News programs in Australia vary in their primary aim and target audience both geographically and politically. The joined effort of government-funded and privately-owned corporations provides comprehensive coverage of the news stories and their detailed analysis.
The government-sponsored news corporations ABC and SBS are reasonably moderate in presenting the news while private news companies tend towards the right-wing disposition.
ABC Network programs
Australian Broadcasting Company is the largest government-funded news corporation and offers a variety of formats of news presentation.
The dedicated news channel ABC News is the most viewed rolling news channel in Australia, it triples the runner-up Sky News audience. The track offers a mix of live news bulletins viewed from an Australian perspective. Although it has consistently high ratings, it is generally criticized for repeated content of the supposedly breaking news and an exaggerated dramatism of presentation.
Along with ABC News channel, other news programs on ABC cater to all sorts of audience. Choose your favourite among these rolling news bulletins.
The first one to start the day is News Breakfast, a breakfast news program on air between 6 and 9 am. It covers the latest news, analysis, debate, finance, sport, and weather. Its special edition is Weekend Breakfast, a mix of live breaking news and discussion, interviews with newsmakers, and the weekend sport and weather. ABC News at Noon takes over at midday and can be watched live or with on delay in your Western states. 7.30, a nightly television current affairs program provides an overview of the events of the day.
There is also room for intelligent analysis and expert comment of the news. Insiders is a piece of smart information and talk television program that provides an overview of the week’s issues, professional commentary on the news paired a panel discussion or an interview with a prominent political figure.
Four corners is an excellent investigative journalism documentary television program inspired by the British current affairs program “Panorama”. Its long-lasting appeal is due to the topical issues it boldly addresses. The yeas on air have reported numerous crimes, exposed many flaws, and uncovered cases of abuse of power or lobbyism.
The Drum is a highly-popular nightly news and debate program, designed to provide overview and opinions of topical issues.
The World aired between 10 and 11 pm with its focus on overseas news adds to the variety of ABC news programs.
SBS is another government-funded news channel. World News Australia is the main product of this corporation and presents a world view of events. It has consistently good feedback and high ratings.
News programs by private news corporations.
Seven Early News is a TV news service of the Seven Network and is the highest-rating news service in Australia. 7 Early News covers political news, business and finance, sport and weather. 7 Morning News continues at 11.30. Seven News updates during the day present state-based regular news updates. The Latest Seven News is aired at 10 pm and summarizes the news of the day.
Nine Network is often rated the highest in Australia and is only overtaken by 7News. 9News national bulletins are aired on weekday mornings, weekend afternoons and most nights of the week.
60 Minutes on Nine Network is an Australian version of a USA television news magazine show. It has won numerous awards for broadcasting and often gets involved in controversial discussions and court procedures.
Network 10 news is always popular, especially The Project, a one-hour live show, with news on current affairs and a panel talk show. It has won numerous awards and has consistently high ratings.
Australian TV is very heterogeneous in forms of organization and property. It offers various news formats and provides for all political and social groups, despite regular expressions of concern over the under-representation of minorities.
