NBN Television - News

News

NBN News is the only regional mainland news service to produce a nightly bulletin seven nights a week. The news service employs 60 staff and produces over 20,000 local news stories annually, of which is combined with news reports from the Nine Network, the American Broadcasting Company and ITN; with local stories in all of its sub-markets. Throughout its history, NBN News produced Good Morning News, Good Evening News, News Night, NBN Evening News, and NBN Late Edition News and currently running NBN News.

NBN's local news is presented from the station's news studios at Mosbri Crescent in Newcastle, by Paul Lobb and Natasha Beyersdorf on weekdays, with Jane Goldsmith on weekends. Mike Rabbitt and Gavin Morris present sport and weather respectively on weekdays, whilst weekend sport is presented by Mitchell Hughes.

NBN was the first to launch an hour-long news bulletin in April 1972, and from launch night until the 1980s, Murray Finlay was the face of NBN's news bulletins, and was one of Australia's longest serving newsreaders. In 1975, Finlay was joined by Ray Dinneen at the news desk, who remained in that position until retirement in December 2010. In 1979, the news service received an award for its coverage of the Star Hotel riot.

On 1 March 1985, Jim Sullivan began his career as news director for the service, which has ultimately led him to become Australia's longest serving news director.

NBN News' footage of the tragic events of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake was beamed throughout the world, with NBN's reporters also being interviewed by international news services.

During the 1990s, the news service produced bulletins for the breakfast and late night timeslots, however this was later replaced by the Nine Network's Nightline bulletin. Also, for a short period, the 4.30pm bulletin was broadcast coupled with introductions and weather reports produced by the station in Newcastle.

NBN was one of the first television stations in Australia to broadcast live video from New York City as the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon unfolded. Liasing with NBN News director Jim Sullivan, NBN Late Edition News producer, Matt Carden secured a live feed through the Nine Network of ABC America enabling first pictures to be aired of the New York attacks within minutes. When NBN Late Edition News opened a short time later, newsreader Jodi McKay handed over to ABC News America's coverage of events, anchored by Peter Jennings. The bulletin was extended until 1am when NBN handed over to TCN-9 for the start of almost five days of continuous national coverage.

NBN News is unique as it simulcasts live across all 6 markets. After the major national stories are presented, the program is split into six Local Window opt-outs, featuring pre-recorded local bulletins for each regional market and a live local news round-up for Newcastle. After the first break, the bulletin continues as a live simulcast across the network with further Local Window opt-outs for sport and weather. News, sport and weather presenters start early at NBN recording introductions to each of the local stories which will be inserted into the live broadcast at 6pm. Top Stories are produced by regional news bureaus at Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Central Coast, Tamworth, Lismore and the Gold Coast.

In 2006, NBN aired its 20,000th news bulletin during the week of 26 March; commemorating the event, NBN News produced five news specials that summarised the prior 44 years of news production.

NBN also broadcasts Nine Network's news content, including Nine's Early Morning News, Today, Nine's 4.30 Afternoon News, A Current Affair, Nine News First at Five.

Paul Lobb took over as the network's main male newsreader after Ray Dinneen retired on 17 December 2010.