Set to debut in March 2002, the multimillion-dollar production would have its own dedicated studio and fronted by Australian Radio personality Andrew Daddo and Lisa Forrest.

Some of these changes were not well received by members of Seven's news department who felt the shift in tone negatively impacted on the brand, and at one point then-Seven CEO Maureen Plavsic demanded Koch be fired only to be overruled by Kerry Stokes.

These changes have proved useful in shielding viewers from the actions of some passers by, notably the cast members of the ABC show The Chaser's War on Everything and the protests surrounding the 2018 Aboriginal adoption controversy.

In 2011, there was much speculation that Melissa Doyle would be leaving the show to present Today Tonight and that David Koch may be moved to a prime-time position.

[9] In January 2021, Koch and Armytage reverted to a four-day week, with Matt Doran and Natalie Barr co-hosting on Fridays, with Edwina Bartholomew as news presenter.

The original Saturday team consisted of Samantha Armytage co-hosting with Larry Emdur with Sarah Cumming, Simon Reeve and James Tobin presenting news, sport and weather respectively.

[22] In September 2019, Basil Zempilas announced his resignation as regular host of Weekend Sunrise, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, but would still appear on the show intermittently as a summer and fill-in presenter whenever required.

Like most other breakfast television shows, Sunrise blends a mixture of news every thirty minutes, interviews and light-hearted feature pieces into three hours each morning.

Often they will go out and present the show from other locations, such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, Athens, Disneyland, Beijing and Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games, Beaconsfield in Tasmania and Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

[28][29] These local news updates were discontinued in April 2022 when New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania rejoined Queensland in the same AEST timezone.

Current presenters who have been fill-in hosts or co-hosts of Sunrise in recent times include Edwina Bartholomew, Monique Wright, David Woiwod, Kylie Gillies, Michael Usher, Mike Amor, Mark Beretta, Larry Emdur and Chris Reason.

[30] Fill-in presenters for other roles, in order from most likely to be used to least likely to be used: Other presenters who have either filled in presenting Sunrise in the past include Andrew O'Keefe, Kellie Sloane, Matt Doran, Matt White, Mike Munro, Nick McArdle, Ben Davis, Chris Reason, Bruce McAvaney, Jennifer Keyte, Sarah Cumming, Teegan Dolling, Mylee Hogan, Ann Sanders, Jessica Rowe, Emmy Kubainski, Rosanna Mangiarelli, Ryan Phelan, Sharyn Ghidella, Basil Zempilas, Kendall Gilding, Peta Jane Madam, Jim Wilson and Ben Damon.

Hosts included, Georgie Gardner & Mark Beretta (2000–2001), Andrew Daddo & Joh Griggs (Olympic Sunrise), Melissa Doyle & Nick McArdle (1998–1999), Melissa Doyle & David Koch (1997), Chris Bath & David Koch (1996), Chris Bath & Peter Ford (1996) and Darren McDonald who hosted the original program in 1991.

Chris Reason was the original co-host with Melissa Doyle for the 2002 relaunch, while Monique Wright, David Brown and Fifi Box were previous weather presenters.

[31] On 24 January 2010 it was announced that the original presenter Grant Denyer would return to the weather and Fifi Box would move to entertainment replacing Nuala Hafner.

In January 2016, Edwina Bartholomew announced that she would be leaving her role as weather presenter to join David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta at the desk.

[34] In 2006, David Koch read the joke of the day, which involved then Prime Minister John Howard, his wife Janette, Kim Beazley, and "a message written in urine in the snow".

There was an "extreme backlash" from the public, resulting in Channel Seven owner Kerry Stokes forcing Koch to write a letter of apology to Howard.

[36] Later in 2006, upon the rescue of trapped miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell in the aftermath of the Beaconsfield mine collapse, David Koch was invited into an ambulance.

[37] In April 2007, reports surfaced that the show was lobbying Vietnamese authorities to hold an ANZAC Day dawn service early so it could be broadcast live on television in Australia.

After considerable political fallout over the alleged request, opposition leader Kevin Rudd and Liberal minister Joe Hockey decided to end their regular weekly appearances on the program.

[39] In a March 2008 episode Koch and Doyle were ambushed by a group of protesters chanting and carrying placards that claimed "Channel 7 doesn't pay", a reference to controversy surrounding the reported non-payment of winnings to National Bingo Night audience members and home viewers.

[41] Koch later blamed the incident on the Nine Network's A Current Affair, a theory that was lent credence when the same protesters appeared on that night's episode of the program.

In August 2009, the show was criticised for insinuating that the killers of James Bulger had been secretly resettled in Australia while promoting an episode of Seven's crime drama City Homicide that referenced the case.

[48] In February 2016, actress Kristin Davis appeared on the show to discuss her work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in which she also reluctantly took part in a Sex and The City themed skit which was received poorly by viewers.

[52] Seven subsequently issued an apology for the error after police announced that a 40-year-old Queensland man was responsible for the attack, and later launched in internal investigation into the incident.

Throughout the program special guests including Dannii Minogue, Joe Hockey and then Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd made a video message to farewell Mel.

On Friday 9 September 2022, after the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an extended edition of Sunrise aired from 5:00am until 12 noon, with David Koch and Natalie Barr providing wall-to-wall coverage.

All on-air talent wore black, in line with royal protocol for national mourning, up to and including the late Queen's funeral on 19 September 2022.

On the morning of 20 March 2006, when Sunrise was normally on a one-hour delay in Queensland, the program was broadcast live in order to provide immediate and up-to-date information on Tropical Cyclone Larry to local residents.