News Archive:
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 …
Another week, another 2m.
Packed to the Rafters shows no sign of letting up, last night passing the magical 2m mark.
In its second last week, the show grabbed 2.016m viewers, Tuesday’s #1 most-watched programme for total viewers, 16-39s, 18-49s and 25-54s.
Together with Seven’s other formidable Tuesday line-up the network romped home with a 37.2% share over Nine’s 23.7% and TEN’s 21.3%. By the barest of margins, TEN finished the night first in the 16-39yo demographic with 30.5% to Seven’s 30.2%.
Mark Priestley’s final All Saints appearance also scored with 1.4m viewers.
Rafters will see the year out …
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 …
Two and a Half Men takes a hit
Two and a Half Men slipped to a “new low” last night of 807,000 viewers last night, a long way behind last week when it had 1.005m in the same timeslot a week ago.
It was thrashed by Packed to the Rafters on 2.06m viewers. NCIS had 1.23m up from last week’s 1.19m.
No doubt Seven’s Melbourne Cup helped drive audiences to Seven’s shows, although both The Zoo and Find My Family dipped slightly from last week.
Many have argued that Nine’s wall to wall programming of Two and a Half Men will eventually …
Auditions: Missing Pieces
Channel Nine is on the hunt for participants in a new television show that reunites people.
It was, after all, David Gyngell who said “blue sky TV” was all the rage lately.
Missing Pieces reckons it wants “people who have become separated from someone they care about, or someone who had a major impact on your life no matter how long ago.”
Nine’s website says, “Maybe we can help reunite you with someone special.”
Seven has had a big hit with Find my Family, though of course the reuniting of loved ones harks back to …
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 …
Returning: The Zoo
One of Seven’s other animal factual series The Zoo returns 7:30pm Tuesday October 21 according to Seven’s own website.
The series narrated by Melissa Doyle gives a behind-the-scenes looks at some of Australia’s finest zoos. It replaces RSPCA Animal Rescue.
At 8pm Find My Family continues.
Press Release:
MELISSA DOYLE returns with all new episodes of The Zoo, which takes a unique inside look behind-the- scenes at some of Australia’s finest zoos. In tonight’s premiere episode, for the first time in Australia, the birth of a baby gorilla is captured on camera - something …
ABC beats TEN as Seven wins
It was the week that American critics began to knife Kath & Kim (officially), ABC told staff it would cut up to 35 production jobs, Nine denied having a contract with the wife of a convicted crim, an actor lambasted his former soap, Today Tonight announced its next host would be a sports presenter and said its film crew helped -not hounded- an interviewee, Seven ’streamlined’ its Lotto results, buyers eyed a key production company, the Imparja / Nine Darwin deal fell apart, a TV critic died, and suddenly so did …