Breakfast (Australian TV program)
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | February 23, 2012 |
| Defunct | November 30, 2012 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Paul Henry, Kathryn Robinson, Magdalena Roze |
| Products | Breakfast television show |
| Parent | Network Ten |
Breakfast was an Australian breakfast television show broadcast live on Network Ten every weekday morning, accompanied by a weekly highlights edition on Saturdays at 11:00 am. The program delivered news, sports, and weather updates every 30 minutes between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, alongside discussions, current affairs coverage, and recurring segments. Initially airing from 6:00 am to 9:00 am before The Circle, its duration was later reduced to two and a half hours as part of the Mornings on Ten schedule. The presenting team featured Paul Henry, Kathryn Robinson, and meteorologist Magdalena Roze, with various Network Ten journalists providing news and sports bulletins. Before his departure from Ten, Deborah Knight was involved in the audition process for the show.
Setting itself apart from other breakfast programs through a largely unscripted approach, Breakfast succeeded Ten's previous morning lineup that included Ten Early News and children’s shows like Toasted TV and Totally Wild. This marked Network Ten’s second venture into breakfast television following its earlier flagship series Good Morning Australia which ran from 1981 to 1992.
Although originally slated to premiere on 27 February 2012, the show launched ahead of schedule on 23 February 2012 due to the political upheaval. The format underwent adjustments during the 2012 Summer Olympics period and following the cancellation of The Circle. On 12 November 2012, Network Ten confirmed that Breakfast would conclude after its 202nd episode, airing on 30 November 2012.
History
On 17 August 2011, Network Ten revealed plans to introduce a new breakfast show aimed at competing with established programs like Today and Sunrise, which generate approximately $100 million annually in advertising revenue compared to Ten’s $3 million. The concept drew inspiration from Ten’s current affairs/comedy format exemplified by The Project, with Andrew Rochford among the original hosting lineup. Subsequently, Paul Henry, Kathryn Robinson, Magdalena Roze, and Reuben Mourad joined the presenting team.
The launch initially targeted for 16 January 2012 was postponed to March after challenges arose in securing a third co-host. The debut was then scheduled for 27 February but moved forward to 23 February amid political turmoil. The inaugural episode extended until 10:20 am, with Paul Henry commencing the broadcast by stating "game on," signaling Network Ten’s determined entry into the competitive breakfast television arena.
On 15 August 2012, Ten launched The Breakfast Week, a Saturday highlights show summarizing key moments from the week. However, on 12 November 2012, Network Ten announced the cancellation of Breakfast, effective from 30 November, as part of broader cost-cutting measures that included cutting over 100 news positions. Despite reported tensions involving Henry within the team, Ten expressed intentions to develop a new breakfast format for 2013 under the production leadership of former Sunrise producer Adam Boland.
Prominent guests featured on the program included political leaders such as Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop, and Julia Gillard; media figures like Carrie Bickmore and Sarah Murdoch; as well as personalities from sports and entertainment including George Calombaris and Charlie Pickering.
Format modifications
When Breakfast premiered on 23 February 2012, it was broadcast from 6 am to 9 am with hosts Henry, Robinson, and Rochford. Robinson delivered news and sports updates every half hour, while Roze presented the weather segments. The studio was designed with a prominent red sofa set against an Australiana-themed backdrop, complemented by relevant props and a multi-panel screen for weather information.
On 21 May 2012, Ron Wilson took over Robinson’s duties for news and sport updates. Rochford's involvement decreased until his exit on 29 June, reportedly due to on-air disagreements with Henry. Shortly thereafter, executive producer Majella Wiemers stepped down and was succeeded by deputy Sarah Bristow.
Ten revamped its morning schedule on 30 July 2012: The Circle was cancelled; Breakfast was shortened to conclude at 8:30 am; Ten Morning News was reinstated; and Wurrawhy returned to its original slot. Wilson departed from Breakfast to anchor the morning news, with Matt Doran and Natarsha Belling assuming responsibility for news and sports updates. The program shifted its emphasis towards breaking news analysis, adopting a new set that aligned visually with the national Ten News branding.
Following the sudden cancellation of The Circle, advertorials and infomercials were temporarily integrated into Breakfast, marking it as Australia's inaugural news/current affairs show to incorporate such content.
| Presenter | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Henry | Co-host | Feb–Nov 2012 |
| Kathryn Robinson | Co-host | Feb–Nov 2012 |
| Matt Doran | Newsreader (Mon-Tue) | Aug–Nov 2012 |
| Natarsha Belling | Newsreader (Wed-Fri) | Aug–Nov 2012 |
| Magdalena Roze | Meteorologist | Feb–Nov 2012 |
On 13 August 2012, Kathryn Robinson was absent, resulting in Henry hosting solo. Substitute presenters for news and sports included Natasha Exelby and Lachlan Kennedy, while Summer Burke and Reuben Mourad filled in for weather reports.
Segments
News, sports, and comprehensive weather updates were broadcast every half hour; starting August 2012, headlines were also delivered at the quarter-hour mark by either Henry or Robinson. Metropolitan audiences received frequent traffic reports courtesy of SUNA traffic services. Until August 2012, the hosts previewed The Circle following the 8:30 am news bulletin.
Sports previews and reviews featured Wendell Sailor covering NRL and Roger Oldridge reporting on AFL twice weekly during their respective seasons. Viewer interaction was encouraged through the "Henry Hotline," a talkback segment that replayed audience calls.
The "Around Australia" segment offered regional news coverage from correspondents based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Finance updates were presented by Jacqueline Maddock, while Alexis Christoforous served as international business correspondent. On Friday mornings, the program aired "Mad Week," summarizing key highlights.
Henry frequently concluded each episode by dedicating the final segment to a notable individual featured in current events.
| Presenter | Role | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Melinda Nucifora | NSW correspondent | Daily |
| Ben Lewis | Victoria correspondent | Daily |
| Jonathan Lea | Queensland correspondent | Daily |
| Joe Hill | South Australia correspondent | Daily |
| Angela Bishop | Entertainment reporter | Occasional |
| Brett Mason | Europe correspondent | Occasional |
| Kathryn Eisman | Los Angeles correspondent | Weekly |
| Hugh Riminton | Political editor | Weekly |
| Reuben Mourad | Reporter | Occasional |
| Daniel Sutton | US correspondent | Occasional |
| Emma Dallimore | US correspondent | Occasional |
| Wendell Sailor | NRL reporter | Twice weekly (seasonal) |
| Rebecca Gilsenan | Law | Occasional |
| Roger Oldridge | AFL reporter | Twice weekly (seasonal) |
| Rosie Beaton | Social commentator | Occasional |
Broadcast
Breakfast was transmitted live from Network Ten’s Pyrmont studios in Sydney, with its airing schedule varying according to regional time zones. The program was broadcast live throughout the year in New South Wales (including the ACT), Victoria, and Tasmania. In contrast, viewers in Queensland experienced a one-hour delay during daylight saving time, while those in the Northern Territory saw delays ranging from 30 to 90 minutes. South Australia’s broadcast was delayed by 30 minutes, and Western Australia’s by two to three hours.
Special editions and alternate broadcasts
- The first episode, aired on 23 February 2012, was extended until approximately 10:20 am due to coverage of a political crisis.
- On 27 February 2012, the program extended live nationwide until noon to cover the Labor leadership ballot, achieving its peak audience of 69,000 viewers.
- For ANZAC Day on 25 April, Breakfast provided live coverage from several locations between 5 am and 11:30 am, offering more extensive reporting than other Australian morning shows.
- During major events such as the Australian Grand Prix in March and the London Olympics in July and August, presenters delivered live broadcasts directly from event venues.
Memorable segments
- On June 22, an intoxicated guest appeared on air while discussing the racehorse Black Caviar.
- August featured several awkward incidents, including hosts forgetting the date of the Olympic closing ceremony.
- A live cross was unexpectedly interrupted by a security guard in August.
- Also in August, a union official dismissed the program’s low ratings during an interview.
- In September, an interview showcased artist Pricasso, known for creating portraits with unconventional techniques.
- In November, co-hosts left Henry alone on set until the studio lights went out during his storytelling segment.
Reception and ratings
The initial response to Breakfast was mixed; critics praised Henry as a highlight, yet some viewers disapproved of his approach during call-in segments. The premiere attracted a modest national audience of 51,000 but soon declined to an average daily viewership near 40,000. While trailing established competitors like Today and Sunrise, the show nonetheless improved Network Ten’s morning performance and doubled advertising revenue in early time slots.
Henry addressed the low ratings with humor during broadcasts. The ABC program Q&A referenced Breakfast’’’s poor viewership through social media jokes. Network Ten set a goal of reaching 100,000 viewers within one year.
Although initially confirmed to continue in 2013 with a revamped team led by Adam Boland, Breakfast was cancelled on 12 November due to persistently low ratings. Its final episode on 30 November attracted its second-highest audience of 55,000 viewers. Network Ten returned to breakfast television in 2013 with the launch of Wake Up.
Controversy involving asylum seekers
On 16 May 2012, Henry drew criticism for comments suggesting that asylum seekers be accommodated similarly to low-risk criminals or individuals with mental illness as a cost-saving measure. He later proposed housing them in linen cupboards; these remarks were spotlighted by media watchdog programs.
Further controversy arose on 27 August when Henry suggested asylum seekers should "starve to death" amid reports of hunger strikes protesting relocation plans. Following widespread backlash on social media, he issued an apology.