Saturday February 7, 2009, the hottest day recorded in Melbourne since records began 150 years ago, will be remembered as the beginning of the darkest days in Victoria's history.

With 173 lives lost and over 2000 homes destroyed, these Bushfires eclipsed the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, which killed 75, to be the worst bushfire event in Australia's history.

This is how the Australian media covered the events:

ABC News

Saturday February 7, 2009

ABC 774 Melbourne simulcast on local radio and nationally on ABC Newsradio with non-stop coverage (the official emergency broadcaster).

Sunday February 8, 2009

Sunday Edition of ABC News Breakfast from 6am, shown on ABC1.

Special Sunday edition of AM.

TV coverage on Insiders with Barrie Cassidy, and later in the morning with news updates from Felicity Davey

Special Midday News Bulletin presented by Felicity Davey from News South Wales.

Special 1 hour bulletin of ABC News, broadcast at 7pm. Presented by Felicity Davey in Sydney with Ian Henderson live from the fires.

Monday February 9, 2009

1-Hour edition of the Midday Report with Ros Childs

ABC News Victoria has Ian Henderson presenting live on location, with Tamara Oudyn in the studio.

7.30 Report presented from Melbourne studio, with Kerry O'Brien

Tuesday February 10, 2009

ABC News Victoria has Ian Henderson presenting live from Yea, with Tamara Oudyn in the studio.

Wednesday February 11, 2009

ABC News Victoria has Ian Henderson presenting live from Yea, with Tamara Oudyn in the studio.

Thursday February 12, 2009

ABC News Victoria has Ian Henderson presenting live from Alexandera, with Tamara Oudyn in the studio.

Friday February 13, 2009

ABC News Victoria has Ian Henderson presenting on location, with Tamara Oudyn in the studio.

At 7:30pm, Barrie Cassidy presented a one-hour ABC News special: "After the Firestorm"

Seven News

Saturday February 7, 2009

6PM Seven News Melbourne expanded to 1 hour.

11:15PM Extended Update with Jennifer Keyte.

Sunday February 8, 2009

6AM Weekend Sunrise with Andrew O'Keefe and Rebecca Maddern extended by 1 hour with Laurel Irving covering the bushfires.

ALL DAY Extensive News updates with the latest on the fires

4.30PM Seven News Special right through to 6pm presented by Jennifer Keyte from Melbourne and broadcast nationally.

6PM Seven News Melbourne expanded to 1 hour - with crosses to Peter Mitchell at the Fire Crisis Headquarter in Whittlesea.

7PM Sunday Night's premiere has Mike Munro on the scene and Monique Wright reporting from Coldstream.

10.30PM Seven News Special bulletin presented by Jennifer Keyte from Melbourne and broadcast nationally.

11PM Seven News Melbourne Special bulletin with Jennifer Keyte.

Monday February 9, 2009

6AM Mel and Kochie present extended edition of Sunrise, live from the Victorian Bushfires. Extended to 11am.

4:30PM 4:30 News extended to 1 hour, presented by Ann Sanders from Sydeny.

6PM

• Peter Mitchell presents a 1 hour bulletin on location.
• Ian Ross presents Sydney's news from Victorian fires with Chris Bath in studio - 1 hour bulletin.
• Brisbane has Kay McGrath presenting on location.
• Adelaide has John Riddell on location and Jane Doyle in the studio
• Perth has a one-hour bulletin with Rick Ardon at the fires and Susannah Carr in the studio.
• Southern Cross Tasmania airs 1-hour bulletin

6.30PM East-coast Today Tonight presented from the fires with Matt White - broadcast at 7pm into Melbourne. Perth has state edition of Today Tonight at 7pm.

10:30PM Special 30-minute bulletin with Peter Mitchell on location at Whittlesea Emergency Relief Centre.

Tuesday February 10, 2009

6AM Mel and Kochie present Sunrise live from the Victorian Bushfires. Extended coverage to 9.40am

4:30PM One-hour edition of Seven's 4:30 News, with Ann Sanders presenting

6PM

• 1-hour edition on Seven News Melbourne, with Peter Michell at Mt Disappointment
• Adelaide & Perth also recieve 1-hour bulletins

7PM Today Tonight again presented from fires by Matt White

11:30PM Special Seven News extended update, with Rebecca Maddern

Wednesday February 11, 2009

6AM Mel presenting Sunrise from fires, extended to 11am

4:30PM Another one-hour edition of Seven's 4:30 News, with Ann Sanders presenting

6PM One-hour bulletin in Melbourne with Peter Mitchell on location. Adelaide and Perth also air one-hour bulletin.

7PM Matt White on location for TT

Thursday February 12, 2009

6AM Mel presenting Sunrise from fires with Kochie in the studio, extended to 11am. Simon Reeve also reporting from fires.

4:30PM Again extended to 5:30pm. Peter Mitchell presents bulletin on location with Jessica Rowe in the studio.

6PM Peter Mitchell presents 1-hour Seven News Melbourne from Reedy Creek

7PM Today Tonight on loctaion

Friday February 13, 2009

6AM Mel on location and Kochie in studio, with Simon also reporting on fires. Concluded at 9am.

4:30PM Again extended to 5:30pm. Peter Mitchell presents bulletin on location with Chris Bath in the studio.

6PM Peter Mitchell presents 1-hour Seven News Melbourne on location.

7PM TT on location.

Saturday February 14, 2009

11:30AM Special Saturday edition of the Seven Morning News, with Jennifer Keyte

6PM Jennifer Keyte on location for Seven News Melbourne, one hour bulletin

Sunday February 15, 2009

7AM Weekend Sunrise has Samantha Armytage on location, concluded at normal time of 10am

4:30PM Sunday edition of the 4:30 News, with Jennifer Keyte on location

6PM Jennifer Keyte on location for Seven News Melbourne, bulletin returns to 30-minute running time

Nine News

Saturday February 7, 2009

9:07PM Nine News Melbourne Special Bulletin with Jo Hall.

Sunday February 8, 2009

6AM Today on Sunday broadcasted live from Kinglake with Leila McKinnon, and Cameron Williams in the studio.

ALL DAY Updates through cricket with Jo Hall

6PM Nine News Melbourne expanded to 1 hour with Peter Hitchener live from Kinglake. Parts of this bulletin is shown nationally.

10PM Nine News Melbourne Special bulletin presented by Jo Hall, with Peter Hitchener on location and Tony Jones reporting of the death of Brian Naylor. National bulletin presented by Mark Ferguson, crosses to Jo Hall and Peter Hitchener.

Monday February 9, 2009

5:30AM Karl Stefanovic presents Today show from bushfires, Lisa presents from the studio.

6PM

• 1-hour edition of Nine News Melbourne, with Peter Hitchener.
• One hour edition in Adelaide and Sydney.
• Nine News Perth also one-hour, with Dixie Marshall presenting from fires.
• Interstate bulletins take parts of Melbourne bulletin.

7PM A Current Affair broadcast live from Kinglake

10:30PM Special 1-hour Nine News bulletin, with Peter Hitchener at Yea. National bulletin presented by Peter Overton - with cross to Melbourne bulletin.

Tuesday February 10, 2009

5:30AM Today Show live from Victorian Bushfires. Karl and Lisa at the fires. Coverage extended to 11am (10:30am in some cities)

6PM 1-hour bulletin of Nine News Melbourne, with Peter Hitchener at Yea. Shown at 5PM into Brisbane

10PM 1-hour bulletin of Nine News, with Peter Hitchener at Yea.

Wednesday February 11, 2009

5:30AM Karl and Lisa presenting Today from fires, with Cameron at the Red Cross in Melbourne. Extended to 11am

4:30PM Peter Overton presenting the Afternoon Edition on location

6PM Another 1-hour bulletin in Melbourne with Peter Hitchener on location. Peter Overton presented Sydney's news on location with Mark Ferguson in the studio.

7PM A Current Affair on-location

10:30PM Special one-hour Nine News bulletin with Peter Hitchener on location

Thursday February 12, 2009

5:30AM Karl and Lisa presenting Today from fires, with Richard Wilkins at the Red Cross in Melbourne and Cameron Williams reporting on location. Concluded at 9am.

4:30PM Peter Overton on location

6PM Peter Hitchener presents 1-hour Melbourne bulletin on-location.

7PM ACA on location.

7:30PM Australia Unites program hosted by Eddie McGuire to raise money for victims of fire. Runs past 12am.

Friday February 13th, 2009

5:30AM Karl and Lisa presenting Today from fires, with Richard Wilkins at the Red Cross in Melbourne and Cameron Williams reporting on location. Concluded at 9am.

6PM Peter Hitchener on location for another special bulletin of Nine News Melbourne

10:30PM Special 1-hour bulletin with Peter Hitchener on location

Saturday February 14th, 2009

6PM Nine News Melbourne has 1-hour bulletin, with Jo Hall on location.

Sunday February 15th, 2009

7AM Today on Sunday has Leila McKinnon presenting on location, concluding at normal time of 10am

6PM Nine News Melbourne has Jo Hall on location, bulletin returns to 30 minute running time.

Monday February 16th, 2009

6PM Nine News Melbourne has Peter Hitchener on location, with normal 30-minute bulletin.

Ten News

Sunday February 8, 2009

5PM Ten News at 5 Special from Melbourne with Mal Walden, expanded to 1 hour.

10.30PM Ten News Special bulletin with Mal Walden from Melbourne and broadcast nationally.

Monday February 9, 2009

5PM 90 Minute edition of Ten News:

• Sydney has Sandra Sully in studio with Bill Woods on location
• Melbourne has Mal Walden in studio and Helen Kapalos on location - Stephen Quatermain also presents part of the bulletin from studio.
• Brisbane and Adelaide air 90-minute bulletins, while Perth bulletin runs for usual 60-minutes

Tuesday February 10, 2009

5PM Melbourne has 90-minute edition of Ten News with Mal and Stephen in studio and Helen on location

Wednesday February 11, 2009

5PM Melbourne has Mal in studio and Helen on location - return to one-hour bulletin

Saturday February 14, 2009

5PM Local half-hour edition of Ten News Melbourne, with Helen Kapalos

Sunday February 15, 2009

5PM Local half-hour edition of Ten News Melbourne, with Mal Walden

Black Saturday: One Year On

This section includes coverage of the one-year anniversary of the bushfires disaster.

Credits

Thanks to Danny, Moe, Des and Brad for caps.