Nightline (Australian news program)

''Nightline'' was an Australian late-night news bulletin television program produced by ''Nine News'' for Nine Network. Introduced in 1985 as a 5-minute late-night news summary before becoming a 30-minute bulletin in 1992, it was cancelled in 2008, then was brought back in 2009 before it was cancelled again in July 2010. It aired at around on weeknights, but was not shown in Perth or Adelaide. ''Nightline'' was previously presented by Kellie Sloane. Its main competitors were ''Ten Late News and Sports Tonight'' and ABC News's ''Lateline'', both of which aired prior to ''Nightline'' at .

The series was patterned after the version that airs on ABC (US), but that one is different from the Australian counterpart even though at one point both versions used the same opening graphics, which both no longer use.

History

In 2007, ''Nightline'' was also broadcast at 10:30pm on ''Nine HD'', an hour before it was broadcast on Nine SD. This only lasted for a short period of time, however.

Nightline was axed on Friday 25 July 2008 due to budget constraints as part of Nine's news and current affairs division. Wendy Kingston presented the final edition.

In May 2009 during the major expansion to the ''Nine News'' brand, ''Nine's Late News'' bulletin was re-introduced into the 11:30pm time slot left vacant by Nightline. ''Nine's Late News'', presented by Wendy Kingston, was first broadcast on Monday 4 May 2009.

In November 2009, ''Nine's Late News'' was re-launched as ''Nightline''. However, after declining audience numbers due to increasing sporting commitments with televising Friday night NRL (in the northern states) and Wimbledon in June 2010, the Nine Network permanently retired ''Nightline''. It was replaced with sporting telecasts and more "youth" programming that is borrowed from sister networks GO! and GEM, including the continuing of national-produced comprehensive half-hourly news updates presented by reporters who are on shift and is produced from the Willoughby news studios, if reporters are from Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth must travel to Sydney to present the news updates. Nine offered Kellie Sloane a redundancy package.

Presenters

At the time of Nightline's 2010 axing, the presenters were:
* ''News:'' Kellie Sloane
* ''Weather:'' Jaynie Seal (Fridays)

At the time of Nightline's 2008 axing, the presenters were:
* ''News:'' Michael Usher (Monday to Thursday) and Allison Langdon (Friday)
* ''Sport:'' Stephanie Brantz
* ''Weather:'' Jaynie Seal and Mike Bailey

The past presenters of ''Nightline'' are:
* 1992–2001: Jim Waley – former Sky News Australia presenter, now retired
* 2001–2004: Hugh Riminton – now with ''10 News First''
* 2004–2005: Helen Kapalos – now a freelance journalist, and currently the Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission
* 2005–2006: Ellen Fanning – now no longer with the Nine Network, but still a part-time reporter with ''60 Minutes'' and main presenter for The Drum on the ABC
* 2006–2008: Michael Usher – now the presenter of '' The Latest: Seven News'' on Mondays to Thursdays, as well as the Friday and Saturday presenter of '' Seven News Sydney''
* 2009: Wendy Kingston – as ''Nine Late News'' – now no longer with the Nine Network
* 2009–2010: Kellie Sloane – now a Media Commentator

Other past fill-in presenters of Nightline included:
* Georgie Gardner – now the Friday and Saturday anchor of '' Nine News Sydney''
* Jennifer Keyte – now '' 10 News First Melbourne'' weeknight presenter
* Helen Dalley – now presenter on Sky News Australia presenting ''Sunday Business'' and ''Sunday Agenda''
* Leila McKinnon – now reporter and fill in presenter for ''Nine News'' and '' A Current Affair''
* Peter Overton – now '' Nine News Sydney'' Sunday-Thursday presenter
* Ian Ross – deceased, former '' Seven News Sydney'' presenter
* Kim Watkins – former co-host of Network Ten's morning show '' 9am with David and Kim''
* Mark Ferguson – now the Sunday – Thursday presenter on '' Seven News Sydney''
* Sharyn Ghidella – now the weeknight co-presenter of '' Seven News Brisbane''
* Allison Langdon – now the co-presenter of ''Today''

Format

Nightline consists of news, sport, finance and weather. Reports were sourced mainly from ''Nine News'' reports nationwide, but the bulletin sometimes also includes reports from '' A Current Affair'', ''60 Minutes'' and international news services.

Presentation

When ''Nightline'' returned in 2009, it was presented from the ''Today'' set. However, only one camera angle was used, being the plasma screen showing a live night-time shot of the Sydney skyline. The program was presented from TCN9's "Studio 3". The backdrop is now of the Nine newsroom. The set is also used for the Early, Morning, Afternoon News bulletins.

In 2006–2008, ''Nightlines opening sequence used the same generic city buildings of the ''National Nine News'' opener, except that they were shown at night instead. ''Nightline'' also used its own arrangement of the ''National Nine News'' theme.

See also

* List of Australian television series

References

{{Reflist

1992 Australian television series debuts
2008 Australian television series endings
2009 Australian television series debuts
2010 Australian television series endings
Australian television news shows
English-language television shows
Nine Network original programming