Weekend Today (Australian TV program)
Weekend Today | |
---|---|
Weekend Today logo used since 4 February 2012 | |
Also known as |
Today on Saturday Today on Sunday Today: Weekend Edition |
Genre | Breakfast News Program |
Presented by |
Cameron Williams (2009–present) Deborah Knight (2014–present) |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 6 |
No. of episodes | 526 (as of 27 April 2014) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Mark Calvert |
Location(s) | Willoughby, New South Wales |
Running time | 180 minutes |
Broadcast | |
Original channel | Nine Network |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original run | 1 February 2009 – present |
Chronology | |
Preceded by |
Sunday Sunday Morning News |
Related shows | Today |
External links | |
Website |
Weekend Today is an Australian breakfast television program, currently presented by Cameron Williams and Deborah Knight.
The program has been broadcast live by the Nine Network since 2009 and airs after children's programming and runs from 7am to 10am on Saturdays and Sundays.
History
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.[1] 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 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.
Institutions
In July 2009, Today: Weekend Edition was rebranded as Weekend Today.
On 28 July 2012, Weekend Today stopped airing for London 2012 Olympic Games until 13 August 2012.
In September 2012, Weekend Today was extended to 3 hours on Saturday mornings.
In September 2014, Deborah Knight replaced McKinnon permanently as co-host of the show; following Leila McKinnon's move to the News Department.
As of 2015, Cameron Williams and Deborah Knight remain as co-hosts with the news presented by Wendy Kingston and weather presented by Natalia Cooper.
Presenters
Presenter | Role | Tenure |
---|---|---|
Cameron Williams | Co-host | 2009–present |
Deborah Knight | Co-host | 2014–present |
Wendy Kingston | News | 2014–present |
Natalia Cooper | Weather | 2015–present |
Substitute presenters
Fill-in presenters for Weekend Today include Wendy Kingston, Alison Ariotti, David Campbell, Ken Sutcliffe, Tony Jones and Steve Jacobs.
Substitute presenters in recent years have included Tim Gilbert, Sylvia Jeffreys, Alicia Loxley, Richard Wilkins, Ben Fordham, Natalie Gruzlewski, Sarah Harris, Shelley Craft and Allison Langdon.
News
News presenters have included:
- Amber Sherlock (2009–10)
- Alicia Gorey (2010–11)
- Deborah Knight (2011–14)
- Sylvia Jeffreys (May – June 2014)
- Wendy Kingston (2014–present)
In 2009 when Weekend Today was announced, Amber Sherlock was appointed the first news presenter. In 2010, Sherlock welcomed her first child into the world with her waters breaking on the set of Today. Alicia Gorey was announced as Sherlock maternity relief however Sherlock returned too early resulting in her moved off Today to reading the weather on Nine News Sydney. Years passed and coincidentally at the same time Jo Hall decided to step down as weekend news reader on Nine News Melbourne, Deborah Knight was made redundant from Network Ten and contracted to Nine. Gorey was appointed Hall's replacement whilst Knight set her alarm earlier to join Today. In 2014, Leila McKinnon had her second child to Gygnell. Knight and Sylvia Jeffreys were announced as 'fresh faces' according to The Australian. But not long after Georgie Gardner announced she was quitting Today, Jeffreys was quickly shifted as Gardner's replacement resulting in Wendy Kingston to return from maternity leave to read the news on Weekend Today.
Sport
Sport presenters have included:
- Michael Slater (Sundays 2009–10)
- Tim Gilbert (2009–14)
- Nathan Brown (2014).
- Cameron Williams (2015–present)
Erin Molan and Yvonne Sampson are fill-in sports presenters.
Weather
In December 2009, Felicity Whelan began presenting the weather on Weekend Today after she was chosen through the "Weekend Weather Presenter" competition. Whelan also filled in for Steven Jacobs on Today weather. However in April 2010, main fill-in weather presenter, Emma Freedman replaced Whelan who joined Network Ten. Due to budget cuts at the Nine network, Emma Freedman was made redundant in late 2014.
Weather presenters have included:
- Felicity Whelan (2009–10)
- Emma Freedman (2010–14)
- Natalia Cooper (2015–present)
Entertainment
In February 2009, Michele Mahone joined Weekend Today as Hollywood Gossip reporter where she reported on the latest entertainment news. She remained with the show until September 2013 due to the show going in 'another direction'. That 'other direction' included Susanne Messara appointed Entertainment reporter who hosted the latest entertainment news from the couch. This idea failed and media personality Giselle Ugarte was appointed the entertainment reporter situated again in Hollywood.
Entertainment presenters have included:
- Michele Mahone (2009–13)
- Susanne Messara (2013–14)
- Giselle Ugarte (2014)
See also
References
- ↑ Knox, David (28 January 2009). "Weekend Sunrise wakes up to Today’s alarm". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
External links
- Official website
- Weekend Today at the Internet Movie Database
- Today and Weekend Today at TV.com
- Today at the National Film and Sound Archive
|
|