Sunday (television program)
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| Sunday | |
|---|---|
| Genre | News/Current affairs |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Starring | Ellen Fanning Ross Greenwood Laurie Oakes Stephanie Brantz |
| Country of origin |  Australia |
| Original channel |  Nine Network |
| Original run | 1981–present |
Sunday is a public affairs program on Australian television. Broadcast nationally on the Nine Network every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM and hosted by Ellen Fanning and Ross Greenwood with Laurie Oakes (political editor) and Stephanie Brantz (sport). Its unique 2-hour format offers viewers a mix that includes local and overseas news, politics, in-depth stories on issues affecting Australia and the world, plus film reviews, arts features and music.
Contents |
[edit] History
On 22 October 1981, the Nine Network announced its plan to launch a Sunday morning news and current affairs program. In those days, Sunday morning television was dominated by religious programming and most networks had long regarded them part of the nation's social fabric. The plan was radical and risky — critics from other networks, newspapers and the public wondered if the show would spell disaster when combined with the non-prime-time, non-ratings driven status of Sunday mornings.
Two weeks later on 15 November, the first episode of Sunday aired — when other current affairs programs were shutting down for summer. Sundays would never be the same again. The program was hosted by a young reporter called Jim Waley, who would go on to present Sunday for the next two decades. In late 2002, Whalley became presenter of Sydney's 6pm National Nine News. Long-time television journalist and interviewer Jana Wendt was appointed as the new host. On 1 September 2006 it was announced that Wendt would leave the Nine Network and that Ellen Fanning would become the primary host of the show.
[edit] Awards
In 2002, Sunday won a Gold Medal in the New York Festivals television awards for its ongoing coverage of events in East Timor, and a Silver Medal for its investigation of sexual abuse cover-up claims involving the Governor-General, Peter Hollingworth.
Sunday also won the Logie Award for "Most Outstanding Public Affairs Program on Australian Television" at the Logie Awards of 2003.
