All Stories FeedNine telethon expands across primetime
Nine has announced its Australia Unites telethon will now screen from 7:30pm right through to midnight.
It was previously a 2 hour event, but with the magnitude of the disaster, and no doubt with the influx of offers it has received for the cause, it will run live for 4.5 hours.
Australia Unites is hosted by Eddie McGuire and features a line-up of entertainers, athletes and personalities. GTV9, the television home of Brian Naylor for twenty years, will play host to this important event which it has been frantically preparing on short notice.
It will follow a one hour Nine News and Current Affair.
Press Release:
The Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, and the Premier of Victoria, Mr John Brumby, will join the Australian cricket team, along with entertainers including Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban; radio stars Hamish and Andy, and Merrick and Rosso; international models Miranda Kerr and Megan Gale; stars of the small screen Rove McManus, Dave Hughes, Kate Ritchie, Roy Billing, Martin Dingle Wall, Kat Stewart, Rodger Corser, Ben Mendelsohn, Molly Meldrum and Magda Szubanski to raise money for the victims of Victoria’s killer fires.
Sporting identities taking part will include cricketing great Shane Warne; Olympic gold medallists Cathy Freeman, Liesel Jones and Grant Hackett; AFL premiership players Chris Judd and Shane Crawford; Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater; Fatty Vautin and Matty Johns of the NRL Footy Show; AFL legend Ron Barassi; tennis player Mark Philippoussis; V8 champs Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander; and Bali bombing survivor and former AFL player, Jason McCartney.
Performers include The Living End, Jessica Mauboy, Colin Hay (Men At Work), Jimmy Barnes, Lee Kernaghan, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, John Williamson, Angry Anderson and many others.
Eddie McGuire will host the coverage from Channel Nine’s Melbourne studios, with support from Garry Lyon and James Brayshaw, Livinia Nixon, Jules Lund and Giaan Rooney, who will be rallying troops in the phone room.
On location, Lisa Wilkinson, Karl Stefanovic, Tony Jones, Tracy Grimshaw and Leila McKinnon will be reporting from the fire-ravaged areas across the State.
Aussies abroad, rocked by the bushfires that have ravaged their home country, have united in spirit to support the victims of Australia’s worst natural disaster, including Hugh Jackman, Anthony La Paglia, Simon Baker, Rachel Griffiths and Cameron Daddo.
CEO of the Nine Network, Mr David Gyngell, has been overwhelmed by the response.
“The sports and entertainment industries have a fine tradition of pulling together when needed, but the level of support for Australia Unites is unprecedented and we thank everyone for their involvement,” he said.
Donations will go to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. To make a donation go to www.redcross.org.au, call the toll free number 1800 811 700, or donate via the Commonwealth Bank.
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Chris, that’s an opinion, not fact.
It seems to me that the varing opions of the comment here have highlighted what tthe real problem is. The $20 mil channel 9 claims riased in the telethon would make this the most succesfull telethon of all times. I heard Carl on the today show claimed he raised $32mil as though he and 9 had done this personelly. I email Carl to corret his statement but it was a purpose attempt to put them selves on a platform. Channel 9 only motive is to out do the rival chanels for ratings. No other pupose for the telethon. The generosity of people how gave to the appeal is commended and the telephon would have motivated people to pledge money wheather it was for a free plug on TV so some contribution to the apeal was made by 9. Its still reamins the fact that 9 motives where purely od self interest.
where can we purchase the c.d’s? thanks
wow, i dont think i have ever seen so much cross promotion in 1 show before! we all knew it would happen, nine will be licking their lips. i think i heard underbelly more times than i hear the work f**k in gordon ramsey lol
I kept waiting for Mick Molloy to come out since Eddie was using his old set…
Most people criticising Eddie may have overlooked the fact that he lost his own home in a fire onc e upon a time…
What was with the comment in the phone room, ‘your on fire this year’ addressed to I think it was Miranda Kerr from one of the footy commentators, seriously……dumb as dog crap! Don’t get me started on Eddie, the sincerity of a door knob and if I hear the word ‘underbelly’ once more come out of his mouth…….. all the cross promotion is just really inappropriate. Just because they raised a load of money doesn’t excuse the inappropriate comments and actions.
Wow I just saw Orlando Bloom answering the phone for the telethon; good on him.
@Fizzin, you’re such a loser but thanks for the donation though.
What the hell’s with all the personal attacks? Ellen, for one, I wasn’t attacking all those “wonderful people in Perth” who raise millions, and frankly, that’s not the issue here. I had an opinion regarding Nine’s extension of the telethon and I expressed it. Kaboom. Done. I’m over it. If you disagree with me, that’s fine, but disagree with the opinion instead attacking me with your insults disguised as lame metaphors. Show a little civility for god’s sake.
And kudos to all who’ve made donations.
what happens to all the money if the federal and state governments are paying are insured and so are all the individuals what is the money doing???
fizzin..Grow up!
sillyghost… how stupid are u????? really????
think about it…. it was extented for the reason that wa is 2 hours behind!!!
grow up
sillyghost drift off into the ether and let peole who really care do the job they are trying to do.As for the length of time in perth we host a telethon every year which runs for 24 hours!! and many Eastern state celebs come over and millions of dollars raised.And if channel 9 ups its rating who cares!!!!!! Get a life and if you dont want to watch go to bed and catch up on your sleep and improve your negativity.
I just made another donation to redcross.org.au I will not donate through Nine I will not! Print my posts or not David makes no never mind to me. Channel Nine is the pits!
What a big “biffo” we have here!
Why have one of the most insincere people in Television host a Telethon that is supposedly about “compassion and supporting victims”???
Yes, money will be raised, but i don’t believe for a moment that many of the 7 “celebrities” that will appear are there for any reason other than self promotion … if it was really about the victims then there would be a united Telethon with personalities from 9, 10 and ABC as well!
I won’t be watching because Eddie is hosting! He revolts me! (It’s a Boys’ Club!)
I will continue to give as I have already been through work and other areas that I know are doing it for the right reasons!
Jack!
Vid, I agree.. stop complaining about how long its running for and whos in it because none of that matters. Its for the victims of our countries worst natural disaster, little kids have no parents, houses and money are gone for these people, stop f**king complaining and donate for gods sake.
It will be interesting to see how much money they raise considering just about everyone including myself has already donated something. I think many millions of dollars has been raised so far therefore the total raised at the end of the telethon may not be that much which would be embarrassing for Nine. Red Cross has raised over $48 million, possibly enough to rebuild all the houses that was destroyed by the bushfire.
To all you negative people who are critical of the nine network for extending their broadcast, may I remind you where it is being telecast from…. GTV9 the home of Mr Brian Naylor for 20 years.
If his former work collegues and friends wish to make it a 24 hour Telethon ( like they always did in the old days ) then I say – Let them.
i will lmao if i hear jessica sings burn, knowing nine they probably asked her to sing it not even realising lol
all nine needed to do was do what 10 are doing now, promote the red cross appeal with actors using their airtime
hey david you should get rid of the underbelly poll and start one on this topic, would be interesting
For those who thought I was being negative, I wasn’t. The fact is, Nine stretched out the broadcast from 2 hours to more than double the originally intended running time as it’s clear that a national crisis of this magnitude will generate a lot of public interest (and equate to strong ratings; perhaps enough to win the entire week, or at least come at a close 2nd).
I’ve had no problem with them airing a 2 hour telethon, hell I applaud it; however, it’s the fact that they’ve stretched it out so significantly that it seems that Nine are now only doing it for the ratings.
And I agree with you Dan. Unless Nine will be donating the commercial revenue to bushfire victims, the entire telethon would’ve been a waste of time. People certainly don’t need some television programme to implore them to make donations.
I think what 9 is doing is a good thing and it is how they ahve chosen to respond, like the various companies and big corporates across the nation that have been working out their own response to contribute money and support to the people whose lives have been affected by this tragedy.
Not a criticism, just an observation, it is interesting that the three networks have not banded together for a joint national telathon broadcast, like was done once before in the past. Or am i imagining that? If not, what was it for? Does anyone recall?
I’m very glad this is going ahead at 7.30pm. Well done to Ch 9 – I don’t care who’s hosting!
Just as long as they don’t let Jessica Maubouy sing “Burn”. Highly inappropriate!
My deepest thoughts and prayers to the victims of this horrible bushfires. Hope this event would raise a lot of money to rebuild the damaged area and support the families of the victims. God bless.
Linda i so agree with you and have been saying it all along. 7 and 9 have been flooding our screens with pretty much repeats of the last 2 or 3 days of footage. there is no need to extend coverage of every news and morning program you have, i feel sorry for the victims having to watch it over and over, im sure them as me just want the important updates which would take 30 mins. 7 and 9 are loving this crisis!! give emotion and broken hearts and devestation and there are there replaying it over and over. thank god for ten giving us something to smile about in these tough times, they even say we will update you but then get back to normal stories to lighten up you day
To the person who said it’s too early to have a telethon.. I think they have left it too late.. Surely everyone would have already donated and now they have a bunch of celebrities and TV execs telling us to give more? Are they going to give all their money they make for advertising during the show to the cause?
And Eddie McGuire they couldn’t pick a worse person that could sympathies with these people, he gets paid millions of dollars to do nothing at nine!
I just hope the money is handled sensibly and given out to the right people, wouldn’t most people have insurance living in the bush? Are we suppose to help the rich people who could afford these places and blocks of land too?
People are also donating clothes and food too but I find it hypocritical because what about all the thousands of homeless people in Australia who don’t even have a house to begin with? It’s all a media beat up and grab for ratings in my opinion.
It seems ch 9 are trying to make up for the mistakes, they are stepping up and say what you want about Eddie he stepped up straight away the other day, he was a huge part of Tuesdays thing on the radio stations raising money for the bushfires also. its great to see those in the states are getting involved also. lets put all this aside though and remember the cause no matter whos hosting!
great to see Shannon Noll comfirmed also
why dont the whole lot of you get over it i lost relatives down there and still have more relatives to fine who cares who is hosting it as long as they do a good job and raise heaps to help our fellow countrymen and women its not about the host or ratings its about our fellow australian’s so can everyone stop being so negative and help anyway you can thanks
Bundynelle
Or, what you said last night about the $100 if they went live into QLD…
Dont forget to call at 6:30 Brisbane time/5:30 Perth time, just as it starts, and see if they respond, by cutting 9 News in two.
If that don’t work, call the QTQ/STW switchboard.
Note: First strategy needs a southerner, and the Perth details are for Perthite.
I agree with you Earhquake, maybe we should bother with the blog at all, as many people would think the whole thing is not important to many worldwide events.
I have a right to give my opinion I reckon and if I think Eddie McGuire is a toss bag then I can say it. I also doubt nine have done this out of the kindness of their own heart, would love to be in the rooms of the executives, I think they don’t care that much about the situtation that has occured. At times like this I wish Frontline was still on and you would see what these networks really get up to behind the scenes and how they really feel about the poor people who have had their lives destroyed.
If Channel nine are serious about this, then they will make it commercial free and not plug any of their shows but we will see hey. Make me eat my words channel nine I dare you. To be honest I wouldn’t have only given the whole thing credibility if it were held on the ABC.
on most tv guides &EPG has it on for 2hrs only, looks like nine perth may be running the last 2 hrs live -!
To a certain degree I agree with some of the comments on how we should just focus on the point that it’s for a good cause and it doesn’t matter who’s hosting and so on however I find it hard to believe that CH9 are doing this just for charity. To me it seems more like a publicity stunt and to boost the heads of 9’s ego’s….are they just trying to get in first before ch7 or 10??? Seriously, these fires just happened and are actually still burning in some area’s, people haven’t even had a chance for it to sink in or even comprehend what has happened. A benefit concert or telethon should take place in at least a few weeks…….it’s not like they need the money at this very second. They have over 35 million raised thus far and today they just released 800,000 of it. I just find it so insensitive that this is happening, even more so in the first week of ratings for the networks. To top it off they have one of the most arrogant and insincere men on television hosting such an event…….really, we need people that have a heart and are able to stop and think for just 5 min to work in television, not ego/figure driven execs and publicists.
What I have liked this week is the sensitivity that ch10 has shown towards the fires. They haven’t saturated our screens with non stop replayed footage of the events and over sensationalising stories. Helen Kapalos has done an amazing job as a journo with being warm and sensitive and having a human touch.
Sorry about my rant, but I had to get it out………
The saddest debate I’ve ever read.
David, while I understand your point of view, your website itself is a forum for people to have their opinions on television matters, including hosts of telethons for bushfires.
The comments section is there to be filled with people’s opinions and while the opinion may be relevant to the subject at hand, but may differ to those of the blog’s author, they are still valid and should be heard.
We could be here all day talking about things that are “more important” – even moreso possibly than bushfires. Preventable diseases in third world countries, children dying of malnutrition, the global financial crisis, global warming and the ongoing Middle East crisis – these are just some examples.
But here you have created a fine TV blog, and as such, here we discuss TV.
If this is live across the country, does that mean it’ll be 5:30pm in Perth? Or will we get it delayed at 7:30? You’d think a Telethon would have to be live, wouldn’t it?
I see seven conveniently held back an episode of Home & Away tonight so they had an hour block to go up against the telethon tomorrow night (It’s not about ratings at all!) I’m surprised they didn’t get Karl & Lisa to host this to boost the viewers for the Today show.
Jessica Mauboy? yikes.. I hope they don’t get her to sing her current single “Burn”? Highly inappropriate..
I think we need a moratorium on comments on the host.
Enough already!
If you don’t like it, keep it to yourself in what is a very troubling time for many. Appreciate what these guys and everyone else in the media is doing at the moment.
Kuttsywood – No, it isn’t ‘live’ in Qld. It is advertised for 7.30pm which is 8.30pm VIC/NSW time, so yes, another delayed coverage for us Qlders … ho ruddy hum! I don’t care who hosts … I just wish it was on a Saturday night. I’m going to be pretty blearing eyed on Friday morning if this telecast is going to midnight! Then again, I have no rights in complaining as there are many many others much worse than me.
In QLD we don’t do telethons these days but I always remember the ones we did in the 1970s/80s where you can ring and say ‘I’ll give lots of money if such n such does this….”. I’m very tempted to say I have money, its yours if Eddie sings very loudly the Brisbane Lions team song. I’d like to see that!
Who gives a s**t who is hosting it all that matters is that it raises a lot of money for the poor people who have lost everything their family’s their pets their homes and so on I just cant understand how people can whinge about who the host is I will be watching it and I will be making a donation
The only hosting alternatives 9 would consider are
Richard Wilkins
Karl Stefanovic
Lisa Wilkinson.
Eddie is a good compromise IMO, but who really cares who’s hosting?? All the action will be on the special guests and location interviews. Not Eddie.
Like it matters who is hosting, Eddie or anyone else. Isn’t the point to raise money for those in need? Who cares if Channel Nine have ulterior motives.
Here’s an idea, stop complaining and donate some money instead.
for you’s who are telling us to shut up, get lost! we dont have to like the fact 9 chose a loser host who everyone cant stand, or the fact they are doing this more for their ratings boost than the victims!!
i have donated and probably have these people!
Absolutely not watching this now because of Eddie.
I hope you’re reading this Channel 9.
for F**K Sake people.
people in victoria need our help!!!
for those complaining about who is hosting or if your shows are on or etc….Please stop it!! there are ppl with no homes or familes or anything… all they have is us, the aussie spirit and love of the ppl of australia!!
Shame on u if u f****n complain!!!
@sillygostly and nick; if you don’t like what channel nine is doing then don’t watch it; you can raise your own appeal if you want to so that you can host it or pick the host you want. Such negativity from you guys is just unbelievable.
Good on Nine for doing this; I just hope they raise that much needed money.
Good on you 9. Ignore the critics – Victorians love you and appreciate the support.
Sillygostly: “How the hell can you stretch this sort of programme on for 5 hours?” Uh, Seven do it all morning, day and night for the Good Friday Appeal, so I think five (comparatively measly) hours shouldn’t be difficult. I agree that “people just bag channel nine because it’s fun”, as Gerrard put it.
Is it live into Queensland?
Think its great that channel nine doing this telethon,all tv networks and radio stations should all join forces .Its not about ratings and who is hosting(eddie),its about raising money.Think all australians should watch and donate in any way they can,one night of not watching a bloody tv show on another network is not end of the world.
Kudos to 9 indeed. This is a fantastic cause, and I don’t think anyone is suggesting otherwise.
But It would be a little naive to think they are doing this purely out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s not a surprise this is on their weakest programming night of the week, and not tonight with key programs premiering.
Come on guys – there is a time and place to get heated up about tv and its hosts, etc, but this isn’t the time to do it.
Ch 9 will be putting on a show that should positively benefit the people who need it the most – and at this time what people need is hope and a little bit of positive thinking.
If federal politicians can put aside their usual grievances for awhile, so can we!!
Let’s support a good cause and get on with it.
they will get the money they want but i doubt they will get the viewers! my god eddie everywhere is back. we will prob have some destroyed tv’s that night
also what about the farmer wants a wife?
Agree with you SillyGhostly, as tragic and devastating the whole thing is i’m sure Nine have ulterior motives too. This could pull in 2 – 3 million at least.
This week may has well not be counted in official ratings, with cricket, extended news, programming shifts, telethon.
Of course that aside, in a time like this, anything to do with television does not matter, and its good they’re doing it. Really, it would have been nice if the networks came together, like with the tsunami appeal. That may be stretching it though..
Anyways, all that matters is getting plenty of donations to help all those affected areas recover for what is an epic task ahead. poor people
I agree David. I can’t believe the cynicism of so many people. Going on about ratings and Eddie etc. Channel 7 are running appeals, Triple M and Today fm ran an appeal yesterday, the AFL are raising money. Do they all have ulterior motives ? Maybe they all just want to support a terrible tragedy that has occured. Next people will be whinging about the guests they have on. Good luck to everyone involved.
I agree with David that certain people just bagg channel nine because it’s fun. Maybe you should just realise that Channel Nine are trying to do something to help the bushfire victims. The best channel ten can do is to show some 30 second ad with Mal Walden, Helen Kapalos and David and Kim asking people to donate. At least channel Nine are trying to organise such a major event with loads of stars all trying to do the same thing: raise money for the bushfire victims! My Lord people on this site can be so insensitive. Good on channel nine for doing their bit to help innocent people. Good to see that such an influencial part of our lives is using their power for good.
Nine has always been first (or the only one) to organise fund raisers in times of need. Except of course for HSV7 and TVW7 who have run telethons for decades. Can’t please all of the people all of the time. 5 hours is nothing for this type of program. Would have liked to see them run it from 7:30pm Friday to after midnight Saturday. Probably the lack of production staff at GTV9 these days would prevent that, but they can always (and will no doubt) call in troops from other 9 and WIN stations. Well done Nine. Every $ is needed.
Glad to see channel nine doing the right thing!
but when will flashpoint and cold case been show?
I agree David, I can’t believe the hatred some people have for Ch 9 & Eddie. He would have to be one of the few people in TV capable of hosting such an event.
Good one ‘em. I hope they raise a tonne of money.
I think they are doing the right thing.
Strikes me they are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Criticised if they do nothing. Criticised if they run it for 2 hours. Criticised if they run it all night. Criticised if they run it on a Thursday. Criticised on the choice of host.
There are more important issues we face than wasting energy on this.
I heard on radio today that Cold Chisel is reforming for the telethon!
I will end up watching it until they come on now and just mute the Eddie McGuire parts. lol
Sure, why settle for winning the night with a 2 hour broadcast when they can win the entire week with an all nighter?
As much as I’d like to applaud them for holding this telethon, their ulterior motives are certainly showing now.
Yes, it’s a tragedy, but how the hell can you stretch this sort of programme on for 5 hours?
People may well whinge about Eddie hosting the event, but at the end of the day, he’s there to do a job of presenting a marathon show and to get viewers to donate much needed cash.
Even though most of the time Ch 9 gets things totally wrong, this time we should support an event that goes to a very worthy cause.
Cripes 4.5 hours of Eddie ..can imagine how happy some people will be with that!
Here’s hoping Nine’s good intentions are rewarded with plenty of money being raised.
Right now, the ads on Ch 9 in Sydney still promote it as 8.30pm. Just saw one during ET. 3.25pm.
So now Seinfeld