Sit Down picked up by FOX

FOX has officially picked up the US animated adaptation of Sit Down, Shut Up retitling it as Class Dismissed.

The short-lived Aussie sitcom based on the lives of self-absorbed staff members at a high school will be set in a small northeastern fishing town. As previously reported it is under the creative watch of Arrested Development's Mitch Hurwitz.

It joins another new animated series already picked up for next season, Family Guy's spinoff Cleveland. The voice cast includes Jason Bateman (pictured), Will Arnett, Henry Winkler, Cheri Oteri, Will Forte, Regina King, Nick Kroll, Tom Kenny and Maria Bamford.

FOX has also ordered J.J. Abrams' sci-fi drama Fringe which stars Australian actress Anna Torv (Secret Life of Us, Mistresses) as a young FBI agent forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with an institutionalized scientist (John Noble) and his son (Joshua Jackson).

'Til Death starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher was also renewed. As previously reported, Back To You was axed and The Inn, directed by Jason Bateman, was picked up.

Source: AP/ Yahoo
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Big Bother with new formats

Changes to Big Brother, and not just replacing Gretel Killeen with Kyle and Jackie O, appear to have cost the TEN network dearly already.

When last night's ratings were shaken down, Nine scored well in the 7:30pm timeslot against ho hum shows on TEN and Seven.

60 Minutes returned to glory with 1.7m viewers ahead of Big Brother and Police Files / My Name is Earl both on 1m viewers. Nine comfortably won the night with a 32% share ahead of Seven's 27% and TEN's 20%.

The disappointing figures for the first live eviction also hit Rove hard. He didn't start until 9:03pm and only attracted 776,000 viewers. Following So You Think You Can Dance Australia he was getting around 1m viewers.

Without even getting into casting issues of housemates and hosts there are significant changes to the eviction show that need addressing. The decision to alter voting / nominations is a perilous move. Asking viewers to nominate and housemates to evict has seen the old Monday nominations merge into the Sunday eviction show. And it's taken over.

Sitting there watching each housemate decide their votes was like watching paint dry. It shifts the focus of the show away from the eviction stage to the house -the same house we've been watching all bloody week. Hearing them bang on about "oh umm 2 votes to David cos he interrupts my conversations oh umm but he's a really nice guy" is hardly prime Sunday viewing. Get them out and get them to the audience faster.

The 'revolve' device must have seemed like a good idea on paper. It looks like a lame ride at a country fair. The only positive change I saw was in seeing the housemate's reaction the minute they are literally turfed from the house, rather than giving them a few minutes before hitting the eviction stage.

Asking viewers to vote for their favourite all week isn't much of a call to action either. Any storyteller knows the power of a ticking time bomb -except the 2008 producers. I'm guessing votes are way down this year. Why? Because if I know who the bottom three are I might be more compelled to save one of them, and to tune in.

TEN need to communicate the bottom three to viewers before the Sunday show, to drive up ratings. If by 7:30 Sunday everyone is on a level playing field where's the urgency? Where's the risk?

90 minutes of this stuff in its current format is just too drawn out, and the show is already behind the 8 ball with its divisive hosts. It cannot be allowed to drag down Rove and the Sunday share for TEN, week in, week out.

Finally, Seven will also need to rethink Police Files in the 7:30pm timeslot.

Week 20
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Returning: Canal Road

Failed Aussie drama (there really isn't any other way to put it) Canal Road will be resuming its episodes on Nine, after being bumped then rested by the network.

It returns from 10:30pm Wednesday May 28.

This week it isn't on air due to the movie Hitch ending at 10:55pm. Next week there is a State of Origin match from 7:30 -10pm.

Nine has also slated repeats of the first four episodes screening on Monday afternoons at 1pm in a bid to lift the audience for the show. Nine will benefit from local quota points by airing a first run drama, although it has a strong slate of Aussie drama this year with Underbelly, Sea Patrol, McLeod's Daughters, The Strip and Strike Team plus childrens' dramas.

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TEN takes blame in Hall of Fame fumble

Channel TEN has apologised to angry viewers who missed out on seeing the presentations at the end of the Hall of Fame match on Saturday night.

"Network TEN would like to sincerely apologise to football fans in Melbourne and Perth for missing the post-match presentations following the Hall of Fame Tribute Match on Saturday night," said a spokesperson.

"It was always our intention to cover the post match celebrations however a technical timing error resulted in our coverage ending in Melbourne and Perth one segment earlier than planned.

"The game starting 7½ minutes late didn't help but we're not blaming that on what occurred. We should have stayed with the coverage for an additional segment to take in all the post match celebrations but due to technical error at our end we left the coverage earlier than planned."

Photo: afl.com.au Read more...

Ratings Week 20

Saturday:
1 Seven News Seven 1,381,000
2 Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Nine 1,263,000
3 National Nine News Nine 1,191,000
4 The Vicar Of Dibley Seven 1,051,000
5 Bed Of Roses ABC 955,000
6 The Great Outdoors Seven 924,000
7 ABC News ABC 896,000
8 The Bill ABC 814,000
9 ABC News Update ABC 813,000
10 Air Force One Seven 808,000
11 TEN News At Five TEN 795,000
12 Saturday Night AFL TEN 721,000
13 Shrek Nine 688,000
14 Gardening Australia ABC 668,000
15 Saturday Afternoon AFL TEN 613,000

Nine 26.2
Seven 26.0
TEN 21.3
ABC 18.9
SBS 7.7

Friday:
1 Seven News Seven 1,373,000
2 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,361,000
3 National Nine News Nine 1,247,000
4 Today Tonight Seven 1,191,000
5 Silent Witness ABC 1,103,000
6 A Current Affair Nine 1,074,000
7 ABC News ABC 1,036,000
8 Big Brother - Friday Night Live TEN 998,000
9 Home And Away Seven 975,000
10 Two And A Half Men Nine 966,000
11 TEN News At Five TEN 848,000
12 Big Brother TEN 845,000
13 Spooks ABC 833,000
14 Collectors ABC 787,000
15 Deal Or No Deal Seven 781,000
16 Neighbours TEN 757,000
17 Seven's AFL: Rnd 8: St Kilda Vs Collingwood Seven 725,000
18 Antiques Roadshow Nine 718,000
19 Stateline ABC 686,000
Friends TEN 638,000
Nine's Live Friday Night Football Nine 610,000
Bargain Hunt Nine 520,000
Can We Help? ABC 484,000
I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here TEN 425,000
Sunrise Seven 383,000
Seven Late News Seven 333,000
TEN News Late Night TEN 272,000
Today Nine 268,000
Tiananmen Square: The Tank Man SBS 248,000
Miss International Queen SBS 231,000

Seven 31.4
Nine 25.3
TEN 19.3
ABC 18.1
SBS 5.9

Thursday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.335
2. Hell’s Kitchen Nine 1.311
3. Getaway Nine 1.257
4. Today Tonight Seven 1.219
5. ABC News ABC 1.181
6. National Nine News Nine 1.173
7. How I Met Your Mother Seven 1.147
8. Home and Away Seven 1.109
9. Bones Seven 1.072
10. A Current Affair Nine 1.045
11. That 70s Show Seven 1.040
12. Law and Order: SVU Ten 1.039
13. Two and a Half Men Nine 0.999
14. The Footy Show Nine 0.998
15. Medium Ten 0.952
Big Brother 0.852m
Deal or No Deal 0.839m
Trinny and Susannah 0.793m
Don’t Forget The Lyrics 0.774m
Antiques Roadshow 0.651m
Lost 392,000
The Morning Show 0.173m
KAK 0.106m
David and Kim 0.069m

Nine: 31.5
Seven: 27.0
TEN: 21.5
ABC: 14.9
SBS: 5.1

Wednesday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.596
2. House Ten 1.432
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.398
4. National Nine News Nine 1.276
5. Spicks and Specks ABC 1.273
6. Big Brother – Carson Special Ten 1.245
7. Search and Rescue Nine 1.216
8. A Current Affair Nine 1.215
9. Home and Away Seven 1.196
10. ABC News ABC 1.194
11. Two and a Half Men Nine 1.155
12. Fire 000 Nine 1.100
13. Movie: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Seven 1.052
14. The New Inventors ABC 0.998
15. Ugly Betty Seven 0.987
Big Brother – 7pm 0.961m
Deal or No Deal 0.854m
Numb3rs 0.789m
Hitch 0.710m
Antiques Roadshow 0.673m

Seven: 29.2
TEN: 24.5
Nine: 23.4
ABC: 17.9
SBS: 5.0

Tuesday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.590
2. Australia’s Got Talent Seven 1.430
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.390
4. NCIS Ten 1.388
5. Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares Nine 1.337
6. A Current Affair Nine 1.327
7. ABC News ABC 1.278
8. All Saints Seven 1.219
9. 20 to 1 Nine 1.197
10. National Nine News Nine 1.194
11. Two and a Half Men Nine 1.179
12. Bondi Rescue Ten 1.162
13, Home and Away Seven 1.159
14. NCIS (r) Ten 1.094
15. The Simpsons – 7:30pm Ten 0.985
Deal or No Deal 0.951m
Ladette to Lady 0.949m
Big Brother 0.925m
Crimes That Shook The World 0.715m
Antiques Roadshow 0.686m
The Morning Show 175,000
Mornings with Kerri-Anne 116,000
David and Kim 87,000

Seven: 28.1
Nine: 27.2
Ten: 24.9
ABC: 15.1
SBS: 4.8

Monday:
1. Border Security Seven 1.571
2. Seven News Seven 1.544
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.519
4. Surf Patrol Seven 1.447
5. Sea Patrol Nine 1.398
6. Life In Cold Blood Nine 1.356
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.312
8. Desperate Housewives Seven 1.309
9. National Nine News Nine 1.289
10. Home and Away Seven 1.258
11. Two and a Half Men Nine 1.222
12. ABC News ABC 1.184
13. Big Brother Ten 1.086
14. How To Look Good Naked Ten 1.065
15. CSI: NY Nine 1.052
Good News Week 0.986m
Deal or No Deal 0.859m
Boston Legal 0.832m
Antiques Roadshow 0.717m

Seven: 29.0
Nine: 28.3
TEN: 20.1
ABC: 17.4
SBS: 5.3

Sunday:
1. 60 Minutes Nine 1.731
2. Seven News Seven 1.466
3. National Nine News Nine 1.455
4. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nine 1.453
5. Grey’s Anatomy Seven 1.313
6. Gladiators Seven 1.294
7. Animal Emergency Nine 1.267
8. RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service Nine 1.230
9. Without A Trace Nine 1.079
10. ABC News ABC 1.068
11. Big Brother – Eviction Ten 1.050
12. My Name Is Earl Seven 1.044
13. Police Files Seven 1.024
14. Brothers & Sisters Seven 0.930
15. Big Brother Ten 0.848
Rove 0.776m
Mawson: Life And Death In Antarctica 0.683m

Nine 32.3
Seven 27.6
TEN 20.7
ABC 13.8
SBS 5.6 Read more...

Erika next top host

Erika Heynatz is the girl of the moment it seems. Today there are articles on two separate television projects, one in Oz, the other in the US.

Channel Seven is believed to have bought the rights to remake Make Me A Supermodel. The UK original already aired on subscription TV earlier this year.

Heynatz, who hosted the original Australia's Next Top Model, as well as projects for Seven and TEN, is rumoured as the likely host.

news.com.au says Granada claims producers from ANTM have been approached to jump ship to work on Seven's Supermodel

But a no-compete clauses in the Top Model contracts means the executives cannot join the rival find-a-fashion-star show.

Meanwhile, she flew to the US the day after the It Takes Two finale to film a pilot of a live fashion show for CW.

Source: news.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald Read more...

TEN revolution not quite a resolution

Network TEN boss Grant Blackley has indicated that despite networks being allowed to launch a new free-to-air channel from January 1, TEN is unlikely to take advantage of the climate until later in 2009.

The three commercial free-to-air networks will be given the opportunity to broadcast a new standard-definition channel independent from their main channels.

"We're capable of launching from January 1 (but) I don't think any network has said they will physically launch on January 1," he told The Age.

Blackley said TEN would launch the new channel would require enough unique content and advertising.

"I wouldn't put it past that some months thereafter (January 1) I think there's some valid consideration to launching your primary schedule on your SD, HD and analog platform, and soon thereafter possibly launching your additional channel," he said.

Seven declined to comment on whether it was unrealistic to expect its new channel to begin on, or soon after, January 1.

"We'll announce our launch date closer to the date of our launch," spokesman Simon Francis said.

Source: The Age Read more...

License to kill networks

The value of commercial TV licences has been slashed by nearly $2 billion since 2003-04 as network audiences defect to the internet and pay-TV, according to an analysis by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Annual licence fees are calculated at 9 per cent of a broadcaster's gross revenue.

The devaluation began in 2003-04, with a sharp fall in 2005-06 revenues leaving average licences worth less than a decade ago and approaching the levels of the 1980s.

The average value of a capital city licence in 2005-06 was about $120 million, down from about $230 million in 2003-04.

For a non-capital city licence it was about $50 million, down from about $90 million two years earlier. PBL Media's Nine Network was responsible for the largest licence devaluations, although TEN had also devalued its licences in 2005-06.

"Historically, a commercial television broadcasting licence gave its owner unprecedented access to the Australian public and the right to sell that access to advertisers," the report said.

"Since 2000, however, alternatives to TV, including the internet, subscription television, DVDs and games, have gained in popularity, attracting both new audience and advertisers."

The report also said Nine had been the most profitable network between 1979 and 2006 but the relative positions of the networks were changing, with Seven and TEN now outpacing it in annual revenue growth. Expenditure comparisons also suggested Nine had significantly higher overheads than Seven but that the two networks spent similar amounts on programming.

Source: The Australian Read more...