News Archive:
A Bold start
TEN’s first primetime screening of The Bold and the Beautiful picked up a little traction, with 592,000 viewers on Monday.
That improved slightly on The Simpsons’ average of 581,000 last week and quite some ground on Bold’s average of 466,000 at 4:30pm last week.
Of course, there may well have been a curiosity factor from people wanting to know what all the fuss was about, especially those who are never home at 4:30pm.
TEN’s evening share, however, sank even further. Down to just 16.0%. Dismally, its 5pm News was the top rating show of …
ABC views year from on high
The ABC is hailing 2008 as its best ever result, improving 2% on its 2007 performance.
With 7 of its top 10 shows being local productions, ABC is also buoyed by several brands hitting all time highs including The Cook and the Chef, Media Watch, The Collectors and At the Movies.
ABC also notes a big boost in ABC News and in its 6:30 weeknight timeslot.
The broadcaster also notes the popularity of its iView platform and the success of the relaunched ABC2 channel, with its live Keating! The Musical its biggest drawcard.
Press Release:
2008 …
Survey: We luv Australian telly
The ABC has released the results of a Newspoll survey in its campaign for increased funding from the federal government.
The survey conducted nationally for the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, found:
- 64% of Australians think the government should regulate the minimum amount of Australian programmes shown on Free to Air.
- 69% believe the government should regulate a minimum amount of Australian programming on the ABC.
- 64% believe it is important Australian programs can be accessed through new media platforms.
- 65% want increased funding for Australian children’s shows on the ABC.
- 64% …
Final week (almost) a Seven sweep
It was the last week of ratings for 2008, and the week all the free to air broadcasters bonded (temporarily) for Freeview with 4 of 5 metro CEOs there for the party, Nine scrambled to refinance its loans, an Australian actress was trapped in international terror, Seven sacked a reporter, former Sunday journos won the Gold Walkley, Nine let go another network celebrity, ACMA slapped Nine three times for A Current Affair, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Spiderman, TEN dumped 90210 and rearranged its summer schedule again, a gangster’s wife was at …
You better smile. It’s Nine.
It was the week that the industry took action on piracy against an ISP, news crews were assaulted by angry locals, a regional broadcaster axed its entire news department, a court ruled regional licenses must be sold, a reality host pleaded guilty to welfare fraud, another reality show mucked up correct voting information, Screen Australia’s new CEO signalled a smoother ride for film over television, a daytime soap would be destined for primetime, the axe fell on more US shows and an old sitcom face left for the bus depot in …
Are we there yet?
It was the week that everybody said they had new toys to unwrap, TEN declared the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Aussie producers gathered on the Gold Coast for their annual gab-fest just as Nine decided not to revisit the only drama set there, TiVo dumped one of its key partners, the last original member of Hi-5 chose to retire, the axe fell on several shows in the US, network programmers tried to defend late amendments, Seven apologised for comments made by one of its stars, Nine was revealed as wanting “no …
The race that tops the nation
It was the week a Pay TV spokesperson called broadcaster feuding “juvenile” while another exec wanted better inclusion at the digital switch table, a TEN programmer conceded it had massive timeslot problems, Nine axed production staff, Sonia Kruger was criticised for an on air joke, a former soap star said he didn’t really enjoy soaps, belated guide amendments left viewers confused, an ABC journo pleads guilty to charges in Singapore, drug charges against a Seven personality were dropped, Seven revisits its C7 case against Pay television, the ABC launches its new …
Stress led to Lloyd drugs charge
ABC Journalist Peter Lloyd, who faces charges of drug possession and consumption in Singapore has spoken of the stresses of work which he says contributed to him seeking a way out.
Admitting he thought he was merely tired from the pressure of being a foreign correspondent, Lloyd has been diagnosed with work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“In the last six years I have done more mass-casualty stuff than your average soldier does. As first responders (like police, paramedics and firefighters), I don’t think my generation of journalists overseas has done the kind of …
US election: the figures
So where did Aussie viewers go to get all their US election coverage?
Firstly it’s worth acknowledging that with some telecasts stretching to five hours, the average figure will be necessarily modest, especially during the daytime.
At this stage we also only have preliminary figures, which factors in schedules as they were initially planned. In other words, they don’t yet account for the fact that candidate speeches were after 4pm AEDST, when Seven and Nine had planned to return to normal schedules.
ABC did in fact return to normal programming on cue at …
Packered by the Rafters
It was the week the Packer family parted ways with Nine causing David Gyngell to vow to prove James Packer wrong, TEN announced a new channel, Pay TV launched another three, Minister Stephen Conroy signalled support for increased ABC & SBS funding, commercial networks (briefly) found a conscience but upset David Leckie, WIN sat down at the gambling table, Kath & Kim (US) got a greenlight for a full season, Andrew Denton announced the end of Enough Rope, David Tennant set his exit from his iconic role, Rove visited …
Current affairs surge at Seven
It was the week that current affairs and finance dominated. Ray Martin lamented the state of commercial news and current affairs at the same time as a former sports presenter won his first week behind a public affairs desk, a CEO lashed out at his rival networks but shot off about the starting date of his new current affairs project, while the network signed a former Sunday journo, TEN reported a 25% slump in earnings, a Telstra boss said Foxtel subscriptions were slowing, another Murdoch stitched up a production deal with …
NRL wins it but Seven takes glory
It was the week that TEN was in breach of subliminal ads (a ruling first leaked by TV Tonight), ACMA instructed Nine to sell part of its Darwin operation, two former premiers will now defend Pay TV v Free to Air battles, while two television gardeners faced off over the environment, a Footy Show comedian defended a school principal under fire, a musical about the media in Beaconsfield was branded as tasteless, a former Idol died in tragic circumstances, Perth’s Telethon broke its own record, SBS lost a top Drama …