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Hey, Dad! producer confronted man in abuse claims
In response to claims of sexual abuse on the set of 1980s sitcom Hey, Dad!, producer Gary Reilly has told A Current Affair he acted upon what he was told at the time.
“Some people said they felt uncomfortable. Others said there was nothing going on,” he said.
“But I then continued and confronted the person who was mentioned.”
Reilly says he got a vehement and angry denial from the person concerned.
“I then contacted the network, because I felt we had a decision… I contacted senior officials at the network and contacted the parents …
NITV future hangs in the balance
National Indigenous Television broadcaster (NITV) has today announced it will cease to exist without government funding.
The plea for financial support carries a switch off deadline of June 30th 2010.
NITV, which airs home-grown shows including Marngrook Footy Show, The Barefoot Rugby League Show, Yaarnz, Yarramundi Kids, Letterbox, Grounded, and Momentum, broadcasts in the Sydney Metropolitan Area, Geelong, Ballarat, Mildura, via Foxtel, Optus and Austar and on 147 terrestrial transmitters in remote areas of Australia.
A Press Release from NITV follows:
NITV has been on air since July 2007. We have earned the support and …
7PM Project divides critics
This week Channel TEN’s 7PM Project notches up 8 months on air.
After repeated attempts at developing a show to fill the timeslot, including Taken Out and even the infamous Yasmin’s Getting Married, TEN has held its nerve with the Roving Enterprises show, despite figures which many assumed would sound the death knell.
Last week it averaged 653,000 viewers, and has doubtless impacted on TEN’s early evening schedule.
But has it found its feet? Has it improved its mix of news and comedy and is it time for audiences to revisit the show?
TV Tonight …
STVDIO: April highlights
New Arts channel STVDIO takes the place of Ovation on Foxtel and Austar from April 1st.
Updated: Yesterday Ovation announced it will become an add-on channel on Foxtel from June 1st at $9.95 per month.
Operated by SBS-owned PAN TV, STVDIO will showcase performing arts, cinema, books, opera, ballet, music, art and design.
Amongst its titles in April are the World Premiere of David Campbell On Broadway plus Australian premieres of HMS Pinafore and Trial By Jury, Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe, documentaries on Derek Jarman and Harold Pinter, plus The Real Brassed …
SBS care over Indian story on Swift & Shift Couriers
The second season of SBS cult comedy Swift and Shift Couriers has been held back from a planned April launch over concerns its storyline which sees the company competing with an Indian courier company needs careful attention.
The knockabout comedy from writer performer Paul Fenech famously had an episode from its first season dumped by the network after a complaint by the family of Australian soldier Jake Kovco.
When the series began shooting last year it could never have known that its seemingly-inoffensive storyline might air at a time when Indian-Australian relations are …
Good Cop, Bad Cop.
“I’ve worked in television very little,” says David Field. “I have such a strange relation with the business, I always have.”
As Detective Superintendent Terry Jarvis on Seven’s City Homicide, this stage and film actor is getting used to the machinations of network television, even where it requires opening up and giving interviews to press.
“There’s always been a certain amount of fear and respect,” he told TV Tonight. “I guess I haven’t played the game with anyone very much. I’ve always tended to be a little bit on the outer, …
TEN renews Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation
EXCLUSIVE: TEN has renewed its hit panel series Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation for second season.
Production wrapped last night in Melbourne on the 2009 season, extended to 17 episodes, with a cross-network and themed episode featuring Kerri Anne Kennerley, Wil Anderson and Josh Lawson.
TEN Programmer David Mott announced the news to cast and crew at a wrap party.
“Shows come and go, but clearly this one has struck a chord with the Australian public. I can talk about ratings, and yes it averaged …
Seven tops local content list
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released its findings on Australian content on commercial free to air television in 2008.
It found Seven, Nine and TEN all exceeded the minimum requirement of 55% local content be aired between 6am and midnight.
Channel Seven broadcast 64% Australian content while Nine’s PBL-owned stations on the East Coast aired more than 60% Australian content. TEN just cleared the minimum averaging 56%.
Seven was the only network to increase its local content from 2007.
2008 was a strong year for local content, particularly in drama with …
Trouble in Paradise
TV Tonight has taken a sneak peek at Nine’s new series Trouble in Paradise.
As only one of two stories was supplied by Nine, this isn’t a full review, so much as a teaser of what to expect…
The story entailed two Aussies on a surfing holiday in Mexico, who, in a beach outpost find themselves at the mercy of corrupt local police.
Like true crime tales, such as Crime Investigation Australia, the format here is a mix of witness accounts and re-enactments.
The two men who were subjected to a terrifying ordeal at gunpoint …
Reality check: Where are Survivor & Amazing Race?
Reality fans you have been heard.
TV Tonight took the questions to Nine and Seven on the absence of Survivor and The Amazing Race from our screens.
In the case of Survivor there are now two full seasons (Gabon & Tocantins) that have aired in the US. One more season of The Amazing Race has also been run and won on CBS.
So where are they?
Both networks indicated the franchises are still important to them, and both indicated they would be coming.
Seven confirmed The Amazing Race would return in July. There are 4 more …
Nine scores the week
Week 23 saw all the biffo on Wednesday night. The State of Origin hit a high of 2.28m viewers -a record for the event since OzTAM ratings commenced. It helped Nine win just its third week of ratings over Seven. It was also the same night that The Chaser’s War on Everything offended large portions of the viewing audience with its now-notorious sketch.
Nine won the week with 27.1% over Seven’s 26.4% and TEN’s 24.5%. The ABC had 17.1% and SBS 4.8%.
As expected, Nine won Sydney and Brisbane with Seven snaring all …
Hills hoists ABC comedy
Adam Hills admits to being a bit “blown away” by the figures for Spicks and Specks. 1.4m last week, and 1.6m this week -the best ABC result not only for the year, but on par with the show’s best ever which was when The Chaser pulled their APEC stunt.
“This year’s been our strongest year for ratings ever. I think there are a lot of reasons. We’re having better shows this year. We’re ad libbing a lot more, playing around a lot more,” he told TV Tonight.
The return of The Chaser and …