Major changes for Seven's newsroom "We want to develop a (Channel Nine's promotional ATN-7 HAS spent almost of ma- logo is an example of the half a million dollars in a concept authoritative, Smith said. "I've almost three-dimensional massive re-vamp of its news- ture news," tried to recruit a team of ma- video art). room. TV Smith also said The change begins on ture on-air journalists. changes seems orientated would be in store fo the Monday, October 5 and co- news today news ser- incides with the departure of toward youth which can give station's late-night "It will be stalwart Roger Climpson as a naive image. vice, Newsnight. said. dual newsreader. Current co "Our new look will be un- tightened," he reader Ross Symonds will like anything seen before on "But that's not a priority Australian television. We'll now. We will make take over as chief presenter. right business-like subtle to turn it into No fewer than 10 new reinforce a changes so viewers can look the best news ser- journalists will appear along authority late-night television. with a new studio set and toward us as an authoritative vice on Sydney CU

- ADAMS various technical advances. news coverage. CLAY Vincent Smith Seven has also installed a The change is part of Seven's plan to overtake Channel new visual computer to pro- describes Nine in the news rating vide, as Smith SURVEY BOOST TO SPOUT stakes. them, "stunning" pictures. find 6.5 of the Among the new faces to "It will make our pictures AUSTRALIANS ARE taking only percent market. arrive are former 4-Corners look even better," he said. a greater interest in sport viewing journalist Kerry O'Brien, "Exactly how is still a bit of a today, but from the comfort Soccer however shares a cost consistent market in Perth man Jim Cannon, ABC secret." The computer of their own living room. viewing journalist Michelle Schofield the station a cool $250,000. Despite what some ratings both cities, finding 28.0 per- and TEN-10's Kay Stammers. Other changes in equip- figures may tell us sport on cent in Sydney and 25.0 per- For news director Vin- ment include new electronic television is popular, with cent in Melbourne. cent Smith, the newsroom re- cameras for the on-the-road tennis and cricket the front- That gives it as steady a tennis and crick- vamp is a major step and will crews and a possible video runners in the viewing following as bring about a dramatic art system to allow computer stakes. et - the two most popular change of image. drawn pictures on-air In a survey conducted by TV sports. Sydney company Beacon Re- The survey figures are not search early this year, figures to be mistaken, or compared, show that 74.0 percent of to television ratings. SHOCK viewers in Sydney and Mel- The PBL survey accounts WILLESEE for who watch bourne (the survey was only people

SEVEN NETWORK execu- out of camera range but re- conducted in the two cities) televised sport at any time. not tives were caught unawares main as executive producer, watch tennis at some stage of Unlike ratings it does by Mike Willesee's decision came after Hinch improved the sporting season. mean 74.0 percent of people to step down as anchorman the programme ratings when The results, commissioned watch tennis during specified of his Willesee '81 current he did a stint while Mike was by PBL Marketing (who con- hours or constantly. affairs programme. on holiday. trol the Nine Network's It means 74.0 percent of "I found out about Mike's Channel Seven sources World Series Cricket), also people have been known to decision at the same time you said it was Willesee's de- raised eyebrows by indicat- watch tennis at some stage did," said Channel Seven cision alone to leave the com- ing Australian rules and soc- during the past 12 months. Sydney programme manager pere's chair. cer were more popular TV On that basis, the sports Glen Kinging, commenting Willesee '81's Sydney pro- sports than rugby league. receiving the greatest cover- - on Willesee being replaced by ducer Phil Davis said he and Australian rules found a age as in tennis and crick- - Derryn Hinch. the programme's Melbourne meagre 8.2 percent of viewers et are likely to be the most He declined to say that the producer, John Kyle, would in Sydney (Australia's major popular. reason behind Willesee's de- "run the show." rugby league city) but an Considering soccer's lim- cision was poor ratings. Hinch will work out of overwhelming response of ited coverage (not more than Willesee's move, to bow both Sydney and Melbourne. 54.1 percent in Melbourne around seven hours per week (its home city) boosted it to during peak season), it has third place. gained the most notable re- Soccer was rated fourth sult from the survey. by viewers with an overall Table breakdown is: figure of 26.5 percent while Melb. Total had Sydney rugby league a large % % % viewing audience of 48.5 in Tennis 73.2 74.8 74.0 64.1 but 2.4 in Mel- Cricket 63.0 65.2 Sydney only Aust. Rules 8.2 54.1 31.1 bourne. Soccer 28.0 25.0 26.5 48.5 2.4 25.4 These rated signifi- Rugby Lge. sports Golf 14.7 13.5 14.1

cantly above others such as Snooker 8.0 10.2 91 Motor 8.9 8.5 8.7 golf, televised snooker and Sport Horse Racing 7.8 9.2 8.5 motor The racing. proud Rugby Union 10.7 2.3 6.5 game of rugby union could Swimming 5.2 6.0 5.6 Mike Willesee steps down for Derryn Hinch.

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4406532