Today (Australian TV program)

Today (Australian TV program)
Show name	Today
Genre	Breakfast television
Country	Australia
Language	English
Runtime	150–180 minutes
Company	Nine Network
Network	Nine Network
First aired	1982
Last aired	present

Today (Australian TV program)

Today is an Australian morning television program broadcast on the Nine Network since 1982. The show combines news, interviews, lifestyle, entertainment and sport, and competes directly with programs on Seven Network and Network 10. Produced from studios in Sydney, the program has been a launchpad for Australian journalists and media personalities associated with networks such as ABC, Seven, Sky News, and commercial radio outlets.

Overview

Today airs on the Nine Network with a format that mixes news bulletins, interviews with politicians and cultural figures, celebrity segments, live crosses to correspondents in state capitals and overseas bureaus, and regular weather and traffic updates. The program’s structure has been shaped by influences from international breakfast formats including those on BBC, ITV, NBC, and CBS, and has featured contributors from organisations such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Fairfax Media, News Corp Australia, and The Guardian. Notable elements include interviews with Australian political leaders from the Liberal Party and Australian Labor Party, cultural profiles on figures from the National Gallery of Australia and Sydney Opera House, and sports coverage tied to the Australian Football League, National Rugby League, and Cricket Australia.

History

Launched in 1982, the program emerged during a period of expansion for commercial television in Australia alongside shows on the Seven Network and Network 10. Early hosts moved between Nine and other outlets including Network Ten and ABC News, with alumni later appearing on programs such as 60 Minutes, Four Corners, Today Tonight, and The Project. The show has adapted to changes in Australian media regulation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and shifts in ratings driven by events such as federal elections, Olympic Games coverage, and international events like the Iraq War. Over decades, Today adjusted presentation styles following technological innovations from satellite feeds to digital broadcasting and online streaming platforms operated by Stan and Nine.com.au.

Format and Segments

The program typically opens with a news summary and headlines followed by interviews with politicians from the Liberal Party, Australian Labor Party, and minor parties, frequently featuring correspondents from state bureaux in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra. Regular segments have included entertainment interviews with actors from films distributed by Roadshow Films and StudioCanal, lifestyle pieces with chefs associated with Australian Gourmet Traveller, health features referencing research from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and sports reports linked to the Australian Sports Commission. Special editions have covered events such as federal election nights, ANZAC Day commemorations, the Melbourne Cup, and coverage tied to the Australian Open and Commonwealth Games.

Presenters and Contributors

Across its run the program has featured presenters who later worked at Network Ten, Seven Network, Sky News Australia, and the ABC. Hosts and co-hosts have included media figures who moved into politics, corporate roles, or print journalism at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, and The Daily Telegraph. Regular contributors have included political journalists from Nine’s Canberra bureau, entertainment reporters with ties to the AACTA Awards and Logie Awards, and sport presenters with relationships to the National Rugby League, Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Olympic Committee.

Ratings and Reception

Today’s ratings have fluctuated based on anchor line-ups, national events, and competition from programs such as Sunrise on Seven and Studio 10 on Network 10. Audience measurement by OzTAM and regional panels has shown shifts correlated with major sporting seasons, federal and state election campaigns, and high-profile exclusive interviews. Critical reception in outlets like The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, and The Guardian has alternated between praise for exclusive political interviews and criticism for perceived tabloid segments or ratings-driven editorial choices.

Controversies and Criticism

The program has attracted criticism over segments and on-air incidents involving guests, cast members, and interview techniques that prompted commentary in media outlets including The Daily Telegraph and ABC News. Controversies have related to live interviews with politicians during budget nights, the handling of sensitive issues such as indigenous affairs and asylum seeker policy, and off-air conduct by staff that became public through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Regulatory scrutiny by the Australian Communications and Media Authority has arisen on occasion over complaints about fairness, accuracy, or classification.

Production and Broadcast Details

Produced at Nine’s Sydney facilities, the program uses live satellite and fiber links to state bureaux in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra. Technical production has incorporated contributions from post-production houses, OB vans during events such as the Melbourne Cup or Australian Open, and collaboration with news agencies such as AAP and international partners including Reuters and AFP. The show is distributed live in metropolitan markets and through regional affiliates, with highlights and full segments available on the Nine.com.au digital platform and social channels managed by the network.

Category:Australian television series Category:Nine Network shows Category:Breakfast television in Australia