Seven News: Billboard on Parramatta Road written in Latin instead of English

Seven News suffers an embarrassing fail as drivers spot a huge billboard on Parramatta Road written in LATIN instead of English

Seven News is a regular ratings winner for Australia’s leading television network.

But the free-to-air broadcaster suffered an embarrassing publicity fail last week when one of its electronic billboards was rolled out with a glaring mistake.

The sign over Sydney’s Parramatta Road showed newsreader Mark Ferguson’s face alongside the Latin text ‘LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET CONSEC ETUR.’

Faux pas: Channel Seven suffered an embarrassing publicity fail when one of its billboards was rolled out with a glaring mistake. (Pictured: Seven News Sydney anchor Mark Ferguson)

The text, which comprised a nonsensical Latin phrase, is commonly used as placeholder copy in graphic designs, reports The Australian.

It is almost always intended to be replaced before the final product is displayed; however, an apparent oversight saw the billboard rolled out over the busy thoroughfare without the text having been substituted.

Channel Seven insiders said it was ‘a stuff-up from the billboard company’ rather than the fault of the network.

Whoops! The sign over Sydney's Parramatta Road showed newsreader Mark Ferguson's face alongside the words 'LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET CONSEC ETUR'. The text, which comprised a nonsensical Latin phrase, is commonly used as placeholder copy in graphic designs. The mix-up was reportedly the fault of the billboard company, not Channel Seven

Whoops! The sign over Sydney’s Parramatta Road showed newsreader Mark Ferguson’s face alongside the words ‘LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET CONSEC ETUR’. The text, which comprised a nonsensical Latin phrase, is commonly used as placeholder copy in graphic designs. The mix-up was reportedly the fault of the billboard company, not Channel Seven

The Parramatta Road mix-up comes after Seven News topped Sunday’s ratings with 879,000 metro viewers.

But Channel Nine scored a rare overall win thanks to strong showings from Lego Masters Australia (664,000) and 60 Minutes: The Leaders’ Debate (641,000).

Last week was a different story, however, with Nine’s flagship breakfast show Today losing another ratings battle.

Low views: Nine's flagship breakfast show Today came third behind Channel Seven's Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast every day last week, reported The Guardian. (Pictured: Ally Langdon)

Low views: Nine’s flagship breakfast show Today came third behind Channel Seven’s Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast every day last week, reported The Guardian. (Pictured: Ally Langdon)

The program came third behind Channel Seven’s Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast every day last week, reported The Guardian.

The ratings slide was documented by OzTAM, marking more bad news for the show. 

It comes after reports Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon were told to ‘shape up or ship out’ ahead of the new ratings season. 

Big year: It comes after reports Karl Stefanovic (left) and Allison Langdon (right)  were told to 'shape up or ship out' ahead of the new ratings season

Big year: It comes after reports Karl Stefanovic (left) and Allison Langdon (right)  were told to ‘shape up or ship out’ ahead of the new ratings season

According to The Sunday Telegraph, executives planned to throw ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ at the flagging program.

A source said Nine bosses intended to make a number of changes, including bringing in Perth reporter Scherri-Lee Biggs as a full-time weather presenter.

Brooke Boney could also be made a ‘roving reporter’ for the show. 

Changes: A source said Nine bosses intended to make a number of changes, including bringing in Perth reporter Scherri-Lee Biggs (pictured) as a full-time weather presenter

Changes: A source said Nine bosses intended to make a number of changes, including bringing in Perth reporter Scherri-Lee Biggs (pictured) as a full-time weather presenter