News Archive:
Nine’s Secret Millionaire
In Nine’s 2008 ratings report it indicated some of the shows that are due next year. While most are already known to us there were two new titles:
Secret Millionaire and Little Britain.
Secret Millionaire is a British format in which millionaires give away tens of thousand of their own money after spending time living in a community where no one knows that they are wealthy. A US version also begins this week on FOX.
At this stage it’s unclear if Nine airs an international or local version -presumably, it wouldn’t involve a Packer….
As …
Celebrity Santa
Yes it was none other than Sam Newman, frocking up for some festive fun at Channel Nine Melbourne’s Xmas drinks for Publicity and Marketing clients.
Newman was in fine form, playing the role for several hours as guests lined up to sit on Santa’s knee.
He might not have been the most convincing Santa to ever visit Xmas, but he was a good sport, playing it up for photos. He was so amiable, some didn’t even know they’d just sat on Newman’s knee. Aided …
When Nicole met Dave
“Did I just miss the point?” asked Nicole Kidman.
Yep.
She really didn’t click too well with David Letterman this week, failing to understand what Letterman was talking about regarding Crocodile Dundee, and missing a chance to introduce a clip to Australia.
“This is not a rehearsal,” said Dave.
Nicole, who says she thought Dave wanted her to be quiet for the clip, laughed off the embarrassed moment.
Their chat went so well Dave even had to ask, “You’re not coming back are you?”
This is a long clip but the good stuff starts around 2.30 mins….
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 …
Hamish & Andy to TEN’s rescue
After weeks of ailing Wednesday nights, it was Hamish & Andy who came to TEN’s rescue last night. Their Re-Gifted special nabbed 1.13m viewers, second in its slot. It was light years ahead of recent shows including Big Cat Diary, Futurama, Jamie’s Ministry of Food and Bondi Rescue: Bali. They frequently hovered between 500,000 - 700,000 viewers.
The success of the two might well prompt TEN to look at more for the Austereo duo in 2009, which would be ironic given their previous attempts at a TV show haven’t fired and it …
Returning: CSI: Miami. Bumped: Rugby World Cup (Vic)
Channel Nine is pushing the telecast of its Rugby League World Cup game this Sunday on GTV9 from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. There is no change to TCN9 or QTQ9.
Instead it will bring CSI: Miami back at 8:30pm with “All In” (S6E16) and follow with a repeat at 9:30pm.
Last night the game attracted just 158,000 viewers in Melbourne and 900,000 viewers nationally, beaten by Dancing with the Stars and Rove. Nine also lost its prized Sunday crown to Seven, although it was first in 18-49 and 25-54. TEN won 16-39.
The semi final …
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 …
The dumping ground of television
It’s become one of the stories of the 2008 television year: dumping shows ad infinitum. This month we’ve lost Fringe, Cold Case, Wipeout, Battlefronts, Kitchen Nightmares USA, Kath & Kim (US), 90210, Bondi Rescue: Bali and even a repeat series of Friends. Dropping shows isn’t new, but its rapidity is increasing, confusing audiences and disintegrating trust between viewers and networks.
Nine’s Head of Acquisitions, Daytime and HD programming Les Sampson spoke to TV Tonight about the challenges and ramifications of scheduling.
As we all know, delivering demographics to advertisers is an artform. Programming …
Packed with success stories
Seven finished with a big lead in Week 43 -a 30.6% audience share over Nine’s 26.5% and TEN’s 20.3%.
The ABC had 17.5% and SBS 5.0%.
Top show for the week was again Packed to the Rafters for the Seven Network.
For Nine its new US drama The Mentalist (Sun) was tops on 1.44m, while NCIS was TEN’s strongest on 1.23m.
Spicks and Specks was the top show for the ABC on 1.24m while Top Gear Australia managed 598,000 for SBS.
Week 43.
Practice makes perfect…
America’s ABC has picked up Private Practice for a full season.
The network has ordered nine more episodes of the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off.
Despite the US positivity, the show has languished in Australia, unable to match the enthusiasm for its parent-drama.
Practice is the latest network series to get a full-season pickup, following NBC’s Knight Rider and Chuck, CBS’ The Mentalist, Fox’s Fringe and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Most of those shows have had an uneven reception in Australia too.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Fan fury at Nine
Fans of Fringe who were unaware the show had been pulled from Nine’s current schedule got a rude shock last night and vented their anger in online messageboards.
They were universally vehement in their displeasure with Nine’s programming.
This site alone now totals 95 posts in one thread alone.
Over on Nine’s own messageboard there were more furious comments:
Fringe Dweller: C’mon channel 9, have some balls and tell the people why Fringe has been pulled! Oh I’m sorry, you don’t care about what people like. Maybe we could lose one of the four …
Now it’s a CSI: NY double
UPDATED: Nine now advises a movie to replace both CSIs, “Must Love Dogs”. Both CSIs now out, guys….
FURTHER UPDATE: Now it’s The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Nine will air two CSI: New York episodes on Wednesday November 5th at 8:30 and 9:30pm. That pushes out The Mentalist for the night.
The double ep is a result of the US election on November 4 with no episode of The Mentalist airing in America. Similarly TEN has no episode of House for the night, playing double eps of Life.
For Nine it means in a matter …