Today (Australian TV program)

Today (Australian TV program). *Today* is a long-running Australian breakfast television program broadcast on the Nine Network. Launched in February 1982, it was the first program of its kind in the country, pioneering the breakfast television format. The show is produced from Nine's studios in Sydney and features a mix of news, interviews, entertainment, and lifestyle segments.

History

The program first aired on 1 February 1982, with initial hosts Steve Liebmann and Kay McGrath, marking a significant expansion for the Nine Network under owner Kerry Packer. It faced immediate competition from the ABC's ABC program and later from Seven Network's rival offering. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, *Today* solidified its position, with Liebmann becoming a defining presence alongside various co-hosts. Major shifts occurred in the 2000s, including a high-profile move by presenter Jessica Rowe from the Ten Network, and a major revamp in 2009 that introduced a new set and expanded format. The program has undergone numerous presenter changes and refreshes to compete in the competitive morning landscape, consistently remaining a flagship production for the Nine Entertainment Co..

Format and segments

The three-hour program follows a structured clock format, blending hard news, weather, finance, and lighter lifestyle content. Core segments include the opening news bulletin with updates from the Nine News team, comprehensive weather reports often presented by Stevie Jacobs or Livinia Nixon, and business news featuring analysis from the Australian Financial Review. Regular lifestyle and entertainment segments, such as entertainment news from Richard Wilkins and cooking demonstrations by chefs like Miguel Maestre, provide variety. The show also features extended interviews with prominent figures from politics, such as former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and the arts, alongside recurring audience interaction segments and crosses to reporters across Australia and international bureaus.

Presenters

The hosting lineup has seen many notable figures in Australian television. Founding presenter Steve Liebmann co-hosted for over two decades, with early partners including Georgie Gardner and Tracey Grimshaw. Later, Karl Stefanovic became a central figure, hosting for 14 years alongside co-hosts such as Lisa Wilkinson, who joined from *The Project* in 2007. Other significant presenters have included Deborah Knight, Sylvia Jeffreys, and Allison Langdon. The sports segment has long been presented by Tony Jones, while finance has been covered by experts like Ross Greenwood. The current hosting team, as of recent cycles, features Sarah Abo and Karl Stefanovic returning to the role.

Reception and ratings

*Today* has experienced significant fluctuations in its ratings performance over decades, often engaging in a fierce battle for dominance with *Sunrise* on the Seven Network. Under the stewardship of hosts like Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic, the program achieved periods of strong ratings success in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Its performance is closely tracked by industry publication TV Tonight and ratings agency OzTAM. The program has received several Logie Awards for Most Popular Morning Program, acknowledging its place in the cultural landscape. Critical reception has varied, with praise often directed at its comprehensive news coverage but occasional criticism leveled at its lighter entertainment segments.

Controversies and notable incidents

The program has been the subject of numerous public controversies. A major incident involved host Karl Stefanovic's on-air comments in 2013 about a New Zealand politician, which sparked diplomatic complaints and required an apology from the Nine Network. The high-profile departure of Lisa Wilkinson in 2017, reportedly over a pay dispute with management regarding co-host Karl Stefanovic's salary, generated extensive media coverage in outlets like The Sydney Morning Herald. The program has also faced criticism for segments perceived as overly promotional or for on-air gaffes by guests and hosts alike. Furthermore, the conduct and off-screen behavior of some presenters have periodically become topics of discussion in the Australian media.