrow-raising changes made since De Ceglie replaced Craig McPherson, who resigned in April amid the fallout over a 2023 Spotlight interview with Bruce Lehrmann.
In June, satirical comedian Mark Humphries was reported as an addition to Seven’s nightly news bulletin, following the end of his satirical sketch segment for ABC’s 7.30 last year.
There are also reports De Ceglie plans to insert live in-studio circus tricks, stand-up comedy routines, and songs from some pop artists to the traditionally-straightforward evening news bulletin.
While Seven’s prime-time news bulletin has been edging out its main rival Nine in recent ratings, the network has joined others in mass layoffs in recent weeks.
Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes revealed in June that the company was seeking to save $100 million. Some of the first steps include 150 job cuts and reconfiguring operations into three divisions.
