Ten Eyewitness News

Ten Eyewitness News

Division of:	Network Ten
Founded:	1965
Headquarters:	Sydney, Australia
Area served:	Australia
Formerly called:	TEN News (1994–2013)
Broadcast programs:	TEN Eyewitness News Weekend The Project
Parent:	Ten Network Holdings
Website:	tenplay.com.au/news

Ten Eyewitness News (stylised as TEN Eyewitness News) is an Australian television news service, produced by Network Ten.

The network's hour-long news program airs at 5pm each evening as five state-based editions in the capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, covering local, national and world news, including sport and weather. Local traffic reports are broadcast live into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from a regular reporter in a helicopter via the Australian Traffic Network. Weekend editions are presented nationally from Network Ten's studios at Pyrmont in Sydney.

Ten's news division also assists in the production of the current affairs program The Project. It draws upon the resources of CBS News, ITN, APTN and Reuters for select international coverage.

History

Network Ten, introduced its News Service in Australia in 1965, with the networks founding and was a pioneering force behind the concept of the hour-long News Bulletin, co-anchored in the form of Eyewitness News from 1973 onwards. The 1980s were arguably the network's most successful period as a news provider with its local Sydney and Melbourne bulletins often rating highest for their 6pm timeslot. Ten's flagship nightly bulletin news services has undergone a number of name changes since inception in 1965 including: Ten News, Ten Evening News, Eyewitness News and Ten Eyewitness News over the years before finally settling on the Ten News brand in 1994, which would remain in use for 19 years.

A major change to the service occurred in January 1992 when all five of its local bulletins were moved to the 5.00pm time slot. In 1994 all local weekend bulletins were axed across the network and replaced by a 30-minute national bulletin from Sydney – Ten Weekend News, initially presented by John Gatfield and later by Natarsha Belling and Bill Woods.

A localised version of Ten Weekend News was received from Sydney, while during the AFL season Adelaide and Melbourne viewers received local news on a Saturday, presented from Melbourne by George Donikian. For a short period in 2009, Ten Weekend News also included localised sport inserts for each market.

Ten Eyewitness News has often been described as a 'training ground' for some of Australia's best-known television journalists. Some of the best-known reporters and presenters who launched or spent a major part of their careers at "Ten Eyewitness News" include Jana Wendt, Kerry O'Brien, Katrina Lee, Charles Slade, Ann Sanders, Steve Liebmann, Tim Webster, Ron Wilson, Anne Fulwood, Juanita Phillips, Harry Potter,^[1] Liz Hayes, Jo Pearson, David Johnston, Bill McDonald, Chris Masters, Larry Emdur, Eddie McGuire, John Gatfield, Kay McGrath, Graeme Goodings, Sharyn Ghidella, Laurie Oakes, Geraldine Doogue, Helen Kapalos, Jennifer Keyte, Deborah Knight and George Donikian amongst others.

In September 2010, the network announced a major expansion of its news service. From 24 January 2011, It would expand its evening news output by introducing a national current affairs program at 6pm, 6PM with George Negus, and an extra local bulletin at 6:30pm on weeknights, with the Ten Evening News brand reinstated. In addition, the network announced the re-introduction of local weekend bulletins at 6pm and the axing of its 5pm national bulletin.

Two months after the relaunch, the national weekend bulletins were re-introduced owing to poor ratings although the 6pm local bulletins continue to air. Later that month, the network announced it would drop its 6:30pm local bulletins on weeknights, extend Ten News at Five to 90 minutes and move George Negus' program to 6:30pm each weeknight. The changes were introduced on Monday 4 April 2011.^[2]

Further changes in September 2011 saw the axing of the network's late night bulletin^[3] and the state-based 6pm weekend bulletins. The 5pm national bulletin on Saturdays and Sundays was extended to 90 minutes a month later.^[4] Later that month, the network announced it would axe 6.30 with George Negus and replace with an hour-long version of The 7PM Project (renamed The Project). In November 2011, the last half-hour of Ten's 5pm state bulletins were rebranded as Ten News at Six. Two months later, the network announced its main 5pm bulletin would be shortened back to 60 minutes from Sunday 22 January 2012 with The Project moved to 6pm.

The network's Ten Early News bulletin was axed in February 2012 following the launch of Network Ten's Breakfast program. More changes during the year saw the return of a networked Ten Late News in a new format launched on 4 June 2012, and the axing of Breakfast on 30 November 2012, due to low ratings and cost cutting measures at the network.

In September 2013, Network Ten revived the Ten Eyewitness News branding for all of its news output, including the flagship 5pm state bulletins.^[5] Two months later, a new breakfast program, Wake Up, was launched.

On 21 May 2014, Network Ten announced it would axe Wake Up and all national news bulletins on weekdays as part of a wider cost cutting program with the loss of around 150 jobs, caused by poor ratings and advertising revenue.^[6] The state-based 5pm news continues to air, alongside national bulletins at weekends. The network also closed its two international bureaux in Los Angeles and London.

The network reinstated co-anchoring teams in both Melbourne and Brisbane with the introduction of Candice Wyatt in Melbourne (November 2014) and Lachlan Kennedy in Brisbane (August 2015).

Local editions

Sydney

Network Ten camera operator filming at Sydney's Circular Quay

Ten Eyewitness News Sydney is presented from TEN-10's Sydney studios at Pyrmont by Sandra Sully and Hugh Riminton with sport presenter Matt Burke, weather presenter Tim Bailey and traffic reporter Vic Lorusso. The Sydney bulletin is simulcast across most of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory via Southern Cross Ten.

Between 1995 and 2005, the program was presented by Ron Wilson and Jessica Rowe, until Rowe moved to co-host Today on the Nine Network. She was replaced by then US correspondent Deborah Knight in 2006. Wilson moved to the networked Early News bulletin,^[7] after presenting his final 5pm Sydney program as main anchor on Friday 16 January 2009.

In October 2011, Sandra Sully replaced Deborah Knight following the axing of Ten Late News.^[3] Knight left the network to join Nine News and Weekend Today as a news presenter.

Bill Woods left the network on 30 November 2012 after his contract was not renewed as part of cost-cutting measures.^[8] In February 2014, Hugh Riminton would join Sandra Sully as a co-anchor.

Fill-in news presenters include Natarsha Belling (news), Adam Hawse or Scott MacKinnon (sport), Amanda Jason or Amanda Hart (weather) & Alf Paranihi (traffic).

Former fill-in traffic reporters have included: Jo Abi & Susannah Mirana.

Vic Lorusso remains the original traffic reporter since its inception.

Melbourne

Ten Eyewitness News Melbourne is presented from ATV-10's Como Centre studios in South Yarra by Stephen Quartermain and Candice Wyatt. Sport is presented by Brad McEwan, along with weather presenter Mike Larkan and traffic reporter Jimmy Wirtanen.

The Melbourne bulletin is simulcast across most of Victoria (via Southern Cross Ten and Ten Mildura), to Tasmania via Tasmania Digital Television and to the city of Darwin via Darwin Digital Television. The network's Melbourne news operation was originally based at Ten's Nunawading studios until a move to the Como Centre in 1992.

Mal Walden joined ATV-10 in April 1987, shortly after his abrupt sacking by HSV-7 - he took over the weekday 5pm bulletin in 1996 alongside Jennifer Hansen who was replaced by Helen Kapalos in 2006. Kapalos was sacked in November 2012 amid cost-cutting measures at the network. Walden anchored the bulletin solo until his retirement in December 2013.

Traffic Reporter Vanessa O'Hanlon left after six years (2003-2008) in 2008 for ABC News Breakfast. Emma Notarfrancesco left after four and a half years (2010-2015), to work for Formula 1's Australian media team on Friday 20 February 2015. Jimmy Wirtanen then returned to the role.

Former fill-in traffic reporters have included: Elysia Kelly (née Pratt), Andrea McNamara, Nicola Wood, Sarah Duffy & Diana Bruman.

In November 2014, Candice Wyatt joined Stephen Quartermain as co-anchor of the bulletin.^[9]

Past presenters of Ten's Melbourne news included David Johnston, who presented the flagship evening bulletin for 16 years (alongside the likes of Jana Wendt and Jo Pearson) until his departure for HSV-7 in 1996.

Current fill-in presenters include Brad McEwan (news solo), Rob Waters (sport), Emma O'Sullivan, Yasmin Paton (weather) & Andrew Crook (traffic) - since 2008.

Brisbane

Ten Eyewitness News Brisbane is presented from TVQ's Brisbane studios at Mt Coot-tha by Georgina Lewis and Lachlan Kennedy with sports presenter Jonathan Williams, weather presenter Josh Holt and traffic reporter Jayce Barker.

The Brisbane bulletin is simulcast across most of Queensland via Southern Cross Ten. Reporters are also based at a remote newsroom on the Gold Coast.

Former long-serving presenter Marie-Louise Theile left Ten News on 14 December 2007 to spend more time with her family.^[10] Other previous presenters include Geoff Mullins, Tracey Spicer, Brad McEwan and Bill McDonald, who left in November 2012 when his contract was not renewed due to cost-cutting measures.

Fill-in presenters include Amanda Jason (News), Matt Suleau (Sport), Duane Strauss (Weather) & Dave Andrews (traffic).

Jayce Barker remains the original traffic reporter since its inception.

Adelaide

Ten Eyewitness News Adelaide is presented from ADS-10's Adelaide studios on the corner of Hutt and Wakefield Streets by Rebecca Morse with sports presenter Nick Butler and weather presenter Kate Freebairn.

The Adelaide bulletin is simulcast to Port Lincoln & the Upper Spencer Gulf of South Australia as well as the city of Broken Hill, New South Wales via Southern Cross Ten, the Riverland and the South East areas of South Australia via WIN Ten & the North and far West areas via Ten Central (CDT).

In 2000, Network Ten moved studio production for the 5pm Adelaide bulletin to the network's Melbourne studios in South Yarra. The bulletin was presented from Melbourne for the next decade while sport and weather segments were still presented locally from the station's studios in North Adelaide and subsequently, from 2007, in newly built studios in Hutt Street. Initially, in 2000, George Donikian and Nikki Dwyer relocated from Adelaide to present the new Melbourne based bulletin. Dwyer eventually resigned as presenter in 2001 after she decided to move back to Adelaide, to be closer to her family. Dwyer was subsequently replaced as presenter by, Kelly Nestor who resigned in 2006 and was succeeded by Rebecca Morse.

On 21 January 2011, George Donikian presented his final Melbourne-based bulletin for Ten News Adelaide. Studio presentation subsequently returned to ADS-10's Adelaide studios on 24 January 2011, to coincide with the launch of the short-lived 6:30pm local bulletin. Jane Reilly retired as weather presenter in April 2013 after 37 years. A year later, Mark Aiston resigned as sport presenter.

Perth

Ten Eyewitness News Perth is presented from NEW-10's Perth studios at Dianella by Narelda Jacobs with sports presenter Tim Gossage and weather presenter Michael Schultz.

The Perth bulletin is simulcast to most of regional Western Australia via Ten West.

Network Ten originally moved production of the Perth bulletin to Pyrmont in 2000, citing high costs of converting the network's Dianella studios. Then-presenters Greg Pearce and Christina Morrissy commuted to Sydney to present the bulletin. Morrissy later resigned from these duties after suffering deep vein thrombosis on a flight and was replaced by Celina Edmonds. Pearce also later resigned to return to Perth, while Edmonds resigned to spend more time with her family. She now presents mornings on Sky News Australia three days per week.

Following their departures, Tim Webster and Charmaine Dragun became the main presenters of Ten News Perth from 2005. After Dragun's untimely death on 2 November 2007,^[11] Webster became the solo presenter and continued to present the bulletin until May 2008, after which presentation was alternated between Ron Wilson, Narelda Jacobs, Deborah Knight and Sandra Sully in Sydney for the seven weeks between Webster's departure and the relocation of the bulletin back to Perth.

On 18 January 2008, Network Ten announced that studio production of Ten News would return to Perth.^[12] The network denied that the move was related to the death of Charmaine Dragun as the decision to switch production had been made well beforehand. Narelda Jacobs began presenting in the Sydney studios in May 2008 before Ten News Perth presentation returned to the Dianella studios on Monday 23 June 2008.

Former ABC News presenter Craig Smart joined Jacobs as a co-anchor during 2011, but left in November 2012 when his contract was not renewed due to cost-cutting measures.

Ten Eyewitness News Weekend

Ten Eyewitness News Weekend airs on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 5pm and is presented from the network's Sydney studios by Natarsha Belling with sport presenter Adam Hawse and weather presenter Amanda Jason.

The national bulletin was introduced in 1994 to replace state-based bulletins but axed in January 2011 ahead of the reintroduction of local editions at 6pm. The national edition was reinstated two months later in the wake of poor ratings. The 6pm local bulletins continued to air until October 2011 when the 5pm national news was extended to 90 minutes.^[4][13] Until July 2014, a separate edition for Perth and Western Australia was also broadcast from the Pyrmont studios in Sydney.

The bulletin has previously been presented by Hermione Kitson, Mike Munro, Matt Doran, Bill Woods, Steve Liebmann, Tracey Spicer and John Gatfield.

Fill-in presenters include Lachlan Kennedy, Kimberley Soekov or Amanda Jason (news), Scott Mackinnon (Sport) and Amanda Hart (Weather).

Current affairs

The Project

The Project (previously The 7PM Project) is a talk show television program which airs weeknights. The formerly half-hour long show premiered on 20 July 2009 and is hosted by Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar, with rotating daily guest panellists. It airs live in the eastern states with delays in other states (as well as Queensland during daylight saving). It is produced from Network Ten's Melbourne studios.

Former programs

Former bulletins

Ten Eyewitness News Early

The network's early morning news program began as Ten Early News in January 2006, airing for one hour at 6am weekday mornings and featuring a number of segments unique to its timeslot, such as morning newspaper headlines from the country's major papers. The last edition aired on Wednesday 22 February 2012 in preparation of the earlier-than-scheduled launch of Network Ten's Breakfast program. The bulletin was revived on 4 November 2013, airing from 5:30am to 6:30am on weekdays, immediately preceding the network's new breakfast program Wake Up.^[14]

Ten Eyewitness News Early was originally presented by Bill Woods until he became a presenter for the Sydney edition of Ten News at Five, switching roles with Ron Wilson. For the revival, Hermione Kitson anchored alongside sports presenter Scott Mackinnon and weather presenter Amanda Jason.

The final edition of Ten Eyewitness News Early aired on Friday 23 May 2014.

Ten Eyewitness News Morning

Ten originally aired a late morning news program from 1980 until cost cutting measures led to its axing ten years later. It was revived in 1994 and presented by David Johnston from the Melbourne newsroom. In 1996, Jason Cameron took over as presenter for the next four years until production was moved to Ten's Pyrmont news centre in Sydney. In 2004, the bulletin briefly moved to midday (then called Ten News at Noon) to compete against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's own News at Noon – a decision which proved unpopular.

In 2007, after Tracey Spicer left the network the previous year, Natarsha Belling became the face of the bulletin and continued the role right through to the start of 2012.

During 2010 and 2011, the bulletin aired for one hour at 9am, before The Circle. The bulletin was retired with the launch of Breakfast but returned upon the axing of The Circle in late August 2012, this time airing at 10am on weekdays, presented by Ron Wilson.^[15]

The program was axed again on Friday 30 November 2012, marking the final full-length national news to be presented by Ron Wilson after 33 years with Network Ten. A morning news bulletin was again revived on 4 November 2013 with the launch of Ten Eyewitness News Morning, anchored by Matt Doran with sports presenter Scott Mackinnon and weather presenter Amanda Jason.^[16]

Another round of cost cutting measures led to the morning news being axed again on Friday 23 May 2014.

References

External links

• Ten Eyewitness News