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Weekend Today (Australian TV program)

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Weekend Today
File:Weekend Today Australia logo.png
Weekend Today logo used since 1 January 2012
GenreBreakfast News Program
Presented byCameron Williams (2009–present)
Deborah Knight (2014–present)
Leila McKinnon (2009-2014)
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes526 (as of 27 April 2014)
Production
Executive producerMark Calvert
Production locationWilloughby, New South Wales
Running time180 minutes
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release1 January 2009 –
present
Related
Today

Weekend Today is an Australian breakfast television program, currently hosted 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 permantely replaced Leila McKinnon 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, sport is presented by Cameron Williams and weather presented by Natalia Cooper.

Hosts

Presenter Role Tenure
Cameron Williams Co-host & Sport 2009–present
Deborah Knight Co-host 2014–present
Wendy Kingston News 2014–present
Natalia Cooper Weather 2015–present

Substitute hosts

Fill-in hosts for Weekend Today include Wendy Kingston, Natalia Cooper, 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:

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. Amber Sherlock, Peter Stefanovic, Jayne Azzopardi Sophie Walsh, Chris Urquhart and Alislin Kriukelis present the news when Kingston is absent.

Sport

Sport presenters have included:

Erin Molan, Yvonne Sampson, Nathan Brown and Clint Stanaway are fill-in sports presenters.

Weather

In December 2009, Felicity Whealan began presenting the weather on weekend today after she was chosen through the weekend weather competition, Whealan also filled in for Steven Jacobs on today. However, in April 2010, main fill-in weather presenter, Emma Freedman replaced Whealan who joined Network Ten. Due to budget cuts at the Nine network, Emma Freedman was made redundant in late 2014. In 2015 Natalia Cooper became the new Weather presenter replacing Freedman.

Notable weather presenters have included:

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'.

Notable entertainment presenters have included:

  • Michele Mahone (2009–13)
  • Susanne Messara (2013–14)
  • Giselle Ugarte (2014)
  • Elle Halliwell (2015–present)

See also

References

  1. ^ Knox, David (28 January 2009). "Weekend Sunrise wakes up to Today's alarm". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2009.

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