Airdate: City Homicide

UPDATE: City Homicide will premiere 8:30pm Monday August 27 according to Seven's own website at au.blogs.yahoo.com/city-homicide/ This unusual detailing of the time and date is outside of normal advice to media and Seven scheduling embargos. But we didn't break it, guys!

There's a sleek, new trailer of City Homicide online which looks a ripper.

With a stellar cast including Shane Bourne, Nadine Garner, Daniel Macpherson, Aaron Pedersen, Noni Hazelhurst and Damien Richardson this seems set to be a highly anticipated new drama for Seven. Vince Colosimo also appears.

Bourne's appearance on both City Homicide and Thank God You're Here will see him on dual and rival networks, very possibly in two of TV's most popular shows.

2007 has been one of the best years for local drama in a long time.
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Nine chasing Hawkins

Nine is trying to lure Seven's Jennifer Hawkins to its stable, according to a report in Sydney Confidential.

Hawkins' contract with Seven expires in October, and her manager has confirmed Nine has made an approach.

"Yes, we are in negotiations with Channel 7 for renewal," Anderson told the newspaper.

"Yes, Nine has approached me regarding Jennifer. I have not met with Nine yet."

Source: Daily Telegraph

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TEN calls Grey's "limp"

Media spin is an interesting business.

TV Tonight regularly receives Press Releases and emails that promote network programmes and ratings releases. Most of the time networks wisely focus on their own results, and manage to find something positive to say, even when it's been a dud night. Very occasionally, one network has a dig at another - a not particularly bright move.

TEN for example, focusses on the 18 - 49 demographic, conveniently between the hours of 6pm - 10.30pm claiming this is what interests advertisers. Prime time is officially 6pm - midnight.

Today, TEN decided in its PR that in glowing about its Sunday figures it would pass judgment on the audience figures of Seven's Grey's Anatomy, saying it "limped to the shows third-lowest audience this year" (Grey's screened from 9pm following The Incredibles movie).

Last night TEN came fourth behind the ABC, a point it neglected to mention.

Seven "limped" to 1.33m over the 71 minutes that Rove attracted 997,000 If it was the third lowest audience all year, it's only because the show has been getting bumper figures for the remaining eps. And while Grey's was limping with over one million viewers, TEN's audience sank to a paltry 587,000 for the return of The Wedge from 9:47pm.

In fact, the limp 1.3m audience would be a major hit were it on TEN, last week only three shows on TEN had an audience over 1.33m: Thank God You're Here, Australian Idol and House. Seven had ten.

Finally, TEN's own breakdown of the 18-49 demographic for Sunday night said it all.
1. Australian Idol
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. The Incredibles
4. Rove

Spin is always much smarter when it focusses on your own product...

Ratings Week 33
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Contestant Call: Singing Bee

Channel Nine is now looking for contestants for its new musical game show, The Singing Bee.

Based on an American format, the show requires contestants to complete phrases from popular songs. They don't need to be great singers, they just need to be word-perfect.

In the US the show is hosted by former NSync member, Joey Fatone, pictured here in an 80's theme night.

The prize in Australia is $50,000. David Campbell has been rumoured as host but this is yet to be confirmed.

Auditions will take place in:

Melbourne: August 18 / 19
Sydney: August 25
Brisbane: August 26

Press Release:

The Singing Bee, Channel Nine’s new all-singing, all-dancing music entertainment show, is looking for contestants.

If you think you know the lyrics to some of the most popular songs of all time, from the classics through to today’s hits, then this is your chance to show your stuff and go home singing with a stack of cash.

All you have to do is complete a line or two from a popular song. You don’t have to sing it well, you just have to sing it right.

Each week six people will be selected from a studio audience to appear on stage with the magnificent Honey Bee dancers and play a round of musical games. A professional singer will start performing a song. When they stop, the contestant has to sing the next line (or lines) word perfect to progress to the next round and a step closer to $50,000 prize money. Those who get it wrong are out of the game. The last contestant left standing is the winner.

For audition details log on to: ninemsn.com.au/thesingingbee or call the contestant hotline: 1300 722 252
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Returning: The Sopranos

The final episodes of The Sopranos are at last returning to Nine.

They will air from 10.45pm Tuesday August 28.

Nine has 9 remaining episodes of the series to screen which it halted mid-series when it was last on air.

Many readers will be familiar with the original, but divisive, final scene of the last episode -if you haven't heard about it we're not about to spoil it for you. It left people talking for weeks about whether it was brilliant or a cop-out.

Either way it was in keeping with the show as a bold, cable-produced series.

NB: No spoiler comments will be published here.

Kindly link to this website when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks! Read more...

Ratings Week 33

Saturday:
1 Nine News Saturday Nine 1,171,000
2 Seven News - Sat Seven 1,163,000
3 Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Nine 1,113,000
4 Forrest Gump Nine 1,018,000
5 Saturday Night AFL Ten 986,000
6 The Great Outdoors Seven 982,000
7 The Dame Edna Treatment Nine 935,000

Friday:
1 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,461,000
2 Seven News Seven 1,378,000
3 Today Tonight Seven 1,268,000
4 Home And Away Seven 1,166,000
5 Temptation Nine 1,136,000
6 A Current Affair Nine 1,097,000
7 Nine News Nine 1,085,000
8 The Bourne Supremacy Ten 1,000,000
9 ABC News ABC 969,000 251,00

Thursday:
1. Sea Patrol Nine 1.581
2. Seven News Seven 1.488
3. Getaway Nine 1.380
4. Today Tonight Seven 1.377
5. Home and Away Seven 1.317
6. A Current Affair Nine 1.194
7. Temptation Nine 1.167
8. National Nine News Nine 1.144
9. That 70s Show Seven 1.052
10. Law and Order Ten 1.050
11. ABC News ABC 1.035
12. The Footy Show Nine 0.984
13. Law and Order: Criminal Intent Ten 0.974
14. Brat Camp ABC 0.888
15. The 7:30 Report ABC 0.861

Nine: 31.9
Seven: 25.6
Ten: 21.8
ABC: 15.2
SBS: 5.5

Wednesday:
1. Thank God You’re Here Ten 1.785
2. House Ten 1.646
3. Seven News Seven 1.505
4. Today Tonight Seven 1.318
5. Home and Away Seven 1.303
6. Spicks and Specks ABC 1.267
7. National Nine News Nine 1.260
8. A Current Affair Nine 1.227
9. Temptation Nine 1.182
10. ABC News ABC 1.147
11. Cold Case Nine 1.122
12. McLeod’s Daughters Nine 1.083
13. Without A Trace Nine 1.079
14. Most Shocking Seven 1.018
15. Ten News Ten 0.902

Ten: 28.7
Nine: 26.3
Seven: 24.2
ABC: 16.7
SBS: 4.0

Tuesday:
1. Medical Emergency Seven 1.734
2. RSPCA Animal Rescue Seven 1.731
3. Seven News Seven 1.466
4. Today Tonight Seven 1.459
5. Home and Away Seven 1.372
6. All Saints Seven 1.370
7. NCIS Ten 1.320
8. National Nine News Nine 1.221
9. ABC News ABC 1.211
10. A Current Affair Nine 1.207
11. Temptation Nine 1.131
12. Crime Investigation Australia Nine 1.126
13. Things To Try Before You Die Nine 1.049
14. The Simpsons – 7:30pm Ten 1.033
15. The Simpsons – 8:00pm Ten 1.024


Seven 31.4%
Nine 26.6%
Ten 23.1%
ABC 14.2%
SBS 4.7%

Monday:
1. Border Security Seven 1.616
2. Seven News Seven 1.514
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.453
4. Australian Idol Ten 1.449
5. Home and Away Seven 1.412
6. National Nine News Nine 1.372
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.349
8. Surf Patrol Seven 1.262
9. Criminal Minds Seven 1.258
10. Temptation Nine 1.195
11. Law and Order: SVU Ten 1.074
12. 1 vs 100 Nine 1.053
13. ABC News ABC 1.014
14. Enough Rope with Andrew Denton ABC 0.940
15. Deal or No Deal Seven 0.904

Seven: 28.9
Nine: 24.1
Ten: 24.0
ABC: 15.6
SBS: 7.4

Sunday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.589
2. Australian Idol Ten 1.583
3. National Nine News Nine 1.560
4. Backyard Blitz Nine 1.498
5. Midsomer Murders ABC 1.432
6. Movie: The Incredibles Seven 1.358
7. 60 Minutes Nine 1.346
8. The Worst Jobs In History ABC 1.279
9. Grey’s Anatomy Seven 1.267
10. ABC News ABC 1.194
11. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nine 1.166
12. Rove Ten 1.020
13. CSI: NY Nine 1.008
14. The Einstein Factor ABC 0.900
15. Diana: Her Last 10 Days in Pictures Seven 0.778

Seven: 26.8
Nine: 26.4
ABC: 21.9
Ten: 20.5
SBS: 4.4 Read more...