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Today show's embarrassing on-air blunder

Sydney has copped a massive drenching in the past two days, with trains delayed and everybody on flood watch.

However, Channel Nine’s Today show has come up against some flak online, after it aired footage from 2004 to illustrate how bad the wet weather was to viewers all around the country.

In a segment on the popular morning show, a reporter spoke as footage was played of a police officer standing out in the pouring rain directing traffic at a Caltex station.

Deb Knight in pink jacket on the Today show on Channel Nine
The Today show has been caught in an awkward on-air blunder. Photo: Channel Nine
Sydney in 2004 with a police man directing traffic in the rain
In a segment about the rain in Sydney, Channel Nine aired footage from 17 years ago. Photo: Channel Nine

But if you look closely in the background, you’ll see that the price of petrol was at just 84.9 cents per litre and the police car stationed out front is a Holden VY Commodore.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Sydney police haven’t used this model of car since 2004, meaning the footage is about 17 years old.

Channel Nine owned up to the fail, telling the publication that it was stock video footage from their archives.

“We used file vision of rain falling in Sydney as the rain hadn’t hit yet and at 5.30am it was too dark to shoot,” the spokesperson said.

In January, Deb Knight was announced as Karl Stefanovic's replacement. Photo: Getty Images
In January, Deb Knight was announced as Karl Stefanovic's replacement. Photo: Getty Images

“Admittedly, it would be wonderful to wake up to petrol prices at 84.9 cents.”

Channel Nine will no doubt have had plenty of chances to capture some new footage of the wild weather in Sydney yesterday, as around 20mm of rain fell in the past 24 hours.

It’s not the first time Today has made headlines over the past few months, with a major cast shake-up rocking the panel at the end of last year.

In January, Deborah Knight was confirmed as Karl Stefanovic’s replacement on Today.

The 46-year-old now fronts the show, alongside Georgie Gardner and Tom Steinfort, who replaced Sylvia Jeffreys as Today newsreader.

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