Wake Up! WA
Encyclopedia
Wake Up! WA was a breakfast television
show broadcast in Western Australia
. It aired on Access 31
until the station's demise in 2008.
Jason Weeks, host of the show since its inception, interviewed more than 2000 prominent politicians, business people, charitable bodies, sporting groups and community organisations. Demelza Goudie, a Western Australian music buff and community radio announcer joined Jason to co host the show for two seasons upon original co-host Lisa Cooney's departure, while the news and weather positions became available on a rotational basis for those brave enough to face the early morning starts for no pay. To split the workload, in 2007 the show was hosted on Mondays and Tuesdays by Edwina Nattrass and Matt Hern, a former regular guest presenter who provided viewers with financial advice. For the rest of the week, journalist and presenter Anita Tassone hosted alongside Jason, the only on-air team member to have been with the show since its inception. The final season, in 2008, saw Anita Tassone and Jason Weeks hosting the show full time, providing a minimum of four interviews per day, on a variety of socially-relevant topics. Because of continued growth, the last seasons of Wake Up! WA were also uploaded to ISP iinet
's server for their subscribers to watch in their media lounge.
Originally intended as a 12 week program, the popularity of the show ensured the show's future. With its growing popularity in 2006, Wake Up WA began rebroadcasting the live show each day (7-8AM) in a later timeslot (10.30-11.30 AM) to allow more viewers to watch the program. By mid 2006, in less than a year the show surpassed over 300 original episodes, joining only a few locally produced shows that have ever reached this mark this quickly.
In early 2006, Wake Up Perth! was nominated for four Antenna Awards
, winning the award for Best New Producer. Wake up! WA also picked up the Antenna Award for Best News and Current Affairs Program at the 2008 awards.
On August 6, 2008 Access 31 ceased transmission, leaving the fate of the programme up in the air. At the time Wake Up! WA had an estimated audience of 45,000 viewers for the live show, with another 25-30,000 tuning in for the daily rebroadcast, and over 500 episodes of the show had been produced. The producers of the show had weighed up alternative broadcast options at the time, but nothing has yet to come out of it.
Breakfast television
Breakfast television or morning show , is a type of infotainment television program, broadcast live in the morning...
show broadcast in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It aired on Access 31
Access 31
Access 31 was a free-to-air Community television station based in Perth, Australia which operated between 1999 and 2008 before closing due to insolvency. The station had broadcast on UHF 31 from the ABC's television mast at Bickley in the Perth Hills...
until the station's demise in 2008.
Overview
Wake Up! WA served as a forum for members of the Western Australian community to discuss the latest matters affecting West Australian life. Guests are often representing local charities, community, or sporting organisations. In addition, the show updates viewers on the local news, sport, weather, fuel prices, and current affairs. With the success of Wake Up! WA, many opportunities became available for new talent to get real world experience in live television production that otherwise would be impossible.Jason Weeks, host of the show since its inception, interviewed more than 2000 prominent politicians, business people, charitable bodies, sporting groups and community organisations. Demelza Goudie, a Western Australian music buff and community radio announcer joined Jason to co host the show for two seasons upon original co-host Lisa Cooney's departure, while the news and weather positions became available on a rotational basis for those brave enough to face the early morning starts for no pay. To split the workload, in 2007 the show was hosted on Mondays and Tuesdays by Edwina Nattrass and Matt Hern, a former regular guest presenter who provided viewers with financial advice. For the rest of the week, journalist and presenter Anita Tassone hosted alongside Jason, the only on-air team member to have been with the show since its inception. The final season, in 2008, saw Anita Tassone and Jason Weeks hosting the show full time, providing a minimum of four interviews per day, on a variety of socially-relevant topics. Because of continued growth, the last seasons of Wake Up! WA were also uploaded to ISP iinet
IiNet
iiNet Limited is Australia's second largest internet service provider with over 1.3 million customers as of 15th August 2011. Their focus is primarily on ADSL-based Internet access, using their own ADSL2+ infrastructure, and reselling Telstra ADSL1. iiNet also provides dial-up and voice...
's server for their subscribers to watch in their media lounge.
History
Previously known as Wake Up Perth!, the show began broadcasting in September 2005. The show's presenters were chosen through the process of a reality TV show, called Your Big Break. This process involved auditioning over 300 people for the available roles, through a weekend workshop to test contestants ability to think fast, react to a changing environment, and not take themselves seriously. The original cast members were Jason Weeks and Lisa Cooney as hosts, Jo Newman on weather and Alisa presenting sport.Originally intended as a 12 week program, the popularity of the show ensured the show's future. With its growing popularity in 2006, Wake Up WA began rebroadcasting the live show each day (7-8AM) in a later timeslot (10.30-11.30 AM) to allow more viewers to watch the program. By mid 2006, in less than a year the show surpassed over 300 original episodes, joining only a few locally produced shows that have ever reached this mark this quickly.
In early 2006, Wake Up Perth! was nominated for four Antenna Awards
Antenna Awards
The Antenna Awards are an annual award ceremony that recognises outstanding community television programs broadcast on Australia's Channel 31 stations. Since their inception in 2004, the Antennas have been traditionally hosted by C31 Melbourne, and are held at a gala ceremony at Federation Square...
, winning the award for Best New Producer. Wake up! WA also picked up the Antenna Award for Best News and Current Affairs Program at the 2008 awards.
On August 6, 2008 Access 31 ceased transmission, leaving the fate of the programme up in the air. At the time Wake Up! WA had an estimated audience of 45,000 viewers for the live show, with another 25-30,000 tuning in for the daily rebroadcast, and over 500 episodes of the show had been produced. The producers of the show had weighed up alternative broadcast options at the time, but nothing has yet to come out of it.
Regular guests
- Peter Fitzpatrick - Motor Trade Association
- Allan Stiles - Grand Cinemas
- Kylie Mathieson - Emerge One
- Marnie Giroud - Wild Things
- Grant Girdwood - Motoring
- Dr. Peter Dingle - Murdoch UniversityMurdoch UniversityMurdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
- Peter NattrassPeter NattrassPeter Christopher Roland Nattrass is a Perth businessman and politician who was the Lord Mayor of the Perth City Council from 1995 to 2007 having succeeded Reg Withers. He was elected to the council in 1977. He was re-elected Lord Mayor in 1999 and again in 2003...
- Former Lord Mayor of Perth - Mathias CormannMathias CormannMathias Hubert Paul Cormann is an Australian politician. He is a Liberal Party of Australia Senator for Western Australia, having been chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 19 June 2007 to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ian Campbell...
- Senator for Western Australia