Lateline's Leigh Sales and ABC News 24's Chris Uhlmann are set to share hosting duties on a revamped 7.30 Report from March next year.

In a slight break from the traditional format, Sales will anchor the show out of Sydney while Uhlmann will sometimes present the program from the ABC's Parliament House studio.

The name of the program will also change from The 7.30 Report to 7.30.

Current presenter Kerry O'Brien will step down at the end of next week and will front Four Corners as well as other roles within the ABC.

Sales has been a Washington correspondent for the ABC and has also written an acclaimed book about Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

Uhlmann was a long-time presenter on ABC radio in Canberra before becoming the political editor for AM then the 7pm News.

The ABC's director of news, Kate Torney, says the program will remain the home of quality daily current affairs with two of the ABC's most respected journalists leading the team.

"Leigh Sales has a string of major interviews to her credit, including Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair," she said.

"Chris Uhlmann has established himself as one of the most respected political interviewers and journalists in the country.

"We are proud to have them leading this flagship show."

ABC Online's chief political writer Annabel Crabb will also be a contributor to 7.30.

Since moving across to the ABC from Fairfax newspapers, Crabb has also been a regular voice on ABC radio and on Insiders and ABC News 24.

The 7.30 Report executive producer Ben Hawke had already announced he would move to another role in the ABC next year, with his replacement still to be announced.

The 7.30 Report previously had separate editions in every state, but has been national since O'Brien began hosting it in 1996.

Stateline will continue in the Friday night timeslot but will now also carry the name 7.30.

'Tremendous honour'

Sales says she is excited by the opportunity.

"I can't wait for us to bring our audience the best interviews and the most important stories," she said.

"I'm particularly delighted at the chance to team up with Chris Uhlmann, who's somebody I not only admire and respect very much as a journalist, but whom I like a great deal."

Uhlmann says it is a "tremendous honour" to be given the 7.30 role.

"I'm thrilled to be teamed with Leigh Sales, who brings enormous interviewing, journalistic and presentational skills to the project," he said.

"The producers, editors and reporters at The 7.30 Report set the gold standard in television current affairs and I'm optimistic that the changes planned for 2011 will maintain their proud tradition and continue the epic work of Kerry O'Brien."

Ms Torney says Sales and Uhlmann will head a team of some of Australia's best current affairs journalists including Heather Ewart, who will be national affairs correspondent.

"The program has always been well known for its high profile interviews and political coverage," she said.

"We are very proud of that tradition and it will continue. The time is right to also draw attention to the reporting firepower on the program."

The Clarke & Dawe segment will also remain.

The 7.30 Report will continue in its regular format over the summer season.