Sunday (TV program)

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Sunday
Image:Sundayprogram1.JPG
Sunday Logo
Genre News/Current affairs Breakfast television
Starring Host
Ellen Fanning
(2006 – present),
News
Michael Usher
(2007 – present),
Sport
Stephanie Brantz
(2006 – present),
Politics
Laurie Oakes
(1997 – present)
Country of origin Flag of Australia Australia
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 27
Production
Running time 120 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Nine Network
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original run 15 November 1981 – present
External links
Official website
IMDb profile

Sunday is a widely regarded public television affairs program, broadcast nationally every Sunday morning on the Nine Network Australia. The program covers a range of topical issues including local and overseas news, politics, and in-depth stories on Australia and the world, plus film reviews, arts features and music. The show is hosted by journalist Ellen Fanning along with news presenter Michael Usher, sport presenter Stephanie Brantz and political editor Laurie Oakes.

Contents

[edit] History

The announcement of the launch of the program on October 22, 1981 inspired controversy, as it was then practice to fill the spot with religious programming.[1] The first episode aired on 15 November, with Jim Waley as host. In 2002, Was Waley left to present National Nine News, he was replaced by Jana Wendt. Following the decision to change Sunday's successful magazine format it was announced on 1 September 2006 that Jana Wendt would leave the Nine Network and Ross Greenwood and Ellen Fanning would become joint hosts of the show.

Following the appointment of John Westacott as the Nine Network`s New Head of News and Current Affairs, it was announced that from 16th September 2007 that Greenwood would be replaced by A Current Affair host Ray Martin joining Ellen Fanning as joint hosts of the show. Before it returned with a brand new and very early timeslot of 7.30am, Martin left the Nine Network in February 2008, it is unclear who of or if anyone will be taking his seat.

Sunday is considered to be a programme made up predominately of Hard News stories[citation needed] particularly when compared to its main not-to-be confused rival, but the Today Show's weekend rival, Weekend Sunrise[citation needed] which airs around the same time on the Seven Network.

[edit] Brand Extension

After the initial success of Sunday, an edition was produced from 1986 called Business Sunday, hosted by Ali Moore. Business Sunday was committed to comprehensive coverage and quality reporting of business, economic and financial issues affecting Australia and the world. However, after 20 years of the program on Australian televsion, the Nine Network decided to merge Sunday and its offshoot and sister program Business Sunday from September 3, 2006.

[edit] Anchors

[edit] Alumni

A significant number of Australian journalists, media professionals, researchers and producers have been involved in "Sunday" since 1981. Among this alumni are reporter/presenters: Seven's Adrian Brown, former NSW premier Bob Carr, Ross Coulthart, actor Max Cullen, Sky News' Helen Dalley, Graham Davis, the late Robert Haupt, Laurie Oakes, CNN's Hugh Riminton, Paul Ransley, film reviewer/writer Peter Thompson and Jim Waley. Producers, researchers and media professionals include: Peter Hiscock, Tom Krause, Nick Farrow, Kathryn Franco, Seven's news chief Peter Meakin, Paul Steindl, arts specialist Catherine Hunter, political/media adviser Sarah Turner and Stephen Rice.

[edit] Awards and Accolades

Sunday has won several awards, including Gold and Silver medals from the New York Festivals television awards in 2002, for its coverage of East Timor and investigation of cover-up claims regarding Governor-General, Peter Hollingworth.[2] In 2003, Sunday was awarded the "Most Outstanding Public Affairs Program on Australian Television" Logie Award.

[edit] Firsts

Under progressive Executive Producer Stephen Rice, "Sunday" achieved number of firsts including being the first Australian 'newscaff' program to launch its own website in 1997 and promote on-air URLs to viewers. Working with the online producer Kathryn Franco, anchor Jim Waley introduced many viewers to the web for the first time when he said "...And you can read a transcript of Laurie Oakes' Interview shortly after the show at www..." For the first year, the program produced encoded videos for the website of selected segments. Sister program "Business Sunday" and "Small Business Show" followed.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Television News & Current Affairs in Australia
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Television in Australia · Regional television in Australia · List of Australian television presenters