It makes me think that the viewers that don’t expect much are the ones with the ratings meters (and hence we get more of the same lightweight shows such as the breakfast chit-chat-advertorial shows and 20-to-1). The viewers that expect more (perhaps the “thinkers”) make the change (to another channel or medium, such as the internet, where they can express their disatisfaction to people interested to hear their views).

Until the ratings system is improved we will never have a truly accurate picture (I wish someone did an expose on how the ratings system works – especially it’s shortcomings given how much depends on it – advertising, new shows, celebrities careers, etc). It’s possible that it’s as accurate (useless?) as the Top40 song charts became once vinyl singles were no longer sold…

Spunkymonkeycaesar: As unrepresentative as they are, the peoplemeters don’t give any particular network an advantage. The system isn’t rigged, it doesn’t favour Seven in any way and it’s the exact same system that delivers the ratings figures that Nine happily trumps in press releases when it has a successful program. Deal with it.

Anyway, after all that, good on Channel Nine for trying to retake some of the initiative. Have a serious, serious look at your casting, though. Leila MacKinnon is the joke of the youtube generation after her performance with ‘Naughty Corey’ on ACA last year, and she simply doesn’t resonate with younger viewers. And I’ve only seen Cameron Williams on the Today show a couple of times, but I understand his Q scores are the lowest of anyone on breakfast television. Do you really think these two are gonna work in a relaxed Sunday format? Don’t be surprised if this doesn’t work out.

Any other angles on this story, guys?

there is a lot i could say to that thesis of a comment but i’ll cut down
SMC:”Seven copied off Nine with the launching of Seven’s Early 5.30 News after Nine’s Today show begining at 5.30″, “Nine launched the Sunday program at 8.00, and Seven decided to begin Weekend Sunrise half an hour earlier at 7.30″

that’s not copying, it’s competing. if sunrise started at 5:30 or if 7 had a current affairs progamme on sunday morning then you would have a point. this is simply a case of 9 setting a bar and 7 rising to it, wouldn’t call it copying.

For example, i personally prefer nine news in Brisbane. On the few occasions i have seen seven’s news, i found it a tad pretentious. But that’s just my personal preference, and i don’t watch the news that much anyway. With their programming, i find nine to be the absolute worst in the industry.

The other thing though that I might add, is how can Seven News have more journalistic integrity as opposed to Nine News, when Seven have on numerous occasions over the past few years been found guilty of misconduct and / or defamation?! Without even considering Today Tonight’s infamous Corby defamation case win against the Seven Network, how about when Seven News Melbourne and Seven’s Sunrise defamed a 16 year old boy by illegally naming him whom was divorcing his parents! Or how about when Seven was found for misconduct when the leaked AFL Players’ medical records?!

Oh and another thing to note… Even though I wish not to dwell on the networks copying off one another, another noteworthy thing that no one has mentioned, is Seven copied off Nine with the launching of Seven’s Early 5.30 News after Nine’s Today show begining at 5.30! How about when Nine launched the Sunday program at 8.00, and Seven decided to begin Weekend Sunrise half an hour earlier at 7.30?!

BM – dog, you’re not the only one who finds Seven News to be “close to unwatchable” and I know that for a fact… No one I know supports and therefore watches Seven News for the same reason you and I don’t… It appears ’tis only a few bloggers and those with people meters think that way! Oh and that slogan “Sydney, thanks for making the switch” – Nothing but complete arrogance…! Seven’s graphics in Sydney are crap, as is their set and their host as you mentioned BM – dog in comparison to Nine News Sydney!

Also CAM and Leila will do a great job. All the best to them and Nine with the show.

Good on Nine for trying. As are Seven. There’s room enough for both networks.

There was a thing on Credit Cards on TODAY a few weeks or so ago. One minute they were condeming the use of credit cards and how bad they were then a couple of days later they have the launch of the david jones card. This is bad journalism IMO