Today (Australian TV program)

History

Officially launched as The National Today Show, Today is Australia's longest running morning breakfast news program. The show premiered on 28 June 1982 and celebrated 25 years of broadcasting in 2007.

The original hosts, Steve Liebmann and Sue Kellaway, spent four years together before Steve Liebmann left to present the evening news for Network Ten in Sydney. Former 60 Minutes reporter George Negus took over the male presenting role. After four years, Steve Liebmann returned to the Nine Network, hosting Today with Liz Hayes and Tracy Grimshaw. However, in December 2004, Steve Liebmann suffered a mild heart attack, prompting him to retire from breakfast television. In 2005, National Nine News reporter Karl Stefanovic replaced Steve Liebmann as co-host. Tracy Grimshaw left Today at the end of 2005 to replace Ray Martin as host of A Current Affair. While it had been widely speculated in the Australian press that Seven News presenter Chris Bath would co-host Today with Karl Stefanovic from January 2006, the position instead went to former Ten News presenter Jessica Rowe.

Jessica Rowe had mixed beginnings as the co-host of Today with some viewers and commentators attacking her because of her dress-sense and her apparent over-happiness, citing her constant nervous laughter. Following her court case against Network Ten, Rowe was subjected to comments from the media and viewers that she should be sacked and was not right for the role of Today. Rowe's replacements while on maternity leave were Sarah Murdoch and Kellie Sloane, who both saw a significant increases in ratings. They both presented until Rowe's departure from the show, when the Nine Network released a press statement on 5 May 2007 saying that Rowe had left the Nine Network to "take up other opportunities for her career". In May 2007, former co-host of Weekend Sunrise, Lisa Wilkinson, took over the female co-hosting duties.

25th Anniversary: 2007

Today celebrated its 25th year of broadcasting, on 28 June 2007, by travelling to five different Australian cities in one week, something which had never been before attempted by an Australian television show. Former Today presenters and musical guests were involved.

On the official day marking the 25th anniversary, past Today presenters who made an appearance included Ian Ross, Tracy Grimshaw, Monte Dwyer, Liz Hayes and Helen Dalley. Sami Lukis, who replaced Monte Dwyer, did not appear, nor did original co-host Sue Kellaway. Original co-host Steve Liebmann was also unable to attend, nor was current weather presenter Steven Jacobs, however video messages from both were aired.

Today on Saturday: 1992–2002

After the initial success of Today, a Saturday edition was produced in the early nineties. Hosted by Tracy Grimshaw, it featured more news, politics and economic reports. Tracy Grimshaw was later followed by Tara Brown and Richard Wilkins, before reporter Helen Dalley joined the program in 1996. These hosts were accompanied by news presenters Michael Usher, Anna Coren and Mark Burrows. In 2002, Today on Saturday was cancelled due to budget cuts by the Nine Network.

Weekend Today: 2009-present

In January 2009, David Gyngell, chief executive of the Nine Network, and John Westacott, former head of news and current affairs, announced that Today would begin broadcasting on Sunday mornings. The program, entitled Today on Sunday, competes in the same timeslot as the Seven Network's Weekend Sunrise, which dominates Sunday morning television. The show launched on 1 February 2009 and the original team consisted of Cameron Williams and Leila McKinnon with the news presented by Amber Sherlock and the sport was presented by Tim Gilbert on Saturday and Michael Slater on Sunday.

On 2 May 2009, after the launch of Today on Sunday, the Nine Network announced through a surprise edition that Today on Saturday would return. The program incorporates the same presenting team as the Sunday edition, being the first Australian breakfast news program to broadcast seven days a week. Due to the launch of the Saturday version of the program, the Nine Network renamed the programs as Today ;Weekend Edition. David Gyngell said that the launch of the weekend editions were a part of the Nine Network's plans to strengthen its news and current affairs department and return viewers to its once leading service.

In July 2009, Today: Weekend Edition was renamed as Weekend Today.

In September 2012, Weekend Today was extended to three hours on Saturday.

In November 2016, Peter Stefanovic announced that he would be moving to 60 Minutes in 2017 as a correspondent. Tom Steinfort has been announced as Stefanovic's replacement.

As of January 2017, Tom Steinfort and Deborah Knight are the co-hosts with the news presented by Jayne Azzopardi and weather presented by Steve Jacobs.

30th Anniversary: 2012

In 2012, Today celebrated its 30th anniversary. The show began the year by unveiling a new set, logo and graphics.

In September, Today held a week-long celebration which included flashbacks from earlier episodes and live appearances by former hosts such as Steve Liebmann, Sue Kellaway, Tracy Grimshaw, Monte Dwyer and Sarah Murdoch. Liz Hayes was unable to join the show due to being on assignment with 60 Minutes but shared her memories in a prerecorded message. Video messages were also left by Brian Bury, George Negus & Joan McInnes

Format

Today, an offshoot of Nine News, predominantly presents news, sport, weather, entertainment and current affairs, focusing on the first news of the day. However the show also features topics including consumer affairs, health, politics, education, fashion, and the business and finance world. The show has daily feedback and topic segments for viewers to send in their thoughts and opinions via email, text messages and the show's website.

Initially, the program was only a two-hour broadcast, airing from 7am to 9am. After dropping Nine Early Morning News, the network moved Today to a 6am start. Again, as part of the 2008–2009 Nine News brand's major expansion, in 2008 the show was changed to a three and a half hour format, starting at 5.30am to now "perfect match" breakfast radio stations. This move included an extended news, sport, finance and weather segment prior to the main program at 6am. Weekend Today airs on both Saturday and Sunday from 7am, both concluding at 10am.

Anchors

The main presenters of Today have included:

Fill-In presenters

Sylvia Jeffreys and Peter Stefanovic are the main fill-in for Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson. Other fill-in presenter include Richard Wilkins, Tom Steinfort, Tim McMillan, Tim Gilbert, Alicia Loxley and Deborah Knight . Substitutes that present usually over summer include; Richard Wilkins, Wendy Kingston, Allison Langdon, Ross Greenwood, Tom Steinfort, David Campbell or Alicia Loxley.

Substitute presenters in recent years have included Cameron Williams, Kellie Sloane, Sarah Murdoch, Sharyn Ghidella, Leila McKinnon, Kim Watkins, Helen Dalley, Ellen Fanning, Ali Moore, Michael Pascoe, Peter FitzSimons, Peter Overton, Michael Usher, Ken Sutcliffe, Mark Ferguson, Jennifer Keyte, Garry Lyon, Eddie McGuire, and even Clive James on one occasion while the show was broadcasting from London. The former Premier of Victoria, Joan Kirner, presented the show on one occasion.

News

The idea of providing the latest news has been critical to the function of the program. Under the current format, seven main bulletins are delivered, once every half-hour.

News presenters have included:

Perth Today News presenters

In July 2009, Georgie Gardner was appointed Nine News Sydney presenter on Friday and Saturday nights, she juggled her commitments with Today news presenter. This meant that she was only able to commit to her role on Today 4 days of the week. Therefore, the Weekend Today news presenter would present news on the Monday edition of Today as well. The Monday morning news presenters have included Amber Sherlock (2009-2010), Alicia Loxley (2010-2011) and Deborah Knight (2011-2014). In 2014, Sylvia Jeffreys took over from Gardner as news presenter on Today. Given that Sylvia would not be required to balance her role with any additional roles within the network, she was able to commit to the program 5 days per week, meaning the specialised Monday morning news presenting role was no longer needed.

Deborah Knight, Lara Vella, Natalia Cooper and Aislin Kruikelis are the main fill-in news presenters. Peter Stefanovic, Vicky Jardim, Majella Wiemers, Amelia Adams, Amber Sherlock, Mark Ferguson, Wendy Kingston, Kim Watkins, Ben Fordham, Helen Kapalos, Heather Foord, Peter Overton and Mark Ferguson have all among others presented the news on occasions.

Finance

Finance editor Ross Greenwood presents "Money Minute" on weekdays well as financial stories. Sylvia Jeffreys currently presents the finance news after presenting the news.

Sport

Tim Gilbert currently presents sports news after the news bulletin every half-hour. In 2006, Cameron Williams was appointed as the inaugural sports presenter previously the news presenter would present sport headlines. Cameron Williams presented sport from 2006 until 2010 however left the role to focus on co-hosting Weekend Today and Nine News. Ben Fordham presented sport from 2011 until 2014 he left to focus on his family and 2GB radio show.

Sports presenters have included:

Weather

Currently, Today presents weather after each news and sport bulletin, every half-hour. After 10 years as weatherman, Steven Jacobs stepped down from the role in November 2016. Natalia Cooper is the current weather presenter and she travels the country and occasionally the world, presenting the weather from somewhere new each day or in the studio.

Weather presenters have included:

Steven Jacobs is the main fill-in weather presenter when Natalia is away. Abby Coleman, Julie Snook, Rose Jacobs, Emma Freedman, Amelia Adams, Sylvia Jeffreys, Giaan Rooney, Abby Coleman, Gorgi Coghlan, Dave Kirwan, Jaynie Seal, Livinia Nixon and Majella Wiemers have all presented the weather on various occasions.

Entertainment

Today's entertainment presenter, Richard Wilkins (Nine Network's entertainment editor), presents daily features, interviews, movie and television reviews from across the world of show business.

Notable entertainment presenters have included:

Traffic

Traffic reports are shown at regular intervals during the show, and are presented in some cities from a local helicopter. Traffic reports only air into the metropolitan regions of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They are produced and presented by traffic reporters from the Australian Traffic Network.

Competition with Sunrise

From 2004-2007, Sunrise won the ratings battle, averaging more than 150,000 more viewers than Today. However, during 2007 Today slightly improved its ratings and made significant gains in audience. With a 9% rise year-on-year between 7am and 9am, and a 16% increase in the key 6am to 7am news hour. In contrast, Sunrise has fallen 4% year-on-year in the 7am to 9am timeslot. While in Melbourne (where Today is dominant), Today has won the morning breakfast slot for most weeks since May in the 2007 ratings by a considerable margin.

Broadcasting

Due to the fact that Australia has more than one time zone, Today is not broadcast live to the entire nation.

New South Wales (including ACT), Victoria and Tasmania have Today aired live all year round.

During daylight saving time, Queensland receives Today delayed by one hour. However, in 2007, Today began a trial and aired live into Queensland between 5:00 – 8.30am, with an extra Queensland-only half-hour. This was unsuccessful, and in 2008 the show returned to its previous delayed telecast.

Additionally, the Northern Territory has Today delayed thirty minutes during winter and one-and-a-half hours during daylight saving time.

Some parts of South Australia are also delayed by thirty minutes, and in Western Australia, the program is delayed by two hours during winter and three hours during daylight saving time.

In the case of major breaking news (e.g. cyclone), the program goes live into the state to help provide residents with up-to-date information.

Other national and international broadcasts

Southern Cross Nine, NBN Television & Imparja air Today across regional Australia.

In addition to Australia, Today is broadcast in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Papua New Guinea on EMTV, and in Fiji on Fiji Television.

International connections

Even though the name of the show is the same as America's NBC Today Show, it has no link to its American namesake; in fact, due to affiliate agreements, Nine airs ABC's Good Morning America, one of the American program's chief competitors, between 4.00 and 5.00am. Today's rival on the Seven Network, Sunrise, follows the American NBC Today Show format, including a streetside studio. The Seven Network airs a condensed version of the American programme between 4.00 and 5.00am, preceding Sunrise Extra, which is titled NBC Today in program listings to avert confusion.