7.30 — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|Australian nightly television current affairs programme}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox television | image = 7.30 - Australian Broadcasting Corporation.png | caption = Official logo for the show | genre = {{Plainlist| * News * Current affairs }} | presenter = Kerry O'Brien (1995–2010) <br> Leigh Sales (2011–2022) <br> Sarah Ferguson (2022–present) | country = Australia | language = English | executive_producer = Joel Tozer | producer = {{Plainlist| * Trish Drum * Jamie Cummins * Laura Kewley }} | runtime = 30 minutes | first_aired = {{start date|1986|1|28|df=y}} | last_aired = present | related = ''Lateline'' | network = ABC Television }}

'''''7.30''''' is an Australian nightly current affairs television program which broadcasts on ABC TV and ABC News at 7:30pm on Monday to Thursday nights, hosted by Sarah Ferguson.

The half hour program follows the evening news, and is the flagship program for the network, with ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' saying "''7.30'' remains arguably [the ABC's] most impactful daily program. It is regularly the broadcaster's most watched on any given night."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/front-runner-emerges-to-replace-laura-tingle-on-abc-s-7-30-20250513-p5lyqk.html|title=Front-runner emerges to replace Laura Tingle on ABC’s 7.30|date=2025-05-15|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2025-05-20|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

From 1986 to 2011 it was called '''''The 7.30 Report'''''; in 2011 it was rebranded as ''7.30'' and ''Stateline'' was folded into the revamped program.<ref name="730revamp">{{Cite news |last=Washbrook |first=Cyril |date=3 December 2010 |title=Sales and Uhlmann will front revamped 7.30 |work=The Spy Report |publisher=Media Spy |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/03/sales-and-uhlmann-will-front-revamped-7-30/ |access-date=3 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215215907/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/03/sales-and-uhlmann-will-front-revamped-7-30/ |archive-date=15 December 2010}}</ref>

==History== ===''The 7.30 Report''=== ''The 7.30 Report'' began on 28 January 1986, screening Tuesday to Friday evenings.{{cn|date=February 2026}} The program extended to Mondays the following year.{{cn|date=February 2026}}

Until the end of 1995<ref name="smh1995">{{cite news|title=Operation O'Brien – The plan to rescue The 7.30 Report|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 December 1995|page=8|first=Margo|last=Kingston|author-link=Margo Kingston}}</ref> the program had separate editions for each state and territory, presented by Alan Carpenter, Mary Delahunty, Quentin Dempster, Trisha Goddard,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-11-28 |title='7.30 Report' reprieve |work=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122118781 |access-date=2023-10-14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Sarah Henderson, Jane Singleton,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-10-30 |title=Singleton to leave 7.30 Report |work=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122111294 |access-date=2023-10-14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Genevieve Hussey, John Jost, Leigh McClusky, Kelly Nestor, and Andrew Olle.

Kerry O'Brien took over as the presenter of the national program on 4 December 1995,<ref name="smh1995"/> with Maxine McKew serving as the main relief presenter until 2006. O'Brien announced in 2010 that he would be leaving at the end of the year.<ref name="obrienleave">{{Cite news |date=24 September 2010 |title=Kerry O'Brien to leave 7.30 Report |work=The Spy Report |publisher=Media Spy |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/24/kerry-obrien-to-leave-7-30-report/ |access-date=24 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022063833/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/24/kerry-obrien-to-leave-7-30-report/ |archive-date=22 October 2010}}</ref> He presented his final edition of the program on 9 December 2010.<ref name="end">{{Cite news |last=Washbrook |first=Cyril |date=9 December 2010 |title=Kerry O'Brien signs off from The 7.30 Report |work=The Spy Report |publisher=Media Spy |url=http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/09/kerry-obrien-signs-off-from-the-7-30-report/ |access-date=10 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214054654/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/09/kerry-obrien-signs-off-from-the-7-30-report/ |archive-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>

In February 1996, the Friday episode of the show was replaced with ''Stateline'', a similar show with a separate edition for each state and territory.

The program usually comprised several pre-recorded items and live interviews, focusing on issues of national or global significance. The program traditionally featured interviews with politicians.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Former reporters included political editor Heather Ewart,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-01-24 |title=Ewart joins 7.30 Report |work=The Canberra Times |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126924516 |access-date=2023-10-14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Deborah Cornwall, Greg Hoy, Mark Willacy, Michael Brissenden, Murray McLaughlin, Mary Gearin, Mike Sexton, John Taylor, Peter McCutcheon, Paul Lockyer, Lisa Whitehead, Natasha Johnson, David Mark, Genevieve Hussey, Mark Bannerman, Tracy Bowden, Matt Peacock, Andy Park, Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Dylan Welch, Louise Milligan, Madeleine Morris, Conor Duffy, Monique Schafter, Alex Mann, Michael Atkin, and political editor Sabra Lane.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} Paul Lyneham also hosted ''The 7.30 Report'' for several years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/902154|title = Papers of Paul Lyneham|year = 1999}}</ref>

Until 2010, satirists John Clarke and Bryan Dawe presented a (usually) weekly mock interview covering a topical issue.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = The Australian | title = Duo put twist in The 7.30 Report's tail| first = Brian | last = Woodley | page = 3 | date = 28 January 2000 }}</ref> Dawe played the interviewer, while Clarke played a prominent public figure but, unusually for satire, he deliberately made no attempt to imitate the appearance, voice, or mannerisms of the person he portrayed. When portraying Julia Gillard he placed a flower pot behind him to give the impression of him being a woman. These interviews were a continuation of the pair's work for ''A Current Affair'', beginning in 1989, for which they won a number of awards.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

=== 2011 changes === The ABC announced in December 2010 that the program would return in 2011 in a new form, under the name ''7.30''.<ref name="730revamp" /> The revamped program was first presented by Leigh Sales from Sydney. Chris Uhlmann was ''<nowiki>7.30'</nowiki>''s first political editor and Canberra presenter.

The ABC also announced that Stateline would be folded into the ''7.30'' program. The change saw ''7.30'' extended to five nights a week, although Friday editions continued to be presented locally and focus on state affairs.<ref name="730revamp" />

The program first aired on 7 March 2011.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

In 2012, Uhlmann was appointed as ''7.30'' political editor, therefore stepping down as host. Uhlmann remained as political editor until 2013, when he announced that he would be working on a documentary about the Rudd and Gillard governments for the ABC.{{cn|date=June 2025}} Sabra Lane replaced him as political editor, until she left to host the ABC morning radio current affairs program, ''AM''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/sabra-lane-quits-730-to-host-the-abcs-flagship-radio-show-am-20161026-gsauv8.html|title=Sabra Lane quits 7.30 to host the ABC's flagship radio show, AM|last1=Lallo|first1=Michael|date=2016-10-26|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2017-02-03|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2015, Jo Puccini was appointed executive producer of the program.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/brand/rear-window/jo-puccini-appointed-new-ep-of-730-20150318-1m1tx1|title=Jo Puccini appointed new EP of 7:30|last=Aston|first=Joe|date=2015-03-18|work=Financial Review|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In December 2016, the ABC announced that Andrew Probyn would replace Sabra Lane as political editor.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/andrew-probyn-joins-abc-news/|title=Andrew Probyn joins ABC News|date=2016-12-16|work=About the ABC|access-date=2017-03-02|language=en-AU|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In August 2017, Probyn moved to a new role as the ABC's political editor replacing Chris Uhlmann who left the broadcaster for the Nine Network.

In February 2018, Laura Tingle was appointed as political editor, replacing Probyn.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/laura-tingle-named-chief-political-correspondent-for-abcs-730-program-20180212-h0vxob.html|title=Laura Tingle named chief political correspondent for ABC's 7.30 program|last=Carmody|first=Broede|date=2018-02-12|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2014, Sarah Ferguson hosted the show whilst Leigh Sales was on maternity leave.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/sarah-ferguson-to-host-730-when-leigh-sales-takes-leave/story-e6frg996-1226775822070|title=Sarah Ferguson to host 7.30 when Leigh Sales takes leave|date=2013-12-05|work=The Australian|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812012545/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/sarah-ferguson-to-host-730-when-leigh-sales-takes-leave/story-e6frg996-1226775822070?nk=cbb9e9a167349c1470f737eed2bfdd99%23mm-premium|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> She received critical acclaim for her hard-hitting interview style from many Australian media outlets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/why-sarah-ferguson-wont-be-easily-forgotten-as-abcs-730-presenter-20140602-zrt8h.html|title=Why Sarah Ferguson won't be easily forgotten as ABC's 7.30 presenter|last=Mathieson|first=Craig|date=2014-05-30|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2018, Justin Stevens was appointed executive producer.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

In February 2022, Sales announced that she would be stepping down as host, after almost 12 years in the role. She finished hosting the program in June, after the federal election, but continued to work for the ABC.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-10|title=Leigh Sales announces she is stepping down as presenter of 7.30|language=en-AU|work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-10/leigh-sales-announces-she-is-stepping-down-as-presenter-of-7-30/100821496|access-date=2022-02-10}}</ref>

In April 2022, ABC announced that Sarah Ferguson would return from her role as special correspondent in Washington, D.C. to succeed Sales as the host of ''7.30'' from July 2022.<ref name=host>{{cite news |last=Knox|first=David|date=29 April 2022|title=Sarah Ferguson to host 7:30|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/04/sarah-ferguson-to-host-730.html|work=TV Tonight|location= |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>

Joel Tozer was announced as the new executive producer of the program in June 2022, taking over from Justin Stevens, who was appointed director of news for the network.<ref name=ExecutiveProducer>{{cite news |last=Down|first=Rhiannon|date=30 May 2022|title=ABC nabs Nine star producer Joel Tozer in revamp |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/abc-nabs-nine-star-producer-joel-tozer-in-revamp/news-story/ed3e36ece6e2df0954240a2698a8ae26|work=The Australian|location= |access-date=}}</ref>

In May 2025, ABC announced that Laura Tingle would be departing ''7.30'' after six years to take on a new role as global affairs editor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-05-07 |title=7.30's Laura Tingle to become ABC's new Global Affairs Editor |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-07/laura-tingle-announced-as-abc-global-affairs-editor/105262626 |access-date=2025-05-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaspan |first=Calum |date=2025-05-07 |title=Laura Tingle to leave 7.30 for global ABC role |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/laura-tingle-to-leave-7-30-for-global-abc-role-20250507-p5lx9k.html |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Tingle was replaced by Jacob Greber, former chief digital political correspondent at the ABC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-12 |title=ABC News names Jacob Greber as 7.30 Political Editor |url=https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/press-releases/abc-news-names-jacob-greber-as-7-30-political-editor/105411108 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=About the ABC |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jacob Greber to replace Laura Tingle as 7.30 political editor, ABC announces |website=ABC News |date=12 June 2025 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-12/abc-jacob-greber-to-replace-laura-tingle-7-30-political-editor/105410702 |access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref>

== Hosts == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Presenter !Tenure |- |Kerry O'Brien |1995–2010 |- |Leigh Sales |2011–2022 |- |Chris Uhlmann |2011–2012 |- |Sarah Ferguson |2022–present |} David Speers is currently a fill-in presenter.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

=== Political editor === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Presenter !Tenure |- |Chris Uhlmann |2012–2013 |- |Sabra Lane |2013–2016 |- |Andrew Probyn |2016–2017 |- |Laura Tingle |2018–2025 |- |Jacob Greber |2025–present |}

==State editions== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2025}} On 28 November 2014, Quentin Dempster announced the final episode of the state editions would be the following week (5 December 2014), corresponding with his departure from the public broadcaster.

The state editions of ''7.30'' were broadcast on ABC at 7:30 p.m., with eight separate state and territory specific editions. Each local version of ''7.30'' was also broadcast nationally on ABC News over the weekend.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.abc.net.au/7.30 Official site] *[http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/ Official site] *[http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A138309;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 The 7.30 Report at the National Film and Sound Archive]

{{DEFAULTSORT:7.30}} Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming Category:2011 Australian television series debuts Category:ABC News and Current Affairs Category:1986 Australian television series debuts Category:1990s Australian television series Category:2000s Australian television series