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Stars roll out for Nine drama slate

The stars of COPS L.A.C. and other Nine dramas heard a buoyant speech by CEO David Gyngell yesterday -in which he even praised his competitors.

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Nine CEO David Gyngell gave a victory speech to network drama stars, producers, execs and media yesterday at a network Drama Launch at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

The Nine boss was quietly buoyant as he reflected on the network’s booming drama slate, led by Underbelly, Sea Patrol, Rescue Special Ops and COPS L.A.C. It also has another four telemovies in development, three of them from Screentime.

Australian Drama, said Gyngell, was pivotal to a network’s success. His time working in the US had taught him the importance of Drama and News & Current Affairs.

“There is nothing harder to get right. There is nothing more important to a network.”

Unusually, he also acknowledged his competitors.

“I have a healthy regard for Channel Seven. (Head of Drama) John Holmes has been an incredibly driving force in this industry for 20 years. That respect is deserved,” he said.

“Finally Channel Nine has got a drama slate that is second to none. And that’s a big call after what John and Bevan (Lee) have done at Channel Seven.

“I’m really proud to say we’re commissioning a new series of Sea Patrol. It’s a $15-16m television series over the year and a fantastic piece of television.”

“Rescue (Special Ops), demographically, is one of the sexiest dramas on television. 600,000-700,000 people under the age of 50 is a big ratings tick. You can’t get carried away with volume these days, we’ve got a fractured world. Things that do over 1 – 1.1m are doing an ok job.”

Gyngell also took a pragmatic approach, as he always does, to the state of play in the industry.

“Everything in Drama is working at the moment. When Seven bring back Packed to the Rafters it will work. City Homicide will work. I’m sure the next dramas they’ve got will work. Rush is a good show. I’m sure TEN will have another good show in the next drama that’s coming, because we’re all focussed on the same thing.”

Finally he extended an open invitation to the actors and creatives in the room.

“I’m happy to help anybody if you want to understand how to finance things. I don’t care if it’s for someone else, because ultimately it will come back to the industry. Ultimately it will come back to Channel Nine.”

17 Responses

  1. I would love to see an Australian sitcom – that would be great! Im anticipating the return of Rush – its a gem amongst all the other dramas.

  2. Oen more thing, francis – it would be good to have an aussie sitcom. But when you’re most successful sitcom in this country is Hey Dad you know something is seriously wrong. Kingswood Country and Mother and Son are probably my two standouts. Aussie sitcoms try to copy US shows and fail, e.g. my two wives – wacky next door neighbour (Kramer), All Togerther Now (Steve Jacobs loved money – Family Ties’s Alex Keaton). Come up iwith something original, not aimed at bogans and don’t have cute 5yo’s delivering punchlines and it may, may just work.

  3. I agree in part with ABC. I stopped watching Underbelly 3 after the first episode. I know they had to tone down the s*x scenes but it looks like though toned down on the drama/action as well. And Jimmy – believe me there is a big difference between underbelly and The Sopranos (thank god for 7two). I think Rush and Sea Patrol are quite good – took them awhile to find their feet but are turning into very good programs.

  5. Channel 9’s Sea Patrol is the worst drama on tv. It has low budget acting, recycled actors & the story lines are crap.

    “Chances” was a much better show to watch back in the 90’s

  7. @ABC……. wow….. you have never watched an episode of drama, yet you are critical…. id hate to have a debate with you, I think i might be bored from a lack of intelligence. And fancy comparing Aussie drama to The Pacific, which has a 100 million + budget, and produced by Steven Speilberg….. the cost of that show equals the money for every drama series on every network in Australia.

  10. WIth all the stuff that Nine turns out that allegedly passes for good drama – I say bring on the US and European stuff. I have never watched a single episode of most of Nine Aussie dramas and after the first episode of Season 3 Underbelly switched that off as well. The Pacific – now thats exceptional drama. And all the great drama Nine has had eg The Sopranos, The Wire etc they have managed to bury in the graveyard shift or sporadically show over the years. Even the Sullivans was better than what they pass off today.

  11. Good to hear him speak well of Rush on 10 – it is one of my faves on 10 (just not a fan of the reality there). Looking forward to the return!

  13. We need an aussie comedy sitcom.

    With the news that there may not be any more Kath and Kim we need enough laugh out loud comedy show.

    No more sketch comedy shows like Skithouse or Comedy Inc.

    We want a real Aussie comedy sitcom with situations that make us laugh…and yes some of us do want that canned laughter

  15. Let’s face David Gyngell has absolutely turned Nine around with his support of news and drama. Ten continue to innovate and take risks – and Seven is sluggishly waiting for 2010 to start. Seven may win the second half of the year – but if Rafters or CH figures soften (and I suggest they will) they may not. It’s a crap strategy Seven.

  16. Yeah, it’s great that Nine is supporting Australian drama – good on them! Now what we need is a focus on comedy…with no actual ‘comedy’ category at this year’s Logies, the major networks need to get new projects in development because there’s going to come a point very soon where people will get sick of the cop and gangsta dramas and want a good laugh!

  17. Good, whatever network as long as more Aussie drama is made the better it is for Aussie TV industry. Need some more original concepts, half hour comedies, hour prime time soaps (That ‘Offspring’ show sounds promising) etc.

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