Channel 7 is yet again looking to spice up its coverage with the announcement of a bold programming plan, which will see Alex Cullen in the hot seat.

Channel 7 is poised to launch bold new programming from today, as axed Nine star Alex Cullen leads the broadcaster’s afternoon coverage with hourly live news updates.

The Australian TV network had announced its ‘Winning Arvo’ plan last week, which will see “extended” bulletins helmed by Cullen air on the hour from 1pm, sliced between a host of local and international game quiz shows.

The former Today presenter, who officially signed a contract with Seven earlier this month after he was let go by Nine, will kick things off at 1pm with the latest breaking news locally and from around the world for around 10 minutes, before UK game show Blankety Blank goes to air.

Alex Cullen will headline hourly afternoon news bulletins on Seven.
Cullen will return from 2pm with another extended news update, followed by British quiz show Bridge of Lies, which is hosted by Ross Kemp.

The Chase UK will then tail Cullen’s 3pm bulletin before Seven’s usual 4pm national news.

Popular game show The Chase Australia, hosted by Gold Logie winner Larry Emdur, gets underway as normal at 5pm.

Discussing the new-look programming, Seven Programming Director Aaron Howison said: “Winning Arvo marks an evolution in afternoon television – an irresistible mix of thrilling, high-stakes game shows and Australia’s #1 news service. This supercharged line-up offers our audience a fresh, engaging and fast- paced afternoon viewing experience.”

The popular Chase UK program will continue.
Cullen, who also presents sport on radio for GOLD104.3’s The Christian O’Connell Show, said on-air earlier this month signing on with Seven was a “significant day” for him, after his Nine scandal back in January in which he was let go after accepting a $50,000 gift from Adrian Portelli.

“[It was] a significant day yesterday with me, signing a contract with Seven, which was really exciting,” Cullen said in early September.

“I’m going to be the afternoon host on Channel 7, so we’re going to be taking you through the afternoon.

“We’re going to do something a little bit later in the month … We want to get this right.”

Speaking to Stellar in July, Cullen had revealed Seven threw him a lifeline after he was brutally let go from Today and the Nine Network.

His firing came after Cullen came through on a public offer from billionaire businessman Portelli – widely known as “Lambo guy” on The Block – to be the first TV host to use Portelli’s preferred nickname of “McLaren Man” on air in return for the cash payment.

“After everything went down [at Nine earlier this year], Seven were one of the first on the phone to say: ‘You have our support, and if you want to come back, we’re a phone call away,’” he said at the time.