Peter Hitchener
Encyclopedia
Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener (born 21 February 1946) is an Australia
n television presenter. He has been chief news presenter for Melbourne's edition of Nine News since 1998, and prior to that was weekend news presenter.
, Hitchener began his media career in 1965 at the Brisbane
radio station 4BH where he wrote, edited and presented news bulletins. Hitchener then moved on to ABC
Brisbane where he undertook roles as a television news and radio presenter. Still at the ABC, he moved to Sydney in 1973 where he was a relief presenter on the evening news for James Dibble
.
Hitchener moved to the Nine Network
after one year at ABC Sydney, presenting National Nine News
first in Sydney and then in Melbourne as the presenter of News Centre Nine. In 1977, Hitchener began hosting the breakfast show on 3AW
before moving to 3AK
in 1979. At about this time, Hitchener also became chief weekend news presenter and understudy to first-choice news presenter Brian Naylor
. In 1985, Hitchener resigned from 3AK
.
When Brian Naylor retired in 1998, Hitchener took over as presenter of Nine News Melbourne on weeknights. In 2008 Hitchener celebrated 10 years as the weeknight news presenter, and in that time has become one of Melbourne's most respected news presenters. In October 2010, Hitchener signed another 3 years as presenter of Nine News Melbourne.
In April 2008, in a Herald Sun article regarding his 10 years as head presenter of Nine News Melbourne, Hitchener acknowledged he was gay.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television presenter. He has been chief news presenter for Melbourne's edition of Nine News since 1998, and prior to that was weekend news presenter.
Career
Originally from rural QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Hitchener began his media career in 1965 at the Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
radio station 4BH where he wrote, edited and presented news bulletins. Hitchener then moved on to ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Brisbane where he undertook roles as a television news and radio presenter. Still at the ABC, he moved to Sydney in 1973 where he was a relief presenter on the evening news for James Dibble
James Dibble
James Edward Dibble AM MBE was an Australian television presenter, best known as the presenter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Sydney news, reading the first news bulletin in 1956, and remaining with the ABC for 27 years up until his retirement in 1983.-Career:Dibble joined the ABC...
.
Hitchener moved to the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
after one year at ABC Sydney, presenting National Nine News
National Nine News
Nine News is the news service of the Australian Nine Network.Nine News's flagship bulletin is the nightly 6:00pm localised bulletin, produced by networked owned-and-operated stations in Sydney , Melbourne , Brisbane and Darwin alongside localised bulletins produced by the WIN-owned Nine Network...
first in Sydney and then in Melbourne as the presenter of News Centre Nine. In 1977, Hitchener began hosting the breakfast show on 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
before moving to 3AK
3AK
3AK is the call sign of SEN 1116 and earlier the on-air name of a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116...
in 1979. At about this time, Hitchener also became chief weekend news presenter and understudy to first-choice news presenter Brian Naylor
Brian Naylor (broadcaster)
Brian Naylor was an Australian television presenter, best known for his longstanding stint as chief news presenter at National Nine News Melbourne from 1978 to 1998 and his sign-off line, "May your news be good news, and good-night."His son Matthew was killed in a plane crash at Kinglake, Victoria...
. In 1985, Hitchener resigned from 3AK
3AK
3AK is the call sign of SEN 1116 and earlier the on-air name of a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116...
.
When Brian Naylor retired in 1998, Hitchener took over as presenter of Nine News Melbourne on weeknights. In 2008 Hitchener celebrated 10 years as the weeknight news presenter, and in that time has become one of Melbourne's most respected news presenters. In October 2010, Hitchener signed another 3 years as presenter of Nine News Melbourne.
Personal life
In addition to his television presenting, Hitchener is also an avid patron for the Deaf Blind Society of Victoria and a guest speaker for many charity and community events held across Melbourne.In April 2008, in a Herald Sun article regarding his 10 years as head presenter of Nine News Melbourne, Hitchener acknowledged he was gay.