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 …
Freeview. Free party.
At last night’s Freeview launch at Parliament in Canberra there were CEOs, stars, buses and booze. And a lil thing about digital telly too.
Network stars and bosses mingled with politicians in the Mural Hall including Spicks and Specks’ Myf Warhurst, All Saints’ Kip Gamblin, the Bananas in Pyjamas and Gladiators’ Tom Williams. Also in attendance were Underbelly’s Les Hill, Underbelly II’s Dieter Brummer, The Chaser’s Julian Morrow, and Packed to the Rafters stars George Houvardas and Hugh Sheridan, as well as Good News Week’s Paul McDermott.
According to Mediaweek, Nine was represented …
Monday surge for SBS and ABC
Maybe it’s a sign of things to come over summer. SBS and ABC had a strong Monday.
The return of the British Top Gear came racing down the ratings freeway, attracting a whopping 1.06m viewers -third in its timeslot. Last week’s Aussie version was further down the road with 662,000 viewers. As if it didn’t already know it, that’s a clear message to SBS about the popularity of the Clarkson, Hammond and May.
SBS managed an 8.8% share for Monday, it’s best in quite a while.
ABC had some strong wins with The Howard …
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 …
Airdate: GNW Awards
For its finale edition, Good News Week is having a two hour awards show.
Described as “a mix between the Nobel Prize and the Logies” it will look back on the newsmakers, for better or worse, and decide who is worthy of gongs in Entertainment, Religion, Sport, Science, Politics and Photo of the Year.
Viewers can vote in the categories on the GNW website.
The show airs 8:30pm Monday November 24 and returns at the top of the television year in February 2009.
Press Release:
Monday 24th November 2008 will see the second-most anticipated event …
Returning: 90210
As has been widely anticipated, 90210 is returning to Channel TEN from 7:30pm Monday November 24th.
In a promotion from 8:30 to 7:30pm, the show makes it back into the final week of ratings.
TEN took the series off air after low figures, much to the disappointment of new fans. It wasn’t helped in some markets being interrupted by the Brownlow Medal either.
In the US the show has a full season from the CW Network.
TEN picks up the season with episode 6, “Model Behaviour” and follows with the last episode of Good News …
Looking for the magic touch
TEN’s line up for 2009 includes more factual series than ever, returning favourites and new international content. After a disappointing 2008, especially in the second half, TEN will need the magic touch to win back loyal viewers.
The network made the announcement today as part of a three day tour across the country.
Headlining the announcement is the acquisition of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Cooking show MasterChef Australia will replace Big Brother across a 7pm timeslot mid year.
Another 7pm strip show is yet to be announced.
The new locally produced factual shows include …
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 …
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 …
“Anna Coren is so furious”
Cute line in a press release from Channel TEN for an upcoming episode of Good News Week.
The info that seeks to plug its unique take on news and current affairs reckons their content is so outrageous that other network personalities are up in arms.
Check out the plug for Monday October 27:
Where do you go to get the latest in news and current affairs?
Good News Week, hosted by Paul McDermott alongside team leaders Claire Hooper and Mikey Robins, brings you the most outrageous [and funniest] news of the week.
Tonight’s Good News includes …