Tim Webster
Born (1951-12-15) 15 December 1951 (age 72)
Australia
Occupation(s)Television and radio presenter, sports broadcaster
Years active1972–present
Notable workSports Tonight (1993–2004)

Tim Webster (born 15 December 1951) is an Australian television and radio personality and sports broadcaster. He held various presenting roles on Network 10 from 1981 until 2008.

Career

Early career

In 1972, Webster started working for Bathurst radio station 2BS, progressing from a media buyer to a radio announcer. Later, Webster was part of the on-air team at Triple M Sydney.[1]

Television

Webster was the first newsreader on breakfast television show Good Morning Australia.[1][2] In the early 1980s, he presented Eyewitness News in Sydney alongside Katrina Lee. The pair enjoyed considerable success, often No. 1 in their timeslot.[3]

On 20 January 1992, Webster launched Australia's first regular weeknight 5:00 pm newscast, reuniting with Katrina Lee to co-present Sydney's Ten Eyewitness News First at Five.[citation needed]

Webster covered various major sporting events for Network 10, including the Melbourne Cup, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Australasian golf tour. From 1993 to 2004, he was the host of the nightly sports program Sports Tonight.[4]

During the 2003 Logie Awards, Webster was bitten on a thigh by a snake that Steve Irwin was handling during a performance.[5]

In 2005, Webster became the co-presenter of Perth's Ten News at Five, alongside Charmaine Dragun, while continuing as the sports presenter on the Sydney bulletin. Following Dragun's death in late 2007,[6] Webster continued as the solo anchor of the Perth bulletin until 5 May 2008, after which he was replaced by Narelda Jacobs ahead of the bulletin's relocation back to Perth.[7] Later that same month, he stepped down as the Sydney bulletin's sports presenter on 30 May 2008, retiring from Network 10 after 27 years.[8]

In early 2011, Webster presented sport alongside Sandra Sully on Sydney's short-lived Ten Evening News. After that bulletin was axed, and replaced by 6.30 with George Negus (which moved from its original 6:00 pm timeslot) on 4 April 2011, Webster acted as a fill-in presenter for Ten News at Five and other national bulletins.

Radio

In June 2008, Webster joined radio station 2UE as fill-in newsreader and sports presenter.[8] He replaced Steve Price who moved to John Laws' former timeslot.

Webster hosted an afternoon program on Sydney's 2UE, 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday, before joining Macquarie Sports Radio in 2018 as a weekend host.[9]

In February 2019, Webster took over mornings on Sydney's 2CH from Bob Rogers.[10] In January 2020, he moved to breakfast.[11] In 2023 Webster joined ABC Radio Sydney as a presenter on the national overnight program.[12]

Personal life

Webster went to school at Scots College in Sydney.[13]

Webster has two sons and a daughter.[14][15]

Webster was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus in 2005.[16] He developed oesophageal cancer as a result of the condition and underwent surgery to remove a tumour in his oesophagus.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Lloyd, Di (25 August 1995). "I'm Too Pretty for This Sports Program". The Canberra Times. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ Lallo, Michael (20 May 2014). "'World of pain': axe looms over Wake Up, news at Channel Ten". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. ^ Katrina Lee, TV's busiest woman[permanent dead link] Sydney Morning Herald 14 January 1985
  4. ^ Wallace, Mark (30 August 1993). "Sports Tonight and Every Night". The Guide. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Webster feels bite". The Age. 13 May 2003. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. ^ Box, Dan (3 November 2007). "Newsreader found dead". The Australian. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
  7. ^ Knox, David (27 February 2008). "TEN Perth appoints news presenter". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Tim Webster steps back". Herald Sun. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Weekend Nights with Tim Webster". Macquarie Sports Radio. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Tim Webster replaces Bob Rogers and Chris Kearns goes live at nights on 2CH". Radioinfo. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  11. ^ Tim Webster takes over 2CH breakfast Radio Today 9 January 2020
  12. ^ "Tim Webster". ABC. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ^ Tay, Liz (29 October 2013). "CHEAT SHEET: What You Should Know About Sydney's Top Private Schools". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  14. ^ Johnstone, Toby (29 October 2013). "Lawyer buys $710,000 city unit to set up son, 5, on ground floor of property market". Domain. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  15. ^ Webster, Tim (11 March 2013). "Cancer doesn't worry about age". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  16. ^ Nauman, Zoe (22 September 2012). "Presenter Webster feared for his life". The Sunday Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  17. ^ Parajo, Maria Angela (13 June 2017). "Tim Webster: Life after cancer". WYZA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
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