Lee Steele Set to Return to 9 NEWS PERTH Newsroom

Why It Matters

Steele’s hire bolsters 9 News Perth’s talent roster amid a ratings surge, signaling intensified competition in Western Australia’s evening news market. It also highlights the network’s strategy of leveraging familiar personalities to capture audience share.

Key Takeaways

• Lee Steele returns as 9 News Perth weekend weather presenter
• Steele spent ten years at Nine before joining Network 10
• 9 News Perth saw 22% audience growth in 2025
• Competitors Seven scaling back veteran anchors, opening market opportunities
• Internal staff disappointment over external hiring decision

Pulse Analysis

Lee Steele’s comeback to 9 News Perth underscores a broader trend of Australian broadcasters recycling proven on‑air talent to strengthen local appeal. After a decade at Nine, a stint at Network 10, and regular weather fill‑ins, Steele’s appointment signals Nine’s confidence in her brand recognition and versatility. Her weekend weather slot, paired with reporting duties, aims to deepen viewer engagement during the critical 5 p.m. lead‑in, a period that has become a battleground for audience loyalty across the state.

The timing aligns with 9 News Perth’s impressive 22 percent ratings lift in 2025, driven largely by the popular Tipping Point lead‑in and strategic talent shifts. With Seven’s iconic duo Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr scaling back, the market gap widens for Nine to capture disaffected viewers. Adding Steele alongside sport presenter Alicia Molik and reinstating Natalia Cooper on weeknight weather creates a cohesive weekend lineup that could further erode Seven’s dominance and reshape the 6 p.m. news hierarchy.

Beyond Perth, Steele’s move reflects the fluid nature of talent migration among Australia’s commercial networks, where presenters often oscillate between Nine, Ten, and Seven to pursue broader exposure. Such mobility can accelerate audience cross‑pollination, especially when personalities carry loyal followings. As broadcasters double down on localized content and charismatic anchors, the industry may see heightened competition for marquee on‑air roles, prompting networks to invest more in talent retention and strategic hires to sustain growth in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.