News Archive:
Thank God for $1m
Figures about how much money was paid in the tussle over Thank God You’re Here continue.
Yesterday there was a suggestion TEN had offered $1m an episode but were beaten by Seven at $1.4m.
Today, that is scaled back somewhat to an offer of $1m from Seven. It’s a staggering amount for Australian television. We have dramas produced on slimmer budgets than that, and here’s one which celebrates the fact it doesn’t even use a script!
Until Tuesday, TEN programmer David Mott believed he had a deal with Working Dog.
“It’s fair to say I’m …
Thank God You’re Here switches to Seven
Thank God You’re Here is switching from Network TEN to Channel Seven.
It will return in 2009 with Shane Bourne as host and Tom Gleisner as judge.
The hit improvisation show has previously enjoyed three seasons on TEN.
The shift from networks, which follows Seven’s acquisition of Kath & Kim from the ABC, is a major coup for Seven and a huge blow to the TEN Network. It was sorely missed as part of TEN’s Sunday line-up.
“Having taken a year off it felt right to try some new things with the show,” said Tom …
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 …
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 …
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 …