Reports are circulating popular news presenter Chris Bath could leave the Seven network for Nine just as Seven’s sports presenters stoush over who will take Matthew White’s old role when he moves to Today Tonight.
Bath, who has reportedly flirted with leaving the network before including being considered as an anchor on Today in 2005, is threatening to defect to Nine as part of contract negotiations with Seven.
Bath presents the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night evening news bulletins. The 41-year-old’s contract is up for renewal early next year. Bath, who is famously down to earth, has worked in various roles with Seven for 12 years.
Earlier this year she was passed over as evening news anchor after the network opted to keep on the 67-year-old Ian Ross. The deal was done when Bath was holidaying in Bali.
But Bath’s possible defection is not the only problem for the network. Sports journalists at the market leader are reportedly in a tussle over who will take Matthew White’s old role as sports presenter on the evening news.
White will move to the Today Tonight hosting chair next Monday after the messy departure of glamorous former host Anna Coren to a post as a reporter and presenter for CNN in Hong Kong.
There is a three-way tussle for White’s old job as prime time sports presenter with Sunrise sports reporter and celebrity dancer Mark Beretta and sports journalists Jim Wilson and Ben Damon battling it out behind the scenes.
While Beretta has the profile it is Damon who is getting support with industry insiders and even nightly news anchor Ian Ross calling for him to get the job.
White himself has apparently also put his weight behind Damon.
*Photo News Corp.