NWS (TV station)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | September 5, 1959 in Adelaide, Australia |
| Founder | Rupert Murdoch's News Limited (original owner) |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Area served | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Owner | Nine Network |
| Parent | Nine Network |
NWS is a television broadcaster located in Adelaide, Australia, operated and owned by the Nine Network. The station's callsign, NWS, represents The NeWs South Australia.
Founding
NWS-9 began transmission as Adelaide's inaugural television channel on 5 September 1959, operating from studios on Tynte Street. Initially, it was under the ownership of Rupert Murdoch's News Limited through Southern Television Corporation, which also controlled the local newspaper The News. Among its early successful shows were live variety programs such as Adelaide Tonight and special editions of Hey Hey It's Saturday, the educational series The Curiosity Show, The Country and Western Hour, along with children’s shows including Channel Niners, C'mon Kids, Here's Humphrey, and Pick Your Face. Between 1989 and 1992, NWS aired South Australian National Football League (SANFL) games and notably produced the league's first-ever colour broadcast of the Grand Final in 1973.
In 1980, NBN Limited purchased NWS for A$19 million. By 1981, Hadjoin Pty Ltd, associated with Kevin Parry's Esplanade Limited, acquired a 19.88% shareholding in NBN Limited for $6.7 million. Parry attempted to increase his stake but was prevented by a ruling from the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Subsequently, Parry collaborated with the Lamb family to transfer ownership of NWS to them in exchange for their shares in NBN Limited, thereby concluding NBN Limited’s involvement with NWS.
Later developments
In 1999, the Lamb family divested NWS to Southern Cross Broadcasting for $96 million, which led to layoffs impacting almost half of the station's workforce.
On 30 May 2007, Southern Cross sold NWS-9 to WIN Corporation for $105 million; WIN assumed operational control starting 1 July 2007.
On 3 June 2013, Nine Entertainment revealed its acquisition of Nine Adelaide (NWS) from WIN Corporation as part of a transaction that secured international cricket broadcasting rights. Control shifted to Nine on 1 July 2013, making Nine Adelaide one of the Nine Network’s metropolitan stations directly owned and operated alongside Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. This left only Perth, which was purchased later in September.
Towards the end of 2014, Managing Director Sean O'Brien announced intentions to move operations from the longstanding Tynte Street location to new premises within the CBD within two years. The final broadcast from Tynte Street occurred on 18 September 2015, with transmissions commencing from modern street-level studios on Pirie Street the following day.
Current locally produced shows
- Nine News (Adelaide edition)
- Hello SA (2022–present)
- Building Ideas (Adelaide edition)
Former locally created programs
- Adelaide Tonight
- The Curiosity Show
- C'mon Kids
- The Country and Western Hour
- Channel Niners
- Here's Humphrey
- Pick Your Face
- Postcards
- Out of the Blue
- Garden Gurus SA
- Building Ideas
- Feeling Good
- Out of the Ordinary
News
Nine News Adelaide is produced at the NWS Adelaide studios, with Kate Collins and Brenton Ragless anchoring the weeknight editions, while Will McDonald presents on weekends. Sports coverage during weekdays is provided by Tom Rehn, with Corey Norris taking over on weekends. The weather segments are delivered by Jessica Braithwaite on weeknights and Chelsea Carey during the weekend broadcasts.
News history
The inaugural news presenter for the station was John Doherty.
Between 1988 and 2007, the weeknight bulletin was famously co-anchored by Rob Kelvin and Kevin Crease, forming one of Australia's most enduring news partnerships.
Throughout the 1990s, Deanna Williams acted as the primary substitute anchor and political correspondent. After her departure in 2002, either Kelvin or Crease would cover weekend shifts; however, in 2005 when all three were unavailable simultaneously, weekend sports presenter Mark Bickley stepped in to present the news.
Weekend bulletins consistently outperformed the rival Seven News Adelaide in their time slot, although weeknight ratings placed Nine second behind Seven.
In late 2008, NWS-9 introduced a localized version of A Current Affair hosted by Collins; this program was discontinued after twelve months.
Following this cancellation, Kelly Nestor announced on 26 November 2009 that her contract would not be renewed, concluding her tenure on 18 December 2009.
On 22 February 2010, senior reporter Michael Smyth joined Rob Kelvin at the news desk.
Kelvin retired on 31 October 2010 after a 32-year career but continued to contribute special reports occasionally. Kate Collins then took over his position alongside Smyth.
In October 2011, contracts for Smyth and Georgina McGuinness were not extended. From late 2011 until December 2013, Collins presented solo on weeknights while Will McDonald assumed responsibility for weekend bulletins.
Despite Nine News' success nationally, the Adelaide edition remains the lowest-rated in its market. It trails Seven News Adelaide by approximately 100,000 viewers and has experienced frequent changes in presenters since its last local ratings victory in 2007.
Presenters and reporters
News presenters
- Kate Collins (Weeknights, 2011–present)
- Brenton Ragless (Weeknights, 2014–present)
- Will McDonald (Weekends, 2011–present)
Sports presenters
- Warren Tredrea (Weeknights, 2013–2021)
- Tom Rehn (Weekends, 2015–2022; Weekdays, 2022–present)
- Corey Norris (Weekends, 2022–present)
Weather presenters
- Jessica Braithwaite (Weeknights, 2016–present)
- Chelsea Carey (Weekends, 2019–present)
News reporters
- Ben Avery
- Alice Monfries
- Ollie Haig
- Kelly Hughes
- Inga Neilsen
- Beth Excell
- Shannen McDonald
- Michaela Komarek
- Dylan Smith
- Will Di Fulvio
- April Cretan
- Samantha Hogan
- Gus Macdonald
- Josephine Shannon
Sport reporters
- Tom Rehn
- Corey Norris
- Jack Berketa
- Will Crouch
- Josh Money
- Vicki Schwarz
- Emma Henderson
Notable past presenters
- Caroline Ainslie – Weeknight anchor from 1977 to 1987 (Retired)
- Elise Baker – Delivered breaking news of Phil Walsh's death on Today in 2015; currently a reporter at Seven News Adelaide
- Sue Baron – Meteorologist during the 1970s; later served as news presenter at ADS-7/ADS-10; retired
- Mark Bickley – Weekend sports presenter from 2004 to 2009; presently co-hosts talk-back radio on FiveAA
- James Brayshaw – Sports reporter in 2002; now a commentator with Seven Network
- Jarrad Brevi – Currently with Nine News Sydney
- Nona Burden – Presenter and reporter during the 1970s and 1980s
- Grant Cameron – Weekend weather presenter from late 1970s through the 1980s; now affiliated with SAS
- Roger Cardwell – Weeknight anchor between 1974 and 1983; retired
- Jeremy Cordeaux – Hosted Cordeaux's Adelaide during the 1980s
- Kevin Crease – Weeknight anchor from the 1960s to 1974 and again from 1987 to 2007 (Deceased)
- Steve Cropper – Presenter and reporter during the 1980s
- K. G. Cunningham – Weekend sports presenter from 1975 to 2003; currently with SAS
- Joel Dry – Reporter from 2009 to 2011; now with Seven News Brisbane
- Tony Curtis – Presenter and reporter in the 1970s and 1980s
- Troy Gray – Weekend sports presenter between 2008 and 2012
- John Doherty – Presenter from late 1950s through the 1960s; retired
- Sue Ellbourne – Weather presenter during the 1970s
- Georgina McGuinness – Weekend anchor from 1987 until 2011
- Michael Smyth – Weeknight anchor between 2008 and 2011
- Sue Garrard – Presenter and reporter during the 1980s
- Clive Hale – Presenter in the 1970s; later national ABC anchor (deceased)
- Paris Martin – Reporter; currently with 10 News First Queensland
- Keith Martyn – Weather presenter from 1996 to 2007; retired but occasionally appears for special segments
- Xavier Minniecon – Weekend weather presenter between 1997 and 2011
- Ray McGhee – Senior reporter from 1979 to 2007; also a mortgage broker and former political candidate for Division of Boothby
- Kelly Nestor – Weeknight anchor from 2007 to 2009; now associated with AdelaideNOW
- Barry Pitman – Weather presenter from 1981 through to1996
- John Riddell – Weekend anchor and senior reporter between1981 and1989; later chief presenter at SAS, now retired
News bulletin titles
- NWS-9 News, Sport and Weather (1959–1965)
- Channel 9 News (1960s to early 1970s)
- National Nine News (early 1970s, 1976–1980, 1987–2008)
- Nine Eyewitness News (1974–1976)
- Nine Action News (1981–1986)
- Nine News (2008 to present)