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Axed: The Circle

Breaking news: TEN revamps its morning line-up by axing The Circle but keeping Breakfast.

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TEN is revamping its morning line-up by axing The Circle and retaining its struggling Breakfast show.

The Circle will air its final episode on Friday, as part of a new line-up of programming from Monday August 6th, including several US titles.

This includes:

· The Talk: US weekday talk show hosted by Sara Gilbert.

· TEN Morning News: Hosted by Ron Wilson.

· Entertainment Tonight: Entertainment magazine institution, part of TEN’s CBS deal after Nine did not renew.

· The Insider: Spin-off of Entertainment Tonight.

From August 6, Breakfast will run from 6am to 8.30am, presented by Paul Henry, Kathryn Robinson and Magdalena Roze. TEN is yet to comment on rumours the show will undergo a further revamp.

In a statement TEN thanks Pam Barnes, the Executive Producer of The Circle, hosts Gorgi Coghlan and Yumi Stynes and show staff.

“The decision to cease production of The Circle is unfortunate and was not taken lightly. But tight fiscal control and cost discipline are a core part of our strategy,” TEN CEO James Warburton, said.

Network TEN Head of News and Current Affairs, Anthony Flannery, said: “We appreciate the efforts and dedication of everyone involved with The Circle, including Executive Producer Pam Barnes.

“Network TEN remains focused on providing viewers with a comprehensive News and Current Affairs line-up from breakfast to bedtime, with Breakfast, TEN News At Five, The Project, TEN Late News and now TEN Morning News,” Flannery said.

The Circle has struggled since the exit of Chrissie Swan and Denise Drysdale in December, using guest co-presenters.

Beginning Monday August 6th:
• 6am to 8.30am: Breakfast
• 8.30am to 9am: Wurrawhy
• 9am to 10am: The Talk
• 10am to 11am: TEN Morning News
• 11am to 11.30am: Entertainment Tonight
• 11.30am to 12: The Insider

This post updates.

94 Responses

  2. They seriously need to get the kids programme removed from the 4pm timeslot because they edit “The Bold and the Beautiful” for timing reasons as a result. Stupid schedulers at that network.

  7. I never, ever watch any breakfast TV, I am strictly AM on the radio. I have, however, often dipped into The Circle for a few minutes. I think it is a very poor decision. I agree that The Circle isn’t the same without the original ‘cast’, but it is still light years ahead of 10’s Breakfast. Are they really showing imported US TV show(s) instead??

  8. Absolutely agree with all those saying that sacrificing The Circle (that rates well) will hurt Ten later on. Their loyal viewers will gain their revenge on Ten some way, somehow: and it will likely be on Breakfast’s already poor ratings.

  10. A good decision by ch10, no one watches much of this crap any way, so may as well put on some cheapo US stuff that no one will watch. Brekky will go the same way fairly soon, despite what they say. FTA ,as we know it, only has a few years left,, so expect more change at a faster pace as the money dries up…..

  11. This doesn’t surprise me, as they haven’t the resource of the Seven and Nine Networks to be able to have to shows in the morning. This wasn’t going to end well. To phrase it this way one show cannot live while the other keeps surviving
    It also didn’t help that they were based out of different cities.

  12. @jules108- Imported. Read story.
    @tomothyd – TEN’s already paying for those programs as part of their CBS output deal, so costing them nothing more.
    10am News? When nothing else, fill it with Ron Wilson/News.
    Must be costing more than they make from those insufferable “advertorials” (read really long commercials).

  15. I feel really sorry for everyone at The Circle, such a quality block of programming with interesting interviews and a great bunch of hosts and guest hosts. I don’t know what Ten are thinking getting rid of a show that was working fine before Breakfast came long.

  17. Just when you thought Ten couldn’t stoop any lower in the dubious programming decisions department ….. wow, who is running that network, a tag team of brain dead lemmings???? Oh well, at least Entertainment Tonight has found a home.

  19. Oh no, this makes me feel really sad. I just caught the highlight shows yesterday and laughed so much.

    Bad move to keep Breakfast on. Though its good to have ET back on FTA but maybe on ELEVEN.

    Still I am shocked to see The Circle go.

  20. Speechless. I’m literally speechless!!! So they’re axing a much enjoyed and moderate rating show to save the sinking ship that is Breakfast?!? This has got to go down as perhaps one of the most baffling and worse network decisions of the year. Watch Ten’s mornings slip even further.

    Such a shame, The Circle was unique and fun. It definitely wasn’t the same after Drysdale and Swan left, but it was still entertaining. I was always surprised they never found permanent hosts to replace them, makes me wonder if they had always had this tucked away…

  21. So they are keeping the under perfroming breakfast show, killing a great Australian centric show and replacing it with 3 USA produced ones.

    Good move TEN

  22. Well done Ten. Axe The Circle a program that rates and makes you money and pump more cost into the Network to save Breakfast – very good !

  25. What!!! This is insane news. The Circle is pulling way more numbers than Breaklast and would cost considerably less than the US imports.
    Breakfast is utter cr@p, any that is being retained? I like seeing highlights of The Circle when I can.

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