Seven unveiled some of its 2009 titles to advertisers this week, including Sunday Night, a new Sunday evening current affairs programme. The last time Seven went anywhere near this territory was arguably Witness / The Times.
Certainly for a network that boasts its dominance in News and Current Affairs it is lacking a tough, credible evening format. TEN is the only other free to air network without an equivalent.
Looking at the success of Nine’s perennial 60 Minutes it isn’t hard to see why the network is looking for a piece of the action. Sundays are still considered the most prestigious night of the week, generally with more eyeballs in front of the box, and significantly, an opportunity to promote the coming week.
Seven has had mixed fortunes with its Sunday nights of late. Ugly Betty worked last year but has now subsided. Kath & Kim and Grey’s Anatomy surged, but Gladiators, My Name is Earl, Dancing with the Stars and Brothers and Sisters have been less glorious. Lipstick Jungle and Private Practice flopped.
There are unconfirmed rumours that Mike Munro has been talking with Seven. He leaves Nine at the end of this month, supposedly for retirement. Meanwhile, Ray Martin, who criticised Nine’s dumping of Sunday is set to give the Andrew Olle Lecture later this month.
Is time up for 60 Minutes? Who would you like to see hosting a serious current affairs show on Seven?
Souce: Fin Review
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It is bad enough we have news shows to start the day and on weekends Why not something else.
You know why TT is beating ACA in the ratings
Nine no longer has a quiz show at 7pm that follows A Current Affair
ok i’ll give you the factuals, and that my opinion is not fact.
but surely i am not alone in saying that PTTR, city homicide, rush are great shows (and not just because they are aussy). and no i do not completely determine quality as # of viewers (the reason i included Rush in the list)
and pushing the blame to the people meters is very sore loserish. i will agree that it is not the best way to measure but it is all we have. I’m sure you would support it if they showed high viewers on a show that you enjoyed.
also to all of those people that say that TT should be improved first:
TT is beating ACA in the ratings and 60 mins does well, so to suggest that the 6:30 shows impact other current affair shows (which i don’t think does) would say that “sunday night” would be more successful.
Bring back Naomi!!! for sh*ts and giggles with Ray Martin, Stan Grant and Jill Singer! what a team!
Oh, and Nathan that’s your opinion the following are ‘quality’ shows: “PTTR, city homicide, rush, the factuals”, sure they rate well with those who’ve actually got people meters, but that doesn’t mean they’re ‘quality’! – As far as I’m concerned those shows mentioned are nothing but sheer crap!
- Spunkymonkeycaesar
1) Seven rip off of A Current Affair with Today Tonight
2) Seven rip off Today with Sunrise
3) Seven rip off Mornings with Kerri – Anne with The Morning Show
4) Seven rip off Getaway with The Great Outdoors
5) Seven rip off Sunday with Weekend Sunrise
6) Seven jump on the Gordon Ramsay Bandwagon buying an 11 year old series
NOW Seven rip off 60 Minutes with Sunday Night! No as someone’s previously mentioned Nine didn’t create the news / current affairs genre, but atleast they were the first at the genre out of any of the Australian television networks! I thoroughly agree they should focus on Today Tonight before tackling another a ‘hard hitting’ current affairs show up against such a well established show! – They’ve got no chance and I hope it fails for having no inititative whatsoever!
If people wanted a better alternative to a current affairs show on a Sunday night they’ve got plenty of other channels to watch with plenty of other programs, they don’t want another current affairs show!
If they can’t find anything worthwhile or serious to put in their nightly Today Tonight then how can they expect that adding another show will yield the quality journalism that is required to rival 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes has been around since the dinosaurs and it is not going down so easily. Seven should focus on trying to lift the standard of Today Tonight rather than biting off more than they can chew.
to may,
Firstly: ch7 has bought most of the best new shows from america over the last few years Desperate housewives, lost, greys, ugly betty, criminal minds, bones. Yes i know some of them have dropped off since but they were all american tv’s best at the time
Secondly: all of the quality australian shows are on 7 and 10 ie. PTTR, city homicide, rush, the factuals, thank god. unless u call hole in the wall quality
thirdly: ch7 in not in any form of pickle just check the top 100 from the past few weeks, and they have not come 2nd for a week since july.
sorry, just needed to put credit where its due. I think a ch7 60 mins would do quite well ch7 already wins the daily current affair show, the wake up show, the morning show and the nightly news. i think this will act as a decent cometitor. even if it isn’t atleast, as jerome said, 60 mins would have to improve a bit, so it is a win/win situation
Seven needs a strong team if they going to have any chance against 60 minutes and most important proper hard hitting stories not the fluff stories we get on TT during week.Chris Reason is a very unrated reporter,seven should use this guy more on air,he would be a great host and reporter for show.I remember few years back when chris use to do Sunrise and Sunday Sunrise,he was very good at it
There was talk about a similar kind of show not long ago. Sunday is 60 mins, a new 7 program is not going to change that.
Mike Munro’s time is over. If god forbid this show goes ahead 7 has enough presenters to handle the show. Jessica Rowe, Chris Reason even John Mangos
…this could even be a good reason to finally kick Anne Sanders off the morning news.
If 7 is looking for some inspiration for the show they should look at BBC’s NewsNight
Someone earlier mentioned Mike Willisse..he is on Sky and should stay there, he does not have the omph needed for commercial news – he sends the Sky audience to sleep!
Commercial tv current affairs hahaha
don’t make me laugh as it’s always sensationalized trash
which insults the viewers intelligence.
It’s SBS and ABC for me, the others i don’t even bother tuning in for.
I thought Mike Munro was staying at Nine to do another seaosn of M.P.U (Missing Persons Unit) and a few more This IS Your Life for Nine?????
I also believe Ray is still connected to Nine and id find it very very hard to believe he would go and Host a show for 7!
This won’t work. Even if it did, it’ll just bore me to death. We need more quality shows not news, reality, makeover, operating, gardening, related shows.
no news programs on sundays please – its supposed to be a night for relaxing….Although maybe Kochie could have a go. LOL
I dont think the words.. Serious.. and Current Affair.. should be.. or can be used in the same sentence..
Maybe if Channel Seven stopped buying crappy overseas tv shows.. and buy the good ones they wouldn’t be in such a pickle.. Or maybe tried to produce some Australian shows.. (I know most of crap.. but there are and have been good ones out there.. )
If Channel Seven end up making a “serious current affairs” *cue giggling*.. it’s making foxtel look more attractive. or buying more dvds..
What is with people and negatively judging a show soo extreemly early even before the details come out
think about it even if it is not as good it will force 60 mins to fight for its audiences and put better stuff on. It would be an idea to have it on at 6:30 so that people are sick of current affairs by 7:30
i personally think that 60 mins is very strong and will take lots of time/effort to defeat but i think it can be done
i’ve always thought that a ‘feel good’ version of 60 minutes would suit 7 on a sunday night. i never really understood how people can be in the type of mood to watch a serious show like 60 mins on a Sun. does ne1 know if it has ever been tried on a weekday?
Couldn’t agree with you more Michael, those were pretty much my exact thoughts also!
- Spunkymonkeycaesar
Just bring back The Times. When it began it did not have a host (Paul Barry joined later), it just let people speaking for themselves like Australian Story today.
Wow 200+. I knew it had seen off a few shows over the years but not that many!
And yes a bit hypocritical as Seven have copied Nine many times over the years.
*sigh* What is with all this copycat BS, I mean people are aware 9 did not create the current affairs genre?
I think Chris Bath would be a good addition, might keep her happy until Roscoe retires and stop her jumping ship to 9. I would also like to see a bit more of Chris Reason, he really isnt well utilised by 7 and this would be perfect for him IMO.
They have to get Ray Martin for this if it’s to succeed. They should throw so much money at him thay he won’t be able to refuse. Nine would be spitting chips if Seven manage to get Ray.
They are incredible, first seven says Nine are copying there ideas with TODAY and Now seven is doing the same with this new current affairs show. I think the truth of the matter is, 60 minutes will be one of those programs that never dies. It is a brilliant show and as Nine’s head of news and current affairs said himself, 60 Minutes has come up against 200 plus programs in its history all of which has been unsucessful in beating the program. It is great television
yeah, good luck trying to topple 60 minutes.
Mike Munro would be good for this!!
Here’s a clue Peter meakin..
Why not use Todat Tonight as your news/interview follow up/disect serious stories show.
I do not need aserious news show on Sunday night – that is ‘put brain away and just watch TV for relaxation sake.
Just like Seven to copy Nine isn’t it? I’m with Jonas I’ll be sticking with 60 Minutes which IMO is as strong as ever. I can see this sinking like a stone.
I don’t see Seven as a “serious” news and current affairs network – sure they are by far the most popular, but the journalistic quality of what they have produced in the past doesn’t lend itself to this format.
It’ll be interesting to see how long they stick to the original scope – and how quickly they revert to 8 minute long Bra stories once it starts rating badly
Here’s a suggestion for Seven’s newsmagazine – rip off Dateline To Catch a Predator – the title alone sounds like the kind of thing that would drum up viewers
accept defeat 7…instead of trying to beat 60min…just go and find something alternative… somethings should be left alone…and 60mins is that one thing that maybe beaten short term…but the next time something big happens people will watch 60mins…. its like Sunrise people cant watch Mel and Kochie when the ^%$# hits the fan
Yes more copy cat programing by Meakin!!!
great just what we need from seven more rubbish current affairs
People will reject it at first but eventually the loyalty to 60 minutes will subside and with the right presenters it will take over. Just like Today Tonight surpassed ACA with Naomi Robson and Anna Coren (for the large part of her 10 years on that show people loved her, well at least preferred the sound of her voice to Tracy Grimshaw). They don’t have to be much different from 60 minutes just have preferred presenters.
Alternatively, if they mix it up a little like Sunrise did in toppling Today, the new show may, provided it does it in a way people like, topple 60 minutes quickly (its so bland!!!!!!!!).
Personally I’d prefer watching 60 minutes
I grew up watching it and will be sticking with it
I think Peter Meakin has been wanting to sink his teeth his teeth into a project to take on 60mins for some time, id think they would put this at 6.30pm though, rather than directly up against the ticking clock.
Also, while im sure Seven hoped that more of the DWTS audience would follow it to Sunday, it is, in part doing what Seven wanted it to do, Seven now starts the week only a few % behind nine rather than the 10% or so they were getting thrashed by on Sundays before the Olympics…
Yes what we need on Sundays is more news *rolls eyes*
What I want Sundays is to relax, although Dexter was good and Californication is some harmless fun.
The ideal vehicle for Naomi Robson!
If Seven really wants to do “serious” current affairs, Mike Munro cannot be the host, period.
He’s a comedic figure these days, thanks to his fine work as a host of trash TV in the form of ACA.
And yes, time was up for 60 Minutes years ago, when they started on the celeb-free-promo-fluff-piece-of-the-week thing.
If Seven does get this one up, please, please let’s have a REAL current affairs show. They used to rate their arses off, y’know
Jana I doubt will ever be back at 7 after the whole Witness courtcase debacle. Mike Munro? Ray Martin? Whatever happened to Mike Willisse? Gary Wilkinson is free or is he on Sky? Good idea/right time for 7 to have another crack at 60minutes.