Witness (TV program)
| Witness | |
|---|---|
| Genre | public affairs |
| Presented by | Jana Wendt, Paul Barry |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Peter Manning, Anthony McClellan |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Seven Network |
| Original release | 9 April 1996 – 13 August 1998 |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
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Witness was a weekly Australian television public affairs program broadcast on the Seven Network from 1996 to 1998.
With Peter Manning as its executive producer, Witness debuted on 9 April 1996 at 9:30pm, purposely scheduled to air after Seven's popular weekly drama Blue Heelers.[1]
It was originally hosted by Jana Wendt, who had been lured across from the Nine Network in December 1996 to front the new show.[1]
Reporters on the program included Graham Davis, Paul Barry, Tracey Bowden, Mark Llewellyn and Prue Lewarne, while Peter McEvoy was a researcher on the program.[2] The program's story editor was Lyndall Crisp and producers included Deborah Masters and Mick O'Donnell.[2]
The first edition of Witness, which included Wendt's interview with Rupert Murdoch about Super League deals, won its timeslot attracting over 1,400,000 viewers across the five capital city markets.[3][4]
Wendt left the program at the beginning of 1997 before taking the Seven Network to court in an attempt to get out of her contract.[5] Wendt claimed she was misled, with the program not what she was promised it would be.[6][7] Wendt and the Seven Network reached a $1.2 million settlement to end her legal action after receiving a death threat.[8]
Wendt was succeeded by Paul Barry in 1997 while Virginia Haussegger and Janet Gibson also joined the program.[9][10] Chris Bath joined Witness as a reporter in 1998.[11]
Witness managed a successful return on 25 February 1998 for its third year.[12][13] However, the show began to struggle in the ratings after a change to an earlier 7:30pm timeslot and being moved from Tuesday to Wednesday, leading to its demise in August 1998.[14] The final edition of Witness aired on 13 August 1998.[15]
In 1997, Witness won a Walkley Award for Pat O'Shane's story (produced by Janine Hosking) about her nephew, burns victim Tjandamurra O'Shane.[16][17]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Oliver, Robin (23 March 1996). "Witness heralds Wendt's TV return". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hogan, Christine (25 March 1996). "High stakes: Seven's gamble with quality current affairs". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 53-54. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Hogan, Christine (25 March 1996). "High stakes: Seven's gamble with quality current affairs". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 53-54. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Wendt a winner". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 April 1996. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Oliver, Robin (23 January 1997). "It's a serious business as Wendt gets heavy with Seven and quits Witness". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Browne, Rachel (26 January 1997). "Jana's as mad as hell". The Sun-Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Curtin, Jennie (21 May 1997). "In the Witness box, Wendt names her price - $6m, plus damages". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Curtin, Jennie; McClymont, Kate (23 May 1997). "Wendt ends case after death threat". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Oliver, Robin (24 February 1997). "Seven calls its next Witness". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 53. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Witness in court". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 February 1997. p. 111. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Conway, Andrew (23 February 1998). "Cool Oasis". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 53. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Seven's Witness tackles prime time". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 February 1997. p. 29. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Witness, minus Jana, tops ratings". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 March 1997. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Barry, Paul (22 August 1998). "Witness to an execution". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ Oliver, Robin (15 August 1998). "The final credits roll for Witness". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 4. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ↑ "Walkley Winners Archive". The Walkley Foundation. 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
Year: 1997; Section: Television; Award: Television Current Affairs Report (Less than 15 minutes); Name: Janine Hosking; Status: Winner; Story: "Tjandamurra", Media: Witness, Channel 7
- ↑ Abbott, Todd (19 November 1996). "Witness with Jana Wendt". Witness. 7NEWS Vault YouTube channel. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
CREDITS: Story: "Tjandamurra"; Reporter: Pat O'Shane; Producer: Janine Hosking...
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