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ABC: 2010 Highlights
The ABC has announced some of it programming highlights for 2010.
It has revealed key dramas, comedies, documentary, sports, arts, current affairs and children’s entertainment.
Amongst the highlights are new comedy series Lowdown starring Adam Zwar, Poh’s Kitchen with MasterChef’s Poh Ling Yeow, Andrew Hansen’s debating series Strictly Speaking, Cal Wilson in Sleuth 101, a new comedy about a gay sci-fi club Outland, a new drama series by writer Marieke Hardy Like a Virgin, new Bed of Roses plus I ROCK and a telemovie about David Hicks, X-Ray.
Kim Dalton, Director of Television said, …
Top ABC executive quits
The ABC has lost a key creative executive with the resignation of Courtney Gibson, Executive Head of Content Creation.
She will take up the position of Director of Programmes at Southern Star Entertainment after six years with ABC TV.
ABC’s Kim Dalton said, “I am sad to see Courtney leave ABC TV. Courtney has made a significant contribution to Australian content output during her time here. In recognition of that, her role expanded during the six years from Head of Entertainment to the Executive Head of Content Creation in 2007.
“Courtney has that rare …
ABC appoints new Head of Factual
The ABC has appointed a new Head of Factual Programming, Jennifer Collins, who has been serving as ABC TV Arts, Entertainment and Comedy’s Manager of Development.
Collins will oversee ABC’s slate of factual shows including Gardening Australia, Message Stick, Compass, Q&A, Talking Heads, The Cook and the Chef, Can we Help, Fora, Catalyst, and The Collectors. She will report to the Executive Head of Content Creation, Courtney Gibson.
“Factual programming is one of the core functions of ABC TV and Jennifer’s appointment will ensure we continue to offer viewers quality programs in …
Nine stands down Matty Johns
UPDATED: Matthew Johns was stood down indefinitely by the Nine Network today. Johns and his manager John Fordham had a two hour meeting with the head of Channel Nine, David Gyngell. He is will front on A Current Affair tonight. Tracy Grimshaw is flying from her Melbourne home to Nine’s Sydney studios.
Nine CEO David Gyngell has now said: “The fact is, whatever the arguments about the details of the New Zealand incident involving Cronulla players in 2002, the conduct and its aftermath was simply unacceptable, fullstop.
“”I have always had great regard …
A chorus of opinions
This week SBS’ long running forum show Insight travelled to Melbourne to discuss a topical subject inviting a broad range of opinions. In the old Pumphouse building at Scienceworks, Spotswood, SBS staged a live to air outside broadcast on the topic of bushfires, climate change and the danger zone.
TV Tonight was there as gale force winds were howling down on the city, ironically reminding the 54 audience guests of the force of nature. Many of them, survivors of the Black Saturday bushfires, needed no reminding. The wind grew so loud it …
Q&A: guests
This week on Q&A Tony Jones is joined by two economic politicians, former Treasurer Peter Costello and Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.
Will this trigger more talk of Costello to ’step up or step down’? Probably.
They will be joined by Millionaire businessman Geoff Cousins; Opinion Editor for The Australian Rebecca Weisser; and Sally Warhaft, Editor of The Monthly magazine.
To submit questions visit the Q&A website at www.abc.net.au/qanda.
Q&A airs 9:30pm Thursday on ABC1.
ABC scoops political debate
The ABC has got itself a bit of a scoop on Q&A this Thursday night.
Yesterday it announced its guest line-up for this week’s debate on “The Economy” would include Wayne Swan and Julie Bishop.
By the end of the day Bishop was no longer in the portfolio.
As a result ABC now has the first head-to-head tussle between Wayne Swan and Joe Hockey, the new Shadow Treasurer, live on air.
They will be joined by National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, Paul Howes; Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne; and Kate Carnell, the Chief …
Denton, Safran and drama lead ABC charge
While attention in the first week of ratings turns to a brawl between Seven, Nine and TEN, the ABC is focussed on the 52 weeks that make up our television year. Over summer it delivered several feature series that upstaged the commercials -at least in terms of quality.
It will soon launch its latest locally-produced drama, The Cut, starring John Wood, Matt Passmore and Julieanne Newbould.
Set to premiere at 9:30pm Monday February 23, the timeslot is another break away from the network’s traditional Sunday programming for local drama.
ABC’s Director of Television, Kim …
Returning: Q&A
The first 2009 episode of ABC panel show Q&A will tackle subjects facing us as a nation: who are we, where are we going as a nation, what is good about Australia… and what isn’t.
Hosted by Tony Jones, the panel will consist of former and current Australians of the Year:
General Peter Cosgrove – the former Defence Chief who led Australian responses in Timor and the relief effort for Cyclone Larry (2001Award recipient);
Prof. Fiona Wood – the Australian scientist and surgeon who applied her knowledge and skill to help the victims of …
ABC rejects Q&A bias
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has criticised the ABC’s Q&A, saying the show’s panel and audience consisted mostly of Labor supporters.
According to an Age article, figures show that over the course of the program’s 2008 season, 32 per cent of the audience was made up of Labor supporters, while just 24 per cent supported the coalition and 17% were Greens supporters.
That leaves 27% either ‘other’, ’swinging’ or who didn’t say.
Frankly, who would expects any television show (aside from one for a Debate audience) to bother polling its audience on their political persuasions? …