Seven crushes rivals

Week 41 gave Seven a crushing defeat over its commercial rivals.

Seven romped home with 31.6% to Nine's 24.5% and TEN's 21.5%. The ABC had 17.5% and SBS' 4.5%. The lead of 7.1% was the biggest Seven has taken over Nine all year, and a full 10% ahead of TEN. Seven won every single night, and also won the week in all cities.

In a devastating blow to its morale Nine had no shows in the country's Top 20 programmes (TEN had one, while the ABC had 3). Its top entry was at #24 for National Nine News (Sunday). David Gyngell's symbolic announcement of the 2012 Olympics as a show of Nine trying to win back its crown could not have come at a better time.

Kath and Kim resumed its place as the biggest show of the week, just topping 2m viewers. Seven's other big shows were The Force, Border Security, Dancing with the Stars, City Homicide, Seven News, Hot Property, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Medical Emergency, Bionic Woman, My Name is Earl, Home and Away, Better Homes and Gardens, V8 Supercars Round, Today Tonight and All Saints. But it's not all perfect. Las Vegas continues to struggle against the ABC and TEN. It isn't helping Prison Break much either.

Aside from its Sunday News, Nine's other big shows were A Current Affair, The Singing Bee, 60 Minutes, Temptation, Missing Persons Unit, Getaway and Funniest Home Videos. Thursday and Sunday were rare bright lights in Nine's schedule, as Nine readies a new Monday line-up for next week. The Gift got off to a better start than Dirty Jobs. The Singing Bee did ok in its first outing. But the critically-acclaimed new Damages has failed to find an audience and has been moved to a later slot.

TEN continues to enjoy Wednesday audiences, with House their top show of the week. Australian Idol, The Simpsons, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? and Life. Mondays aren't so great for TEN, but Fridays and Saturdays are lousy. The network was fourth behind the ABC both nights.

The Chaser chased up ABC's biggest audience, and Spicks and Specks, New Tricks (the top show of the night), Summer Heights High and ABC News were all strong. On Thursday in Melbourne ABC News had a bigger audience than either Nine or Seven. Rain Shadow had a good debut with 1.1m viewers.

Saturday has become SBS' best night ahead of Mondays. Newstopia premiered with 221,000 on Wednesday.

Ratings Week 41.
Read more...

A Make or Break cast

A terrific cast is forming for UKTV's Make or Break drama penned by Cold Feet's Mike Bullen, who is also making his directorial debut.

Susie Porter has been announced alongside Wire in the Blood's Robson Green. Helen Thomson and Jack Finsterer also appear.

The drama is being shot on Sydney's northern beaches and premieres early next year.

Press Release:

Following the announcement that UKTV have commissioned Australian producers, David Maher and David Taylor of Fox World to produce Mike Bullen's new comedy / drama, Make or Break, we are delighted to confirm the cast as follows:

NEIL: Robson Green (Wire In The Blood / Northern Lights / Soldier Soldier)
KATE: Helen Thomson (Bastard Boys / Stupid Stupid Man / All Saints)
BETH: Susie Porter (East Of Everything / RAN: Remote Area Nurse / Caterpillar Wish / Star Wars II)
MATT: Jack Finsterer (Dangerous / Kokoda / All Saints / Big Reef)

Robson, who has been in the country promoting Wire In The Blood, was immediately attracted to the script saying, "Story telling is entertainment at its most fundamental and Mike Bullen is one of the finest story tellers around. It's a privilege to be working with him on this production and a great excuse to spend more time in this amazing country where I would happily reside if I could."

Another fantastic casting coup comes courtesy of AFI Award winning actress Susie Porter, who is currently appearing in the STC production Riflemind directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. "Beth is such a great character and I'm really looking forward to bringing her to life and to working with such a great cast and crew."

Tony Iffland, CEO of UKTV comments, "It's testament to a great script that such amazing talent was attracted to it. Robson Green is British television's leading man and together with a stunning Australian cast led by Susie Porter, these rich, beautifully written characters will be brought to life. I'm sure it will delight UKTV viewers who appreciate outstanding television."

Shooting is taking place on Sydney 's northern beaches and will be Mike Bullen's (Cold Feet, Life Begins and Tripping Over) , directorial debut. Make or Break will air on UKTV early next year. Read more...

Election Watch

It's Election Time! Who will you choose?

Who is best served to lead the country? David Koch or Ray Martin?

These are the men who will spearhead the election coverage on the Seven and Nine Networks.

Who will you turn to for your political news?

True, they aren't the reporters in Canberra or on the electorate hustings, but David Koch and Ray Martin will front the election coverage on Seven and Nine, and will be pivotal to where opinions and news are sourced.

TEN meanwhile is chuffed about its online soapbox at www.myspace.com/meetthepeople. Readers comments will also appear on Meet The Press.

This section will update with highlights of the media coverage throughout the next six weeks.

-------------

THE KEVIN RUDD DRINKING GAME:
Everytime Rudd uses the phrase "when it comes" take a swig of your favourite bevvy.

Here are two interviews, one from Sunday and another from 7:30 Report. In the first he uses the phrase 7. He managed 15 in the second.

Sunday
- When it comes to questions
- When it comes to economic fundamentals
- When it comes to the flexibility
- When it comes to Work Choices
- When it comes to mortgage brokers
- When it comes to the supervision
- When it comes to mortgage brokers (twice)

7:30 Report
- When it comes to broadband
- When it comes to broadband (twice)
- When it comes to the future
- When it comes to the capital asset
- When it comes to the future earnings
- When it comes to the South Koreans
- When it comes to the huge importance
- When it comes to the test
- When it comes to Mr Abbott's questions
- When it comes to any question
- When it comes to broadband (third)
- When it comes, however, to the Australian Defence Force,
- When it comes to East Timor,
- When it comes to Fiji
- When it comes to signals

TREASURERS' DEBATE UPDATE
Nine: Airs 12:30pm Tue Oct 30. National Nine News presents Peter Costello and Wayne Swan in the 2007 Treasurers’ debate hosted by Ray Martin, live and commercial free.

ABC: National Press Club Address 12:30pm Tue Oct 30

ABC TV
With Australia's most respected team of political journalists, tune in every night at 7pm with Political Editor Jim Middleton, followed by The 7.30 Report with Kerry O'Brien and Political Editor Michael Brissenden, Monday to Thursday evenings.

For analysis and key interviews watch Lateline with Tony Jones at 10.30pm, where the program goes beyond the issues of the day.

Lateline Business with Ali Moore every Monday to Thursday will provide the daily business news and examine the election issues that affect the world of business and finance.

Sunday mornings, Insiders with Barrie Cassidy at 9am will provide a full round-up of the week's election news and provide political commentary and analysis on the main issues.

Axis of Awesome Election Rap as screened on Sunrise.


Read more...

For Sale: Channel 9

GTV9 and TCN9 sites will be put on the property market this week.

"Those properties will officially be put on the market this week and the Richmond property in Melbourne and the Willoughby property in Sydney will be offered through expressions of interest," said John Marasco of Colliers International.

The sale is part of Nine's plans to finance a $150m digital upgrade.

GTV is reportedly to be on the market as early as Monday.

Ian Law from Nine told news.com.au, "It became apparent we needed to base the Nine Network from premises that better suit the needs of the operation in a world that is now all about digital transmission and convergence of systems and services."

But any new owner will have redevelopment challenges from both the City of Yarra and Willoughby councils.

As TV Tonight told you last week, heritage overlays at the Richmond Studios restrict exterior work to sections of the GTV 9 Studios which hark back to 1908 as a piano factory. The City of Yarra is pro-actively assessing its planning controls before any redevelopment applications are lodged. it is considering affordable housing and an arts precinct as part of any new future use. Willoughby Council similarly has stated its desire for low-scale residential housing, and any removal of the TCN tower has already been complicated by TX Australia claims it cannot be moved.

Source: Herald-Sun Read more...

Sit Down, Rip-off?

Did Chris Lilley base his Mr G. character on another sitcom character?

That's the basis of an argument that the creator of Sit Down, Shut Up has levelled at Summer Heights High's star.

According to news.com.au, Michael Reed is creator of the one-time TEN classroom sitcom which aired in 2000.

Reed's comedy was short-lived, despite having some talented cast members including Marg Downey and Stephen Curry, and co-writers like Doug McLeod. In the series actor Brendan Townsend-Ross played a self-absorbed Performance Arts Teacher.

"I'm a little bit bemused by it," Mr Reed said. "We'd have to wait another 10 years for it to all die down so we could do it (the show) again."

Do what show again? Sit Down, Shut Up? Honestly...

As the ABC has rightly pointed out, Mr G. was a character Lilley created in The Big Bite, which aired on the Seven Network in 2003. Yes that's right another character Seven lost to the ABC.

Admittedly it is after Sit Down, Shut Up aired, but as any copyright lawyer will tell you, you can't copyright an idea, only the execution of it. The fact one is a sitcom character and one is mockumentary is already a huge difference.

Sources: news.com.au, Aus TV Info Archive. Read more...