News Archive:
Kids switch off ABC
The ABC is losing younger viewers, says the Sydney Morning Herald, to Pay TV.
During the past four years, while the population of the mainland capitals has risen by half a million people, the average prime-time audience for free-to-air television has dropped by 220,000.
The ABC suffered its biggest loss with a group that used to be its strongest supporters - children under the age of 15. That part of the ABC’s audience across the whole day has declined by 25 per cent. The children seem to be saying bye-bye to Bananas …
Rhys wins Supermodel
25 year old Victorian schoolteacher Rhys Uhlich has won Seven’s Make me a Supermodel.
Uhlich defeated Shanina Shaik (right), 17, from Victoria and Courtney Chircop, 18, from Western Australia.
“I feel out of this world,” he said.
“It really is a dream come true. A dream I didn’t hold until this competition.
“To be alongside Shanina in the final was an absolute honour. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, she typifies beauty.”
Rhys wins a contract with Chadwick Model Management, be represented by New York Model Management, a trip to NY …
Foxtel rocks into 2009
Foxtel has joined the procession of new programme announcements, with a raft of Australian-produced and international shows, some of which launch as early as December.
The channels owned & operated by Foxtel include FOX8, FOX Classics, Arena, Comedy, Crime & Investigation, History, Biography and the W Channel.
The titles include 15 local productions, starting with An Aussie Goes Calypso in December and reality competition The Phone in January. Both will air on FOX8.
To be presented by Justin Melvey, The Phone sees two hidden mobile phones ringing somewhere in a city. When a stranger …
TV Forums report card
Since the advent of online, television fans have had ways of letting networks know what they think. No more writing letters to newspapers, it’s as easy as logging onto a network website anonymously and speaking your mind.
TV Tonight has been looking at how our networks embrace free and open discussion. Here’s how they stacked up.
ABC:
Within the ABC site there are individual show pages, many of which have open forums. Shows including Enough Rope, Compass, Can We Help?, At The Movies, Life at 3, Good Game, Media Watch, Spicks and Specks and …
Local Shear Genius and Contender coming
Amongst the new shows announced for Foxtel in 2009 is a local version of hair-styling reality series Shear Genius. The US version featured Aussie born Tabatha Coffey, whose blunt style won her enough interest for her own series Tabatha’s Salon Takeover. Will Foxtel bring her here for this?
It’s lucky for Foxtel that Nine decided against producing Million Dollar Salon, as it had planned earlier this year.
Andrew Denton’s produced 8 part satirical drama set in the advertising industry is titled 30 Seconds.
There is also the fifth series of FOX8’s Australia’s Next Top …
Next Top typo
Ooops.
A Daily Telegraph exclusive which claims the boyfriend of Australia’s Next Top Model star Charlotte Dawson spent last night in jail after being arrested and charged over an alleged $7.35 million bank fraud has made one slight boo-boo:
Matthew John Rhodin, 42, of Kings Cross regularly mingles with Sydney’s A-list crowd and, most recently, has been seen in the company of the glamorous New Zealander from the Seven Network reality TV show.
Neither Charlotte Dawson nor Australia’s Next Top Model appears on the Seven Network. That’s FOX8, guys.
Could the Tele be thinking …
Sarah Murdoch to host ANTM
Sarah Murdoch will replace Jodhi Meares as host on Australia’s Next Top Model.
In what sounds like a good choice, Murdoch will also act as an executive producer on the show, while her contract with Foxtel also involves the creation of documentaries by her production company Room 329.
Murdoch attracted a positive response during her hosting stint on the Today show. She says she has been inundated with offers since.
“This is a great fit for me and I’m excited about making the documentaries also,” she told the Sunday Mail.
In a sensible move, she …
Auditions: ANTM 2009
Here are the complete audition tour details for Australia’s Next Top Model from Townsville to Perth.
The application form again stipulates contestants must be female and aged between 16-23 years as at 1st January 2009. It reads in part, “You understand that you may be filmed, recorded and photographed while clothed, partially clothed or naked…. The Producers may also conduct background checks and may investigate, amongst other things, your criminal history.”
Applicants under the age of 18 must submit an application that is signed and agreed by a Parent or Guardian.
Once again …
Next Top Tozzi?
Sydney model Cheyenne Tozzi is the latest rumoured name for the hosting role on Australia’s Next Top Model.
At just 19, Tozzi is no older than many of the contestants on the show, making her a curious choice if it were to prove true.
Tozzi has done ads for ‘Jets Swimwear’, ‘Bonds’, ‘Seafolly’ and ‘Newport News’ and is sister to actress Tahyna Tozzi (Blue Water High).
According to news.com.au, previous candidates have included Elle Macpherson and Sarah Murdoch.
The series begins its next round of auditions at Sydney’s Westfield Parramatta on Monday …
Next top project for Charlotte
Charlotte Dawson will not be hosting the next series of Australia’s Next Top Model. Instead, she will remain a judge on the show with a view to a new project with Foxtel.
“It’s such an exciting project and perfect for me, so I’m happy to keep my role as it is (on ANTM) and concentrate on that,” she said.
News.com.au reports that the project will involve a large, live studio audience.
Meanwhile, the search for a new ANTM host has begun in earnest, with a Foxtel spokesman confirming that potential candidates were being …
Auditions: Australia’s Next Top Model
Auditions for the fifth series of Australia’s Next Top Model (sans Jodhi) will begin in Parramatta on October 13.
There will be two days of cattle calls in both Sydney and Melbourne, with other locations to include Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Newcastle.
More regional auditions are expected to be announced.
So far there’s no further info aside from dates, including whether the series has any plans to add boys to the mix?
And please, no bullying!
Press Release (amended):
AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL will be back on FOX8 in 2009 with a new host at the helm …
Foxtel, you’ve got Jodhi mail
Jodhi Meares has finally quit her role as the host of Australia’s Next Top Model, following a debacle in which she failed to front for the show’s all-important live finale.
Her exit comes despite the insistence of Foxtel executives who said her role was safe.
In July, Brian Walsh said, “I rang Jodhi on Friday and reiterated the fact she has our full support and apologised for the media circus it’s become.
“Why would we change a winning formula? Australia’s Next Top Model is a fabulous ensemble of personalities of which Jodhi is …