News war: Channels Seven and Nine start rival 7pm bulletins
GAME On - and we're not talking Kevin Rudd versus Tony Abbott. Channels 7 and Nine have just announced that they will be starting half-hour news bulletins at 7pm on their digital channels tonight.
Seven's national bulletin on 7 Two, which has been rumoured for months, will initially be hosted by Mark Ferguson.
Seven decided to fast track the 7pm bulletin after Kevin Rudd announced on the weekend that Australia would go to the polls on September 7.
Seven sees the Federal election campaign as the perfect springboard to begin a more serious-minded news service on its digital channel.
Nine jumped into the fray less than an hour after Seven's announcement, stating that it would screen a 7pm news bulletin on GEM. Nine's bulletin will be hosted by Peter Overton (Monday to Thursday) and Deborah Knight (Friday).
Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, Darren Wick, says the new bulletin will provide viewers "with another source of up-to-the-minute information on the election campaign".
There are rumours that former Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle could present the 7 Two news service in the future.
Seven announced last month that Doyle would be stepping down from its breakfast show to pursue a new prime time news initiative.
Doyle is currently part of a special farewell week on Sunrise.
Seven's new bulletin is set to have the most impact on the ABC News which has been averaging around 1 million viewers each night in the 7pm timeslot.
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