The Nine Network will revamp its regional Queensland news service with a new co-host, Jonathan Uptin, from tonight.
Uptin, who has two decades of experience working in television, will join presenter Samantha Heathwood at 6pm each weeknight to read the evening regional bulletin. Paul Taylor will present the sports report while Nicole Rowles will keep residents up to date with a fully localised weather report.
The revamp comes as the Nine Network adds the final bulletin, Nine News Darwin, to its regional news rollout. Darwin is the 16th and last new regional service introduced by the network in one of the biggest expansions of news operations ever undertaken in Australia.
Uptin and Heathwood will be presenting eight regional bulletins across Queensland and Darwin, reaching a potential audience of almost 1.8 million viewers each night.
News-gathering staff will continue living and working in the local communities.