Has Channel 7 Perth Really Banned 'Goodnight'?

Has Channel 7 Perth Really Banned ‘Goodnight’? – For generations, the simple word “goodnight” has been the perfect punctuation mark at the end of a nightly news bulletin. It’s a tradition steeped in history, a comforting farewell that wraps up the day’s events before viewers head off to their evenings. Yet in a curious turn of events, Channel 7 Perth seems to have quietly dropped this timeless sign-off from their news broadcasts, leaving audiences with a noticeable void and an awkward pause where “goodnight” should be. This has been occurring for quite some time now.

The absence of “goodnight” is not just a minor oversight; it’s a seismic shift for loyal viewers. Since the dawn of television, “goodnight” has been a universal closing line, used by news anchors across Australia and around the world. Names like Brian Henderson, Peter Hitchener, and Ian Ross became synonymous with this sign-off, delivering the word with gravitas, warmth, and sincerity. To end without it feels akin to closing a book mid-sentence or leaving a movie halfway through the credits.

For viewers in Perth, the change has been glaringly obvious. Social media chatter reveals a mix of confusion, frustration, and even amusement at the long, awkward silence that now concludes Channel 7’s nightly bulletin. It’s almost as if the anchors themselves are waiting for a cue that never comes, their polite smiles frozen just a fraction too long. What’s going on here?

Why Would Channel 7 Drop “Goodnight”?

Theories abound. Could it be a misguided attempt to modernize the broadcast? In an era of rapid-fire news cycles and digital-first strategies, perhaps Channel 7’s producers believe a traditional farewell feels outdated. Or maybe there’s a deeper, more philosophical reason: a reluctance to acknowledge the day’s end, as if saying “goodnight” might admit that we all need to pause and rest in a world that never stops.

Some speculate it could be part of a broader branding decision. Maybe the word “goodnight” was deemed too casual, not fitting the tone of a serious news outlet. Or could it simply be an oversight, a tiny casualty of tighter production schedules and evolving practices?

Interestingly, this phenomenon appears to be unique to Channel 7 Perth. The word “goodnight” is still alive and well in other Channel 7 markets, where anchors continue to deliver the traditional farewell with ease. This raises the question: why Perth? Could there be a hyper-local reason for the omission, or is Perth being used as a testing ground for a potential national change?

Of course, there’s always the possibility of an amusingly bureaucratic explanation. What if “goodnight” was inadvertently left off the teleprompter and no one dared question it? Or—imagine the scandal—what if someone in management outright banned the word, deeming it too sentimental for modern audiences?

Bring Back “Goodnight”: A Call to Action

Whatever the reason, the absence of “goodnight” has not gone unnoticed. It’s time for Perth viewers to take a stand. In fact, perhaps we should start a tongue-in-cheek petition to bring back the iconic farewell. Picture it: thousands of signatures demanding the return of this one word, a movement united not by politics or ideology but by a shared desire for closure at the end of the news.

After all, “goodnight” isn’t just a word; it’s a ritual. It’s a small but significant moment of connection between the anchors and their audience, a way of saying, “We’ve been through this together, and now it’s time to rest.”

So to Channel 7 Perth, we ask: why the silence? Why the abrupt, awkward endings? Bring back “goodnight.” It’s more than a tradition; it’s a necessity. And to all the viewers out there feeling the void, let’s rally together. Goodnight deserves its rightful place on our screens once more.

A spokesperson for Seven Perth said

“Our 7NEWS Perth presenters always wish their viewers a good evening at the end of the bulletin but to stick strictly with ‘Goodnight’ would be stealing a certain cat’s thunder!

Could the awkwardness, the lack of tradition and the sign off for Seven News Perth really be because of a favourite cat?