Millionaire spin-off coming

It could be a case of "Lock it in again, Eddie" if Eddie McGuire lands the hosting job on 50-50, the new spin-off show from the creators of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Channel Nine will produce their own version of the show, which has also been sold to Italy, Greece and Japan.

According to Digital Spy,"the show extends the 50-50 'lifeline' from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with pairs of contestants making choices between two answers to a question, and deciding whether they agree or disagree with each other on the answer."

Channel Nine has announced the return of the original game show with McGuire as host for a 7pm weeknight timeslot soon. Temptation is said to be "resting."
Read more...

Gyngell back as Nine CEO

Channel Nine has just announced David Gyngell, who quit as CEO of the Nine Network in May 2005, will return to the role from November.

Gyngell, the son of the first man to appear on Aussie TV Bruce Gyngell, has been running Granada TV in Los Angeles. He is also godson to Kerry Packer and partner to journalist Leila McKinnon.

Gyngell takes up the role vacated by Eddie McGuire earlier this year, whose duties were maintained by Jeffrey Browne.

Browne will now move to Melbourne as Managing Director of GTV9 and continue his role as Executive Director of the Nine Network.

"This Network has been my passion. Everyone who knows me knows that. In the last few years my time running Granada Television in North America has broadened my experience and made me a better television executive," said Gyngell.

“It is a great time to return home to Nine. There is a great pool of talent, and a fierce will to win within the staff of Nine Network. I accepted the challenge of the role of CEO to be part of the PBL Media management team led by Ian Law," he said.

Gyngell was instrumental in the success of The Block, and took the "whiz-kid" producers Julian Cress and David Barbour with him to the US.

Nine has also appointed a new Executive Producer (Graham Thurston) and Editor (Ian Cook ) of News.

Press Release:

Leading international broadcasting television executive David Gyngell was today appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Nine Network Australia , effective from November 2007.

"We are committed to ensuring Nine again has the best people and the best resources, and the return of David Gyngell to the network is a vital step in that process," said PBL's Ian Law.

Ian Law, Chief Executive Officer of PBL Media, said the appointment of Mr Gyngell as CEO was a critical step in the continuing process of accelerating Nine to a position of market leadership.

"We are committed to ensuring Nine again has the best people and the best resources, and the return of David Gyngell to the network is a vital step in that process. “

Mr Law said David Gyngell will add significant creative depth to the management team at Nine and his overall skills will complement the commercial management skills of Jeffrey Browne, Executive Director of the Nine Network Australia .

Mr Law said Mr Browne had done an excellent job in reforming Nine and he would continue is his existing role as Executive Director of Nine Network Australia and in addition he will take on the role of Managing Director of GTV 9 in Melbourne.

“Mr Browne will relocate to Melbourne to be closer to his family, and GTV 9 will benefit greatly from his leadership and extensive contacts in Melbourne . At the same time he will continue as Executive Director of Nine Network Australia and will spend considerable time in Sydney on commercial matters across the group.”

Mr Browne supported and welcomed the appointment of Mr Gyngell, saying he believed that Nine would benefit greatly from his television experience.

Mr Law said the addition of David Gyngell to the existing management team at Nine Network Australia was very exciting.

"David is widely recognised as one of the most experienced and passionate television executives in Australia . He has a unique perspective and great experience in the industry given his decades of tutorship from two of the giants of television - his father Bruce, and Kerry Packer.

“David will bring energy, enthusiasm and ideas to the network. He will be the champion of the cause of Nine for both viewers and advertisers."

For the last couple of years, David Gyngell has been CEO of Granada Television based in Los Angeles .

Mr Gyngell said he was both excited and humbled about the prospect of returning to Nine.

"This Network has been my passion. Everyone who knows me knows that. In the last few years my time running Granada Television in North America has broadened my experience and made me a better television executive.

“It is a great time to return home to Nine. There is a great pool of talent, and a fierce will to win within the staff of Nine Network. I accepted the challenge of the role of CEO to be part of the PBL Media management team led by Ian Law, “Mr Gyngell said.

Mr Law said the appointment of Mr Gyngell as CEO was an important step and part of a wider process of reinvigoration of Nine in terms of its executive team and its facilities.

This process included a recent decision by the board of PBL Media to spend more than $150 million on upgrading the technology and facilities in the Nine Network to ensure it has state of art operations around Australia , Mr Law said. Read more...

Thank God You're repeating

In a move that is somewhat uninspiring, TEN will re-screen Thank God You're Here on Sundays from 6:30pm after the conclusion of America's Next Top Model.

The repeats will start from October 7th.

One can't imagine the Working Dog team being too pleased with the scheduling, they keep their seasons trim to keep the audience wanting more.

But it's a move that TEN has done before, and they have every broadcasting right to do so. They certainly need the lift in the timeslot... Read more...

Vale: Alice Ghostley

Alice Ghostley, best known as 'Esmeralda' in Bewitched has died of cancer.

She appeared as the fumbling witch from 1966 to 1972 and was a recurring guest on Designing Women from 1986 to 1993.

Ghostley was 81. Read more...

Kelly back to Idol

Kelly Clarkson will 'return to her roots' by appearing on Australian Idol next Monday night. Clarkson won the first US series.

Ian Moss will also appear, singing an acoustic version of "Choir Girl" with the remaining contestants.

The following week is Brit Pop night.

Clarkson appears first on the AFL Footy Show Grand Final appearance this Thursday.

Australian Idol Watch

Press Release:

Monday night's Acoustic Verdict show is set to get even hotter with Ian Moss, an Australian music legend and America's First Idol, Kelly Clarkson, both confirmed to perform on the Australian Idol stage.

In a rare and exclusive television appearance, Ian Moss, Aussie Icon and ex Cold Chisel band member will perform an Acoustic arrangement of "Choir Girls" accompanied by the Final 9 Contestants for the first time in Idol history.

Ex American Idol, Grammy Award winner and Multi Platinum Artist Kelly Clarkson, will be welcomed back to Australian Idol to promote her upcoming tour and third album "My December" and will perform to the Australian Idol audience her hit single "Never Again."

Acoustic night is all about showcasing the musical breadth of our Idol finalists, this year expect to see acoustic guitars, pianos and maybe even a trumpet being played on Sunday night's Final 9 Acoustic performance show.

Do not miss these two very special nights of music 7.30pm Sunday & Monday only on Network Ten. Read more...

So you think you can Audition?

TEN has announced auditions for the Australian production of So You Think You Can Dance.

They will be held in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from October 7 - November 4.

Contestants must be aged 18 - 35 and be prepared to 'krump', 'swing' and 'samba.'

TEN will announce a host for the show soon.

Press Release:

Network Ten and FremantleMedia Australia kick off auditions for the much-anticipated Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance on 7th October 2007 in Adelaide - the first stop on a five city SYTYCD national tour.

Our judges will be scouring the country for dancers skilled in every genre from the 'street' styles of hip hop, to the best of ballroom, salsa, quickstep, jive and more in the hope of unearthing Australia's favourite dancer.

People who think they can dance can audition at the following locations:
· ADELAIDE - Sunday, October 7 at the Grainger Theatre. 91 Hindley St, Adelaide.
· BRISBANE - Saturday, October 13 and Sunday October 14 at the RNA Showgrounds. Gregory terrace, Bowen Hills.
· PERTH - Sunday, October 21 at Burswood Theatre. Great Eastern Highway, Burswood.
· MELBOURNE - Saturday October 27 and Sunday October 28. Melbourne Olympic Park Function Centre Swan Street (via Entrance D), Melbourne
· SYDNEY - Saturday, November 3 and Sunday November 4. Entertainment Centre. 35 Harbour St, Darling Harbour.

Auditions are open to people aged between 18 and 35 and will commence at 9.00am each day.

Dancers are encouraged to arrive early in their hottest dance gear to start stretching. They need to be prepared to 'krump', 'swing' and 'samba' their way through vigorous dance routines.

Dancers need to bring with them a copy of the dance track that they wish to perform to for the judges.

TEN's chief programming officer, David Mott, said, "This is the perfect time for TEN to embark on the search for Australia's favourite dancer.

"After the popularity of the US version we are confident that Australian dancers will descend on the auditions in their thousands."

"This vibrant format possesses excitement, glamour and style – a perfect addition to what already is a dynamic entertainment line up for TEN."

FremantleMedia Australia CEO, Mark Fennessy, is excited to be working with the team at TEN on another marquee series, "We really have become specialists in event television and by plugging into the expertise created through brands such as Australian Idol and The Biggest Loser we'll deliver a unique series beyond all expectations".

“The senior production team we have in place for So You Think You Can Dance will be the best in the business, with an uncanny ability to engage Australian audiences across all key demographics.”

An announcement will be made shortly regarding the host of So You Think You Can Dance.

For more information about auditions please log onto www.ten.com.au/dance Read more...