If you’re a fan of comedian Mark Humphries, you might be disappointed to hear that his Friday comedy news spot on Seven News has been axed.
The segment, called The 6.57pm News, was supposed to bring some laughs and younger viewers to the channel’s 6pm bulletin, but it just didn’t work out.
What Went Wrong?
The 6.57pm News was launched just six months ago, and it was meant to be a game-changer for Seven News.
Hosted by Mark Humphries, who previously worked on ABC’s 7.30, the segment was supposed to poke fun at the week’s newsmakers and major events.
However, it faced criticism from the start, both from within the network and from external sources.
The Sports Segment Saga
One of the main concerns was that The 6.57pm News would replace the sports segment on Friday nights, which is a big deal for Seven since they have the broadcast rights to the AFL and cricket.
The sports news segment is a great way for the channel to promote their sports coverage, especially on the eve of big weekend matches.
The Cost of Comedy
There were also worries about the cost of hiring Mark Humphries and a team of comedy writers, especially since Seven had recently axed some of its news staff.
It seemed like a luxury the channel couldn’t afford, and the lukewarm ratings and general audience ambivalence didn’t help.
What’s Next for Mark Humphries?
Don’t worry, Mark Humphries fans! He’ll still be working with Seven in the short term, and he’s expected to play a role in the channel’s coverage of the upcoming Federal election.
However, it’s unclear what his future holds beyond that.
A Pattern of Failed Experiments?
The failure of The 6.57pm News isn’t the only experiment that hasn’t worked out for Seven News. Remember that astrology segment hosted by Natasha Weber? Yeah, that got ditched too.
The channel is now trying out a new segment called Bright Side, which aims to lighten the mood and promote some of their other shows, like Dancing with the Stars.
Fingers crossed it’ll work out better than the last two attempts!