Sports Tonight
Encyclopedia
Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten
(and on its sister digital channel One HD). The program was broadcast on Weeknights (on One) at 10.30 pm; at 11.00pm (on Ten combined with Ten Late News
), Fridays at 12.00am (on Ten after the Late News), and on Sunday from 7:30pm AEDT (on One, though this sometimes varied due to live sports coverage or other programming). The program provided up-to-date sports scores and team and player information for all codes of football and different sports across Australia.
The show ran from 1993 to 2011. From 1993 until 2005, the show ran for half an hour on each weeknight after Ten Late News
. The two shows merged in 2006, however there was some criticism by viewers that Sports Tonight was not long enough, and that it should have remained the same.
In 2011 the weekend 5:30pm editions of Sports Tonight normally seen on Network Ten
were removed from those timeslots, due to the weekend news bulletins moving to 6pm. To compensate for this, a Sports Tonight-branded sports report were incorporated into these bulletins. This edition of Sports Tonight had been airing in the 5:30pm weekend slot since 2000. Thus, the only time Sports Tonight is aired on Network Ten is in the traditional late-night time slot with Ten Late News.
The show is currently branded as Toyota Sports Tonight. In late 2006, the show was sponsored by Toyota and its upcoming Toyota Aurion
, although only minor modifications were done to the on-air graphics to match those of the Aurion colours. In early 2007, the graphics were updated with a heavily sponsored on-air look.
Sports Tonight was aired on Fridays as a separate program.
Since March 2009, a weeknightly 9.30 pm edition (started out at 7pm) of Sports Tonight aired on One with a weekend wrap edition on Sundays. Since 8 May 2011 with the relaunch of One, it aired at around 10.30pm weeknights (varies if other programming is on) and at 11.00pm on Fridays.
In December 2010 Sports Tonight updated their on-air graphics. On 5 July 2011, it was announced that the show would be axed; the show continued to air until just before the conclusion of the football seasons.
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
(and on its sister digital channel One HD). The program was broadcast on Weeknights (on One) at 10.30 pm; at 11.00pm (on Ten combined with Ten Late News
Ten Late News and Sports Tonight
Ten Late News and Sports Tonight was an Australian late night television news program, broadcast on Network Ten for over 20 years.-History:...
), Fridays at 12.00am (on Ten after the Late News), and on Sunday from 7:30pm AEDT (on One, though this sometimes varied due to live sports coverage or other programming). The program provided up-to-date sports scores and team and player information for all codes of football and different sports across Australia.
The show ran from 1993 to 2011. From 1993 until 2005, the show ran for half an hour on each weeknight after Ten Late News
Ten Late News and Sports Tonight
Ten Late News and Sports Tonight was an Australian late night television news program, broadcast on Network Ten for over 20 years.-History:...
. The two shows merged in 2006, however there was some criticism by viewers that Sports Tonight was not long enough, and that it should have remained the same.
In 2011 the weekend 5:30pm editions of Sports Tonight normally seen on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
were removed from those timeslots, due to the weekend news bulletins moving to 6pm. To compensate for this, a Sports Tonight-branded sports report were incorporated into these bulletins. This edition of Sports Tonight had been airing in the 5:30pm weekend slot since 2000. Thus, the only time Sports Tonight is aired on Network Ten is in the traditional late-night time slot with Ten Late News.
The show is currently branded as Toyota Sports Tonight. In late 2006, the show was sponsored by Toyota and its upcoming Toyota Aurion
Toyota Aurion
The Toyota Aurion is a mid-size car produced by Toyota in Australia and parts of Asia since 2006. The Aurion, given the model designation XV40 is essentially a Toyota Camry with revised front- and rear-end treatment, along with changes to the interior...
, although only minor modifications were done to the on-air graphics to match those of the Aurion colours. In early 2007, the graphics were updated with a heavily sponsored on-air look.
Sports Tonight was aired on Fridays as a separate program.
Since March 2009, a weeknightly 9.30 pm edition (started out at 7pm) of Sports Tonight aired on One with a weekend wrap edition on Sundays. Since 8 May 2011 with the relaunch of One, it aired at around 10.30pm weeknights (varies if other programming is on) and at 11.00pm on Fridays.
In December 2010 Sports Tonight updated their on-air graphics. On 5 July 2011, it was announced that the show would be axed; the show continued to air until just before the conclusion of the football seasons.
Previous hosts
At the time of Sports Tonight's axing, the presenters were:- Brad McEwanBrad McEwanBrad McEwan is an Australian television personality and sports journalist.McEwan is currently sports presenter on Sydney's Ten News at Five and probably best known for his hosting duties on Network Ten's Sports Tonight....
(Mondays - Thursdays) - Rob CanningRob CanningRob Canning is a journalist and presenter of Network Ten's Sports Tonight, he has been with the program since 2000. He previously presented the show on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and when Brad McEwan is away until the cancellation of the program in September 2011...
(Fridays - Sundays) - Neil CordyNeil CordyNeil Cordy is a former Australian rules footballer and now television presenter.- Football career :Recruited from Traralgon, Victoria, he was the brother of fellow Australian rules footballers Graeme and Brian. His nephew, Ayce, currently plays for the Western Bulldogs after being selected under...
(fill-in) - Scott Mackinnon (fill-in)
- Adam Hawse (fill-in)
- Victoria Murphy (fill-in)
- Tim WebsterTim WebsterTim Webster is a Australian television and radio personality. He currently is a fill-in presenter for Ten News....
(first host. 1993 - 2004) - Matthew WhiteMatthew White (journalist)Matthew White is an Australian journalist, and currently presenter of Today Tonight and sports presenter.-Career:White began his journalism career at a local newspaper in Manly before moving to radio and joining Newcastle's NEWFM to present breakfast news...
(last appeared on Sunday 20 June 2004. Now presents the east coast edition of Today TonightToday TonightToday Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
on the Seven NetworkSeven NetworkThe Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
) - Bill WoodsBill WoodsWilliam "Bill" Woods is an Australian television broadcaster.Woods is currently the presenter of Network Ten's Ten News at Five in Sydney, alongside Sandra Sully.-Early Career:...
(alternative host, 1993-2005. Now presents Ten News SydneyTen NewsTen News is the national news service of Network Ten in Australia. The majority of its news bulletins are presented from the TEN-10 studios in Pyrmont...
alongside Deborah KnightDeborah KnightDeborah Knight, is an Australian journalist and news presenter.Knight is currently news presenter on Weekend Today and Monday & Friday news presenter on Today.-Career:...
) - Leigh DiffeyLeigh DiffeyLeigh Diffey is an Australian auto racing commentator with the Speed Channel in the United States. He has also worked in Britain and in his homeland of Australia, where he commentated on Champ Car and V8 Supercars for Network Ten in Australia...
(weekend host during 2005 and 2006. Last appeared on Sunday 3 December 2006) - Ryan PhelanRyan PhelanRyan Phelan is an Australian television presenter best known as the main host of Network Ten's Sports Tonight.-Career:He was born in Ayr, Queensland and moved to Brisbane when he was 6 years old. He always had an interest in English and Drama while growing up but it was not until he was 15 that...
(last appeared on Thursday, 21 December 2006, now on Fox SportsFox Sports (Australia)Fox Sports is an Australia group of sports channels. They are owned by the Premier Media Group, which is in turn owned by News Corporation, and Consolidated Media Holdings. Its main competitors are ESPN, which has little local content and the free-to-air digital channel One HD...
) - Mark AistonMark AistonMark Aiston is an Australian sports journalist and current sports presenter for Ten News in Adelaide.Aiston began his career in 1982 as a race announcer for 5DN before becoming sports host for ABC News in Adelaide. He joined Ten Network in 1996 as chief Australian rules football reporter, before...
(presented on 8 September 2007 due to Brad McEwanBrad McEwanBrad McEwan is an Australian television personality and sports journalist.McEwan is currently sports presenter on Sydney's Ten News at Five and probably best known for his hosting duties on Network Ten's Sports Tonight....
, Rob CanningRob CanningRob Canning is a journalist and presenter of Network Ten's Sports Tonight, he has been with the program since 2000. He previously presented the show on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and when Brad McEwan is away until the cancellation of the program in September 2011...
and Neil CordyNeil CordyNeil Cordy is a former Australian rules footballer and now television presenter.- Football career :Recruited from Traralgon, Victoria, he was the brother of fellow Australian rules footballers Graeme and Brian. His nephew, Ayce, currently plays for the Western Bulldogs after being selected under...
being all unavailable, also presented during the 2007-2008 summer period)
Reporters
Sports Tonight had many around the ground reporters across Australia. Reporters included:- Jeremy Arnold: Junior reporter based in Melbourne
- Andrew Brown: All sports reporter, cycling and horse racing
- Paul Cochrane: All sports senior reporter - mainly cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, synchronized swimmingSynchronized swimmingSynchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
, NetballNetballNetball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, badmintonBadmintonBadminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
& NFL - Ian Cohen: AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and Australian OpenAustralian OpenThe Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
(tennis) senior reporter - Neil Cordy: AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
& Socceroos senior reporter based in Sydney - Liam Cox : Sydney based reporter
- Adam Hawse: NRLNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
senior reporter based in Sydney - Scott Mackinnon: Senior SurfingSurfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
correspondent & winter sports specialist - Victoria Murphy: NRLNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
reporter - Roger Oldridge: All sports reporter based in Melbourne
- Luke Schneider: All sports reporter and producer based in Melbourne
- Matt Suleau: All sports reporter
- Nathan Templeton: All sports reporter based in Melbourne
- Adam Thompson: Ordinary junior sports and wii boxing reporter
- Kelli UnderwoodKelli UnderwoodKelli Underwood is a radio and television sports journalist and sportscaster specialising in Australian rules football. She is notable as being the first woman in history to call an Australian Football League match on television which is seen by many as a landmark for women in Australian media...
: AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and all sports reporter based in Melbourne - Leanne West: NRLNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
senior reporter - Luke Elvy: Golf reporter in the US
- Jacqui Reed: AFL reporter in Melbourne