Jerrie Demasi and Tim McMillan
Photo by 9News/Screenshot

Channel Seven Axes Top News Program in Stunning Move – Natarsha Belling Reportedly at the Center of Controversy

Produced in Perth and hosted by Jerrie Demasi and Tim McMillan, insiders reveal that the popular program will be replaced by a news panel show later this year. This surprising move comes after the network launched its revamped midday bulletin, Seven News at Noon with Natarsha Belling, earlier this month.

Sources familiar with the situation told TV Blackbox that Seven has decided to discontinue The Latest in favor of reallocating budgets towards the 6 pm local news bulletins and extending the midday news to a full hour. This strategic shift aims to strengthen their prime-time offerings and enhance the depth of their news coverage.

Katrina Blowers, recently promoted to Queensland Chief Reporter by Seven in 2024, is rumored to take the helm of the new late-night news show, which is expected to be based in Brisbane. While Seven has not officially confirmed the replacement of The Latest, a spokesperson assured TV Blackbox that a late-night news slot will remain on the schedule.

“It would be wrong to suggest there won’t be a late-night news bulletin on Seven,” they stated. “We’re just considering our options as to what it might look like.” Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Seven management for further comments, but no official response has been provided yet. The Latest, originally launched as Seven Late News in 1995, played a significant role in boosting the careers of renowned presenters like Chris Bath, Anne Fulwood, and Natalie Barr.

After being axed in 2003, the late news slot was re-launched and rebranded as The Latest in 2018, featuring media veterans Michael Usher and Angela Cox. The show, based in Sydney, was relocated to Perth in 2024 as part of cost-cutting measures, according to TV Blackbox.

This change follows revelations from two Channel Seven stars about their surprisingly low earnings despite their high-profile roles. Reporter Rosanna Kingsun and news anchor Samantha Heathwood shared their salaries in videos posted on Instagram this week. Rosanna revealed that journalists at her level earn just $80,000-$90,000 per year despite having 12 years of experience.

Comments on her post expressed disbelief and frustration, with one user stating, “80 to 90 that’s s**t,” and another questioning, “Not enuff! Should be a minimum of 140! Is this amount greed or simply the high cost of living?” Similarly, Samantha Heathwood disclosed that she is earning “well under $200,000” despite over 20 years in the industry. Her earnings sparked mixed reactions, with some commenters advocating for higher salaries, comparing her pay unfavorably to that of Nine’s Today show presenter Karl Stefanovic.

“She deserves more than 200K,” one user commented, while another sarcastically remarked, “I bet Karl doesn’t write, so how on earth does he deserve more than 1 mil/year???” Heathwood, who joined Channel Seven in 2021 after working as a regional newsreader for 9 News Queensland, also discussed her role in presenting the 6 pm Channel Nine news bulletins for both regional Queensland and Darwin.

As Seven restructures its news programming and addresses internal salary concerns, viewers and industry insiders alike are watching closely to see how these changes will impact the network’s reputation and the quality of its news delivery. “We’re Just Considering Our Options” reflects Seven’s cautious approach to restructuring, aiming to maintain a strong presence in the competitive news landscape while addressing budgetary constraints and talent compensation issues.

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