It has been reported that Seven Tasmania is shifting the presentation of its statewide Seven News service from Launceston to Hobart.
The move, scheduled for 25 May, brings an end to 64 years — almost to the day — of news presentation from Launceston. The Launceston station, formerly TNT9 and later Southern Cross, presented its first news bulletin on its opening night on 26 May 1962.
With the advent of aggregation in 1994, Southern Cross expanded its coverage into Hobart and southern Tasmania and in recent years has operated from studios in both Launceston and Hobart. When Southern Cross Austereo sold Seven Tasmania to Seven West Media last year, access to the Hobart studio was lost. But then Seven West Media completed a merger with Southern Cross Austereo earlier this year, bringing Seven Tasmania back to its former owner and to access the Hobart studio.
Although the Watchorn Street premises in Launceston was sold in 2022, Seven News presentation continued from the site until 2025, when it transferred to the Launceston CBD. The CBD site, located on Charles Street, is now advertised for lease.
It is not clear if Seven News‘ existing on-air team, including news reader Kim Millar (pictured), will make the move to Hobart. However, a Seven spokesperson told ABC that the number of journalists and camera operators “on the ground in Tasmania” will remain at current levels.
While editorial oversight and presenting would continue in Tasmania, the control room for on-air co-ordination of the bulletin will shift from Launceston to facilities in Canberra. Seven declined to comment if this will result in any staff losses, redundancies or relocation of impacted staff to Canberra.
Source: ABC, Pulse Tasmania, Real Commercial
