Week 2 of the television ratings and its appearing that it could be ‘7 in 07’. The crop of American dramas, aggressive Sunday night programming and a new installment of the successful Dancing With the Stars and Nine programmers would be getting worried.
Week 1 saw Seven defeat Nine by 0.1%, without a Sunday night line-up of Australia’s Got Talent, Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy. With Week 2’s results being just released, Seven convincingly won by 4.8% capturing 31.0% of the audience with Nine behind on 26.2% and Ten struggling with 20.8%.
Seven’s ‘Beautiful Sunday’ will be tested tonight when mile-high airhostess tells 60 Minutes reporter Peter Overton about her sex romp with Ralph Finnes. Will 60 Minutes claw back from Seven’s most popular show, Ugly Betty who scored over two million viewers in its first week.
Nine must be concerned that Seven has launched an aggressive and so far successful Sunday night which sees Seven dominate all nights bar Thursday, which Nine hold strong with high-rating RPA and Missing Persons Unit.
The worry for Seven is it’s Thursday with poor returns for How I Met Your Mother, which has seen the formerly successful My Name is Earl and Lost underperforming and Bones struggling to make headways.
If Seven get Thursdays right, then Nine will be demoralised. Nine will be disappointed with their underperforming dramas and the much anticipated The Code: Crime and Justice failing to draw the audiences that would rival Border Security, while 1 V 100 ratings continue to fall.
Ten seem to have got it wrong with their big local productions, The Con Test and Celebrity Dog School and The Biggest Loser not living up to their expectations. The head of programming David Mott would have to be concerned with the current performance of Ten.
Just how long until the first scheduling changes will be made at the three major networks? Will Nine gamble with The Lost Tribes, Mania and Sea Patrol to try and turn around their fortune or will it be ‘7 in 07’?
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
And they're off...
The 2007 ratings season for televison kicked off last night with hype, fanfare and predictions that Channel Seven will actually become number 1 in 07. The year has been set up as the closest yet with Seven having the crop of US series plus the highest rating local produce should see the network take poll position for the year.
Seven have launched a killer scheduele across the major rating days Sunday – Thursday squeezing Desperate Housewives, Lost, Prison Break, Dancing With the Stars and Border Security into the market along with hopefuls Hereos, Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters. 7 now have a challenge worthy Sunday night with Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy squaring off with 60 Minutes and CSI, the leaders of Sunday night.
Over zealous programming by Seven may however be a downfall, with so many good shows on now – what will be broadcast in the second half of the year?
Nine will be backing their Sunday success with 20 to 1 repeats, 60 Minutes and CSI to hold their mantle as Number 1 on Sundays. Seven poses a real threat and Ten with Big Brother and Australian Idol later this year will also make Sundays the one to watch.
Quiz shows are also the flavor for 2007 with Seven’s The Rich List looking competitive against Nine’s 1 V 100. The ratings for both have been impressive just far, but how long can it last?
Ten has chipped in with The Con Test but this seems destined to fail and will be pulled within a few episodes.
Nine are backing their CSI franchise, Without A Trace, Cold Case, McLeods Daughters, RPA, Missing Persons Unit, Getaway, Whats Good For You who all pull good ratings to be the backbone of the Nine schedule in 2007. Don’t forget Hotel Babylon returns for a short and sweet second season which is a top-rating drama.
Experimenting with new programs such as 1 v 100, The Lost Tribes, Mania, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Kidnapped and Sea Patrol all appear to be gambles. For a start, Studio and Kidnapped have all ready been cancelled in the US this year.
Justice on the other hand another series that has been cancelled shows potential as quick speed, high profile legal drama sure to cause a stir in the ratings. This is my bolter for 2007 and the concept Mania which debuted as Abbamania last year hosted by Richard Wilkins and Bec Hewitt, but there are a few flops too.
Australia’s Got Talent will not get off the ground. This looks like any other talent show and I will be surprised if it rates.
The Lost Tribes is a terrible concept for a show, another reality television mistake that Nine should never have commissioned. It makes you wonder if it will debut much like the promotion of Rome and Invasion (which was never seen) in 2006.
Seven have the power and the scheduling to win 2007. Nine will bank on familiarity and its unparalleled ability to have ‘the big news stories’ and leading coverage of sport.
Losing the AFL to Seven and Ten could hurt Nine badly as a number of South-Western state audiences will be lost.
It’s shaping up as a huge year in 2007 and we as the audiences can only benefit from better quality television as the networks compete for ratings glory.
Seven have launched a killer scheduele across the major rating days Sunday – Thursday squeezing Desperate Housewives, Lost, Prison Break, Dancing With the Stars and Border Security into the market along with hopefuls Hereos, Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters. 7 now have a challenge worthy Sunday night with Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy squaring off with 60 Minutes and CSI, the leaders of Sunday night.
Over zealous programming by Seven may however be a downfall, with so many good shows on now – what will be broadcast in the second half of the year?
Nine will be backing their Sunday success with 20 to 1 repeats, 60 Minutes and CSI to hold their mantle as Number 1 on Sundays. Seven poses a real threat and Ten with Big Brother and Australian Idol later this year will also make Sundays the one to watch.
Quiz shows are also the flavor for 2007 with Seven’s The Rich List looking competitive against Nine’s 1 V 100. The ratings for both have been impressive just far, but how long can it last?
Ten has chipped in with The Con Test but this seems destined to fail and will be pulled within a few episodes.
Nine are backing their CSI franchise, Without A Trace, Cold Case, McLeods Daughters, RPA, Missing Persons Unit, Getaway, Whats Good For You who all pull good ratings to be the backbone of the Nine schedule in 2007. Don’t forget Hotel Babylon returns for a short and sweet second season which is a top-rating drama.
Experimenting with new programs such as 1 v 100, The Lost Tribes, Mania, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Kidnapped and Sea Patrol all appear to be gambles. For a start, Studio and Kidnapped have all ready been cancelled in the US this year.
Justice on the other hand another series that has been cancelled shows potential as quick speed, high profile legal drama sure to cause a stir in the ratings. This is my bolter for 2007 and the concept Mania which debuted as Abbamania last year hosted by Richard Wilkins and Bec Hewitt, but there are a few flops too.
Australia’s Got Talent will not get off the ground. This looks like any other talent show and I will be surprised if it rates.
The Lost Tribes is a terrible concept for a show, another reality television mistake that Nine should never have commissioned. It makes you wonder if it will debut much like the promotion of Rome and Invasion (which was never seen) in 2006.
Seven have the power and the scheduling to win 2007. Nine will bank on familiarity and its unparalleled ability to have ‘the big news stories’ and leading coverage of sport.
Losing the AFL to Seven and Ten could hurt Nine badly as a number of South-Western state audiences will be lost.
It’s shaping up as a huge year in 2007 and we as the audiences can only benefit from better quality television as the networks compete for ratings glory.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Four seasons play on one day
Cricket has always been defined as a summer sport. Likewise rugby is a winter sport.
Tonight the Super 14 Provincial rugby tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand and South African provinces commences and it’s the start of February – yes SUMMER.
It isn’t even Autumn yet and we are playing rugby. It is becoming greedy of sports administrators to start and complicate various codes in their unnatural weather environments.
Players will find playing in Australian summer’s difficult and heat exhaustion, dehydration, hyperthermia are all heath concerns to playing rugby at this time of year.
It is also not a strong marketing strategy as fans are not interested in the rugby season now anyway. Cricket is still going strong and for school children the second half of their season is yet to commence whilst television will be screening rugby.
I understand it is a busy calendar 2007 for rugby with a world cup, a super 14 competition and launch of the Australian Provincial Championship. The administration of rugby is all ready in shambles and this only further exacerbates the point.
There is too much rugby and we are trying to squeeze too much into one year. The annual tri nations featuring the Wallabies, the Springboks and the All Blacks should not have been contested this year.
Instead rugby is seeing the threat of soccer (which might I add also plays a traditional winter sport in summer), as well as the threats from AFL and League.
If sports administrators returned to a traditional calendar for their codes then even on the local level, councils would not have as many issues in fighting for grounds. Cricket season runs from October through till the end of March – the summer season. Whilst Rugby and the winter season has April – September.
Keep it like that
Tonight the Super 14 Provincial rugby tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand and South African provinces commences and it’s the start of February – yes SUMMER.
It isn’t even Autumn yet and we are playing rugby. It is becoming greedy of sports administrators to start and complicate various codes in their unnatural weather environments.
Players will find playing in Australian summer’s difficult and heat exhaustion, dehydration, hyperthermia are all heath concerns to playing rugby at this time of year.
It is also not a strong marketing strategy as fans are not interested in the rugby season now anyway. Cricket is still going strong and for school children the second half of their season is yet to commence whilst television will be screening rugby.
I understand it is a busy calendar 2007 for rugby with a world cup, a super 14 competition and launch of the Australian Provincial Championship. The administration of rugby is all ready in shambles and this only further exacerbates the point.
There is too much rugby and we are trying to squeeze too much into one year. The annual tri nations featuring the Wallabies, the Springboks and the All Blacks should not have been contested this year.
Instead rugby is seeing the threat of soccer (which might I add also plays a traditional winter sport in summer), as well as the threats from AFL and League.
If sports administrators returned to a traditional calendar for their codes then even on the local level, councils would not have as many issues in fighting for grounds. Cricket season runs from October through till the end of March – the summer season. Whilst Rugby and the winter season has April – September.
Keep it like that
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Mundine: The Man, The Mouth
Anthony ‘the man’ Mundine has now gone to far. I was one person who stood up, supported ‘the man’ through his boxing career and could see some sense in his idiotic comments on Australian life.
The mouth has gotten Mundine into trouble before but his latest effort to release a rap song that condemns our very own Government – burning photos of Prime Minister John Howard and the union jack, are not only un-Australian by causing further racial tension.
Mundine claims that the ‘burning’ is a stab at the Government who have oppressed ‘his people’ forever and the flag does not represent the Aborigines culture.
Regardless of Mundine’s comments there are other ways to go about things rather than shooting his mouth off before thinking and committing this disrespectful act to his own country.
If ‘the man’ wants to continue his boxing crusade he should shut his mouth and let his fists do the talking. Mundine is an ambassador for the indigenous Australians and he is not acting like a leader or a speaker for his people.
Sure, in the past I have supported his athletic prowess and believe some of his comments were stupid but they were getting the message across. This latest act has gone to far and it is time for Mundine to be silenced.
The mouth has gotten Mundine into trouble before but his latest effort to release a rap song that condemns our very own Government – burning photos of Prime Minister John Howard and the union jack, are not only un-Australian by causing further racial tension.
Mundine claims that the ‘burning’ is a stab at the Government who have oppressed ‘his people’ forever and the flag does not represent the Aborigines culture.
Regardless of Mundine’s comments there are other ways to go about things rather than shooting his mouth off before thinking and committing this disrespectful act to his own country.
If ‘the man’ wants to continue his boxing crusade he should shut his mouth and let his fists do the talking. Mundine is an ambassador for the indigenous Australians and he is not acting like a leader or a speaker for his people.
Sure, in the past I have supported his athletic prowess and believe some of his comments were stupid but they were getting the message across. This latest act has gone to far and it is time for Mundine to be silenced.
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