...but is it enough?
Channel 9 is about to lose its first ratings race in many years but the embattled network is buoyant having regained its balls and David Gyngell as they try to claw back some of Channel 7's dominance.
The year has been disappointing for Nine with a number of flops including The Lost Tribes, 1 v 100, ER, Viva Laughlin, Millionaire and many more.
News and Current Affairs have taken a hit with the National Nine News, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes brands all suffering while Today and Sunday's ratings have not improved despite new co-hosts in Lisa Wilkinson and Ray Martin respectively.
Nine is caught between Seven's new news approach, adopting a more relaxed, lifestyle, entertainment soft news approach where Nine's strength has been its hard commercial news tactics.
Audiences are speaking for themselves favoring the softer news packages and Nine just misses the beat. The Nine product is hard news and unless they have a complete overhaul they will just look like they are caught between two places and awkward as the network looks now.
Nine's election coverage failed to pull ratings as it was promoted more like a cartoon than a serious election coverage. 'Ray and Laurie's Election Extravaganza' should never have been marketed like this.
Getaway is looking tired; Temptation is not delivering at 7pm getting Nine off to a bad start every night. It has been encouraging in these last few weeks to see ratings return for 20 to 1, The Farmer Wants A Wife and Missing Persons Unit.
With a 2008 launch last night which includes four new Australian dramas - Canal Road, Underbelly, The Young Doctors plus a father series of Sea Patrol and McLeod's Daughters final series show encouraging signs of a network developing stock.
Another game show will be launched titled 'The Power of Ten' but lets see if Nine can find another host. I think Eddie McGuire is over exposed in this format and is much cleverer. He is underutilised else where and Nine should be thinking about where best to use Eddie.
Will Nine claw back in 2008 or will it be 7 in 08 while 9 will have to wait until 09?
Nine will hopefully put some runs back on the board but the key lies around their ability to generate interest in their news and current affairs hour followed by a strong 7pm show.
