News Archive:
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 …
Gone: Battlefronts
Channel Nine is dropping Battlefronts from its Sunday line-up effective immediately.
It will be replaced by new episodes of 20 to 1.
On Sunday the show rated 857,000 trailing Seven’s Financial Crisis special at 1.44m / Kath & Kim 1.23m viewers and a repeat of Thank God You’re Here on 962,000.
When it last screened two weeks ago, Nine’s show had 963,000 behind The Outdoor Room’s 1.04m and Outback Wildlife Rescue’s 961,000. Thank God You’re Here had 1.04m in the same week -a comparable performance by Nine, really.
Nine’s Domestic Blitz fared much better gaining …
ABC renews BBC output deal
Good news, gang.
The ABC has renewed a deal with the BBC which gives it a first option on Drama, Light Entertainment (including Comedy), Natural History, Music & Arts and Religion for the next two years.
The deal was stitched up at MIPCOM in Cannes.
The broadcaster will continue to have first choice over its popular shows including Spooks (pictured), Doctor Who, Dalziel and Pascoe and Silent Witness.
“We have an exceptional relationship with ABC TV and we are looking forward to strengthening it further as we develop our business in this key territory,” commented …
Bondi Vet for MIPCOM
UK distributor Steadfast International will take TEN’s factual series Bondi Vet to MIPCOM this year, but there is still no indication of when the show will air in Australia.
MIPCOM, along with MIPTV, is one of the international industry’s key trade events, due mid-October in Cannes.
Featuring Sydney veterinarian, Dr. Chris Brown, formerly of Harry’s Practice, Burke’s Backyard, and Today, the series was produced by WTFN.
Steadfast says the (14×30′) series is shot in HD, following Brown as he lives, works and surfs on the world’s most famous beach. It was originally mooted as …
Bored rigid by lack of competition, it’s Seven.
It was the week that Seven and Nine argued over Karl Stefanovic, Grant Hackett signed with Channel Nine, ASTRA again attacked the anti-siphoning rule –prompting an hilarious “bored rigid” response from Seven, Nine denied a takeover of its Darwin affiliate by Imparja, Grant Denyer landed in hospital, a former Idol was assaulted, WIN trimmed its Queensland newsrooms, SBS said sponsors wouldn’t affect its editorial on Top Gear Australia and networks and advertisers all held their breath as the US financial market went into meltdown.
And unsurprisingly it was another win by Seven …
Koch to host money crisis special
Before he was Mel’s brekkie sidekick, or hosting choir sing-offs and cast reunions, David Koch was actually a financial expert.
As the financial world comes tumbling down around our eyes he returns to that role this Sunday for a late change by Seven to its evening line-up.
At 6:30pm he will host Your Money: How to Survive the Crisis of 2008. Aided by other experts, Koch will break down the week’s events and detail how it affects families, pensioners, students and investors.
It will be followed by The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie at …
Seven wins as TEN is taken out
It was the week that Ernie Dingo and Kyle Sandilands had a spat on radio, the ABC renewed its push for a kids’ channel, Access 31 was put on the market, TEN picked up women’s netball from FOX Sports, GTV9 won a Heritage listing, Nine axed its Euro correspondent, Underbelly won the right to start screening in Victoria (sort of), TEN and Seven fought over AFL sponsors and a 17yo reality contestant took a stand on her show’s conduct.
And it was another big win for Seven with 29.9% in Week 37 …
Ernie Dingo calls Kyle “a commercial wanker”
A radio interview today to promote Outback Wildlife Rescue descended into name-calling today, as Ernie Dingo called Kyle Sandilands “a commercial wanker.”
Sandilands, on his 2DAY.FM show with Jackie O, retorted by saying, “what a c**khead, you turned out to be… get out of here, I’m not interested.”
Dingo, who was a guest to promote his Seven Network show, was unimpressed with an audio grab during his introduction that said, “a dingo’s got my baby.”
He said he was there to promote the show and its caring of animals, and criticised Sandilands saying, …
Airdate: Outback Wildlife Rescue
As predicted, Seven’s Outback Wildlife Rescue will be partnered with The Outdoor Room from Sunday September 7.
The new factual series shot in the Northern Territory and Queensland will air from 7pm.
The series is produced by Freehand who are also behind the revamped Dancing with the Stars plus Top Gear Australia.
The series is narrated by Ernie Dingo.
Photo: stock image.
Hot Tip: Outback Wildlife Rescue
Outback Wildlife Rescue will soon be screening on Seven.
It is the latest factual series from Seven (there are soooo many now), narrated by Ernie Dingo.
Given that The Outdoor Room drops back to 30 minutes after this weekend don’t be surprised if it is joined by this series.
It’s probably just a question of which airs at 6:30pm and which at 7:00pm. Up against Domestic Blitz, Seven might be wiser to lead with its collection of marsupials, reptiles and …