News Archive:
TEN failing 7pm test
This will come as no surprise to any reader of this site. But it’s good to hear the problem being addressed publicly.
TEN’s chief programmer has conceded it is in the doldrums due mostly to the 7pm timeslot.
“Where the problem is for us - and it’s the elephant in the room - is 7pm and there’s no question it’s our biggest challenge,” Mott told the Daily Telegraph. “It’s hurting us and we have to bring people back . . . at 7pm.”
TEN has cycled through Friends, Taken Out, Friends (again) and …
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 …
TEN eyeing more factuals
It’s only early days on this news, but Network TEN is believed to be on the hunt for more light factual entertainment shows that can be stripped across its earlier primetime slots.
TEN execs are at MIPCOM in Cannes to look at new products for its 2009 slate.
As we know, Seven has built a formidable programming platform based around factual series on early weeknights. Shows like Border Security, The Force, RSPCA Animal Rescue and Medical Emergency have given the network a stronghold, that leads into 8:30 dramas.
Now TEN is understood to be …
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 …
TEN on tenterhooks
It’s been an awful week for TEN, Taken Out, 90210 and Bondi Rescue: Bali were all erased within seven days of each other.
As of Friday TEN has only had three shows above the 1m mark -and one of those was a repeat.
On two nights this week TEN finished behind the ABC, with two more results yet to be handed down. As it tries to save face from a week of crushing blows, TEN is in danger of ending the week behind the ABC.
Ominously, Fridays are often weak for TEN, while Saturdays …
New, local content wins Seven week
It was the week the “Prince of Darkness” descended upon Nine, the Imparja takeover of NTD9 inched closer, Seven lost an appeal relating to a children’s court case and lost a packet in the financial freefall, TEN signalled the return of boxing only to have its promoter caught up in a drug arrest, two networks fight over the contracts of one presenter, ACMA cancelled a community broadcasting license while a leak led to a Federal Police raid, the Government introduced a bill to firm the switch to digital, TEN turned off …
Axed: Taken Out
Channel TEN has finally pulled the plug on its latest game show, Taken Out.
It is to be replaced by The Simpsons effective from tonight.
After tracking its performance in a week of single guys, TEN has been forced to turn out the light on its own show. This week it started with 610,000 but last night was at 533,000 viewers. TEN is mindful that last Friday it dropped to 465,000 viewers. Meanwhile Seven News had 1.44m viewers while Nine News had 1.1m viewers.
For a show whose biggest audience was younger females, the …
TEN’s week to smile
Channel TEN is enjoying one of its best weeks in a long time, currently sitting in second position after two nights in Week 39, just 0.8% behind Seven.
That’s thanks largely to the performances of Australian Idol and the Brownlow Medal.
Cyndi Lauper’s appearance on Idol on Sunday night nabbed the station 1.34m viewers, beating both 60 Minutes and shrinking Dancing with the Stars. Last night she returned to sing “Time after Time” to the tune of 1.1m viewers. Next week Darren Hayes is guest judge.
TEN also had the 2008 Brownlow Medal in …
Let’s hear it for the boys
And so finally, FINALLY, this week Taken Out presents 30 single guys competing for a date with a girl.
The appearance of the male species follows three weeks of single girls competing for one guy. It might be worth seeing how they differ from the girls, who buzzed out based on choices as simple as attire. But guys being guys are probably more likely to stay in the game longer….right?
The change of pace should provide a much-needed boost for the TEN dating game show. But will it be enough?
Last week, TEN moved …
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 …
Emmys fever hits LA
Outside the Nokia Theatre in LA, it looks like all they need are stars and fans now, - the Emmy Awards are only about 24 hours away.
Desperate Housewives’ Kathryn Joosten (aka Mrs McCluskey) who won a Creative Arts Emmy last week, also serves on both the board of governors and the executive committee of the Academy. She told the LA Times how the voting takes place.
“The first phase is — we send out a paper ballot with everybody who’s considered,” she says. “That’s voted on by people just checking off …
Taken Out taken out of 7pm slot
Channel TEN has moved on its under-performing new dating show, Taken Out.
It will move from 7pm to 6pm immediately, with Friends moving back to the 7:00 slot.
Taken Out has been on air for two weeks now, with disappointing figures. It premiered to 851,000 but dropped to 581,000 on Friday.
The show hosted by James Kerley pits 30 contestants for a date with one single, so far only girls have comprised the group. 30 guys will get their turn for a date with a single female next week.
Of most concern for TEN is …