0/5

Nine doubles up on Gallipoli. Gone: Person of Interest

Nine begins 'burning off' its flagship drama.

2014_04_02_Gallipoli_7371

As programming moves go, double episodes are often referred to as ‘burning off’ a show.

A network ‘burns off’ a show when it isn’t rating strongly enough or, in the case of a US show, it is struggling and you can potentially snare a more viewers before word of mouth suggests it is best avoided (Seven is airing double eps of State of Affairs, for example).

On Monday Nine begins double episodes of Gallipoli, its flagship drama that has not drawn a major audience.

The sluggish numbers are easily the network’s biggest disappointment this year (disclaimer: the entire series is also on Stan). To be ‘burning off’ such a prestigious show after three weeks is heart-breaking stuff.

As a result, Person of Interest, which returned last week at 10pm, is now out save for a repeat at 10:50pm.

The double eps will also mean Gallipoli will end well before ANZAC celebrations in late April.

40 Responses

  1. Double episodes? Great. Now I can see the rest of the series and get away from Channel Nine as soon as possible. I haven’t watched commercial tv literally for decades. After the appalling experience of Gallipoli: basically a good show rendered almost unwatchable by commercials, news updates, popups, banners and whatever other rubbish, I have no plans of watching commercial tv again, ever.
    I suspect that channel 2 or SBS will pick up this show and repeat it, with great success. Without all the interruptions and innane promotions it will be a very watchable show.

  2. Because i pretty much avoid nine altogether i was sorry i had missed gallipoli. Being the centenary year and all i thought it would be rude not to watch. Last night, beginning much later than 9 i watched the first 3 episodes on jump in. I thought it was great. I didn’t sleep too well after, bit gorey but what did i expect. Anyway i will set the pvr this week for the double and watch it while ffwd ads.

  3. double episodes of a show always seem to say ‘we think this show sucks as much as you do so we’re trying to get rid of it as quickly as possible’. Too bad they may be alienating the people who watch it, why not just let them watch it as it was intended in single episodes. Its like they’re always waiting to churn out the next product, like really what have they got they think is going to rate better if they keep treating viewers so badly?

  4. First mistake was not holding it off until ANZAC Day … big, big mistake.
    I have watched two episodes but the honest truth is that it simply reinforces my hatred of war and shows it as innocent boys being scarificed by egomaniac leaders sitting pretty in their big ships way out of firing range.
    It is depressing, upsetting, fails to connect to my empathy or sympathy and just increases my anger.
    It is just not written in any way that it would win over the hearts of viewers … a total wate of time and money…. sadly!

Leave a Reply