Nine News Now
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast television |
| Founded | January 7, 2013 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Amber Sherlock (anchor), Belinda Russell (anchor) |
| Products | Afternoon news program |
Nine News Now served as an Australian afternoon news program broadcast on the Nine Network, with Amber Sherlock anchoring from Monday to Thursday and Belinda Russell presenting on Fridays.
History
The program was announced on 20 December 2012 and premiered on 7 January 2013, marking the return of Wendy Kingston from maternity leave as its host. It entered direct competition with The Daily Edition, which launched in June 2013. On its debut, Nine News Now drew 136,000 viewers in metropolitan areas, significantly surpassing The Daily Edition’s audience of 71,000. Later ratings indicated the gap between the two shows gradually narrowed.
In September 2013, the broadcast extended its duration from 3pm–4pm to 3pm–4:15pm, coinciding with the introduction of Seven Network’s Million Dollar Minute. When Kingston went on maternity leave in December 2013, presenters such as Alison Ariotti and Natalia Cooper stepped in. Kingston ultimately did not return to this program but transitioned to Weekend Today. On 12 July 2013, Lisa Wilkinson joined as a presenter.
By October 2014, Amelia Adams resumed presenting duties after maternity leave, anchoring Tuesday through Friday editions while Sherlock took Mondays. The timeslot was shortened back to 3pm–4pm in May 2015 to accommodate changes in the scheduling of Nine Afternoon News. In February 2016, a studio blackout interrupted production, necessitating a relocation for the subsequent 4pm bulletin.
As of May 2016, Amber Sherlock hosted Monday to Thursday editions with Belinda Russell covering Fridays; however, in September 2017 Adams assumed the Friday slot when Russell moved to weather presenting for Nine Afternoon News.
The show was placed on hiatus in November 2019 and replaced during the summer non-ratings period by reruns of the British game show Tipping Point. It did not resume in 2020 as resources were reallocated toward a late-night news bulletin.
Format
The program offered up-to-date entertainment news, panel discussions focused on daily issues, and selective sports content, primarily targeting stay-at-home mothers and women aged over 55. The Chat Room segment featured conversations with Nine News journalists about trending topics.
On 30 November 2017, a segment from 9Honey was introduced at 3:10pm. Substitute presenters included Sophie Walsh, Vicky Jardim, Sylvia Jeffreys, Amber Sherlock, Deborah Knight, and Ross Greenwood.
Controversy
On 12 January 2017, off-air video footage surfaced showing Amber Sherlock expressing frustration during an advertisement break because she and colleague Julie Snook appeared in similar white outfits (Snook maintained hers was light blue), alongside guest psychologist Sandy Rea. Sherlock insisted that Snook wear a jacket to avoid matching on camera.
Sherlock later admitted she had "probably overreacted," attributing her reaction to the pressures of live television. Snook confirmed their friendship remained intact and that they enjoyed collaborating. The clip attracted international attention and was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Kimmel humorously thanked the individual who leaked it. The staff member responsible faced disciplinary measures described by insiders as grounds for dismissal.
Reception
In a 2014 critique, Craig Mathieson from The Sydney Morning Herald condemned the bulletin for its "superficial and predictable entertainment reporting" and the absence of "more comprehensive, insightful, and nuanced news coverage" throughout the day. He characterized Nine News Now as merely a preliminary summary for subsequent broadcasts, implying that if this is considered an expansion of news content, a reduction might be more effective.
On 17 January 2020, the Australian Communications and Media Authority published a discussion paper concerning advertising within news bulletins, including Nine News Now. The report highlighted that the program covered retail chain Big W's Toy Mania promotion, showcasing products and prices without clearly revealing any commercial affiliations.