[2][3] Nutting has explained that the program was launched during a period when the ABC was experiencing criticism for being too city-centric.
The first hour of the show also commenced airing on ABC Local stations in state capital cities from 3 February 2024.
[5] Until January 2017, Saturday Night Country was also broadcast on the ABC's metropolitan AM radio stations in state capital cities, but in late 2016 the ABC decided to replace the AM program in those markets with a Saturday night edition of Nightlife.
After 500 shows and more than 2,000 hours of programming, Felicity Urquhart signed off as host of Saturday Night Country.
[citation needed] Her inaugural appearance as host was on 13 February 2021 and her first feature guest was Adam Harvey.