Craig Hutchison to return to Seven after nearly 20 years
After months of speculation, Seven has announced that Craig Hutchison will return to the network in 2025.
On Wednesday, the media giant confirmed that the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) CEO will make his return to the network after 18 years, where he will headline Seven’s upcoming AFL talk show, The Agenda Setters, which will air on Monday and Tuesday nights throughout the 2025 season.
Hutchison will host the Monday night edition alongside recent Seven signings, Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt.
“The Agenda Setters on Mondays and Tuesdays will be appointment viewing, and together with Rainmaker, we’ve assembled an incredibly experienced production team for this show to complement our unrivalled on-air lineup,” Seven Network director of sport, Chris Jones, said.
Hutchison added: “Seven is the home of free-to-air AFL, and has an unrivalled history, legacy and contribution to AFL football. These new shows will shape and set the agenda of the weekday discussion of football, which is at the heart of the game.
“The media and opinions around the game is the zeitgeist of what fuels Australian football, and we will bring the game’s biggest names to the table and call it as it is.
“And on a personal level, to return to Seven where I spent many years earlier in my career is an honour.”
The news comes just months after reports of a “crisis meeting” at Nine regarding its Footy Classified show and hosts – Hutchison, Cornes and Caroline Wilson – who were all linked to a move to Seven.
Though Cornes’ defection to Seven was already confirmed at the time, Hutchison and Wilson’s speculated move was heavily rumoured, leaving Nine in a tricky spot.
L-R: Matthew Lloyd, Caroline Wilson, Craig Hutchison and Kane Cornes
Shortly after, Nine heavyweight Eddie McGuire slammed Seven and the Footy Classified hosts, while appearing on the Today show.
“End of the season, you get rid of the list-cloggers and you move the new superstars in,” McGuire said.
“And that’s what we’re doing. The Footy Classified with Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison. That started 18 years ago. We commissioned it when I was up in Sydney, actually.
“And it’s been fantastic. And it’s great that Channel Copycat is just taking something we’ve done for 18 years and putting it on air.”
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Neil Griffiths is the Managing Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
Linkedin
Have your say