newy.com.au understands NBN News is expected to move from live studio presentation to a pre-recorded format from this Monday, changing a broadcasting tradition spanning decades.
Under arrangements described by several sources, over the phone and online, the presenter will pre-record introductions to individual stories throughout the day. Those segments will be assembled alongside the completed reports into a playlist for broadcast in the existing 5.30pm timeslot.
The studio is understood to retain the ability to go live when required, including for breaking news and live crosses to special events, such as Knights games. Pre-recorded presentation would become the normal format, rather than removing the option of live coverage altogether.
WIN Television told newy.com.au in June that it would build a new control room inside NBN’s Honeysuckle studios.
We understand Friday night’s bulletin was expected to be the last live bulletin directed remotely from Brisbane before the Newcastle control room takes over on Monday.
NBN originally produced its news and controlled its television playout from its Mosbri Crescent studios, where broadcasting began in 1962. Since the relocation to Honeysuckle, presenters have remained in Newcastle while the bulletin has been controlled from Brisbane, under a cost-saving arrangement understood to have shared production facilities with Nine’s Darwin news service.
Industry sources say NBN journalist Bella Evans will produce and present WIN’s new bulletin for Nine Darwin from NBN’s Honeysuckle studios in Newcastle, working with journalists based in Darwin. In a media release dated 12 October, WIN announced plans to restore local news to Nine Darwin later this year through a full 30-minute WIN News bulletin airing at 5.30pm on weekdays, supported by journalists and camera operators living and working in Darwin.
While control of NBN’s bulletin is returning to Newcastle, graphics production is understood to be moving in the opposite direction. NBN’s Newcastle graphics team has continued handling that work until this week, but graphics are expected to be supplied from WIN’s Wollongong operation from Monday, according to industry sources. The number of positions affected and arrangements for existing staff have not yet been confirmed.
Viewers are also expected to notice changes to the bulletin’s appearance. newy.com.au understands the NBN News name will remain, but Nine’s familiar dots will be removed from the branding as the programme adopts graphics consistent with WIN News.
The live Newcastle camera view behind the presenter is understood to be among the casualties. The new studio background and graphics displayed beside the presenter are expected to follow WIN’s presentation style, reducing the bulletin’s distinctly Newcastle appearance.
Sources have described concern among some staff that the changes represent a step backwards from the presentation standards associated with Nine’s metropolitan bulletins.
We have been told by industry sources that NBN’s journalists and camera operators have often struggled to cover stories since WIN’s staffing cuts, often relying on vision provided by councils and third parties, particularly when colleagues are on leave. WIN subsequently advertised for a casual journalist based in Newcastle on 14 September and a casual camera operator/editor covering Newcastle and the Central Coast on 15 September. The advertisements confirm recruitment for casual roles, but do not establish that the earlier job cuts are being reversed.
The production changes follow WIN’s acquisition of NBN from Nine earlier this year. Nine announced completion of the sale on 2 June, with NBN continuing to carry Nine programming under an affiliation agreement.
WIN announced plans for the Newcastle control room in June, saying it would make NBN News “truly produced locally”. At the time, the company said its revised half-hour bulletin would focus on local news, sport and weather, followed by Nine News at 6pm. The bulletin combines Newcastle stories with reports from elsewhere in northern NSW, rather than focusing exclusively on Newcastle and the Hunter. The move to the earlier 5.30pm timeslot was a separate change introduced in June.
In June, WIN Network chief executive Andrew Lancaster told newy.com.au that the changes represented an important investment in local news delivery.
“Regional communities value strong local journalism and local storytelling, and that remains central to our strategy for NBN,” Mr Lancaster said.
“The changes to our weeknight bulletins are designed to deliver more local content, more local stories and a stronger connection to the communities we serve across Northern New South Wales.”
The details of Monday’s production changes were provided to newy.com.au on Friday evening, leaving insufficient time to obtain a statement from WIN before publication. We have emailed WIN for comment and we will publish any responses received.
