Ninemsn.com.au is showing a video previewing Nine television in 2008 with a recurring heart theme involving Catriona Rowntree, Livinia Nixon and Ken Sutcliffe.
They preview the following programmes:
Please note my analysis is fro the short previews...I am not fortunate to have viewed entire episodes.
Drama
Underbelly – looks good with strong Australian cast, set to hit our screens in February, I think Nine are all ready on a winner here.
Possible Timeslot: 8.30PM. Sunday would be good, going head to head with Grey’s Anatomy. Maybe protected from such an event happening. Tuesday is my other option against It Takes Two. Something has to stop it!
Prediction: Highest rating Australian produced show of 2008
Canal Road – probably not a typical Channel 9 production with a ‘Secret Life Of Us’ genre meeting comedy meets a medical practice. It looks a gamble that could succeed. Worth a look.
Possible Timeslot: Wednesday/Thursday at 8:30PM.
Prediction: Will rate well initially but will not sustain high enough ratings for a second season.
Pushing Daisies – odd enough, American drama that could hit and miss with Aussie audiences.
Possible Timeslot: 9:30PM Wednesday
Prediction: flop but may get a run in late night slots.
Cashmere Mafia – Australians love watching other Australians in International dramas so Cashmere has ticks with Miranda Otto and XYZ. Sex and the City-esque, the show should work. Possible Timeslot: 9:30PM Monday, that old Sex and the City time...
Prediction: Ratings success
Chuck – bizarre show, may also get a bit of a late night run
Possible Timeslot: Tuesday 7:30PM.
Prediction: will initially rate OK but will not sustain a prime-time slot.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl – ‘Satisfaction’ has debuted over the Summer on Showcase. This show looks like a dark horse in the Nine schedule. Could develop quite an audience but again with the nature of its content, don’t expect to see the show much before 9.30PM.
Possible Timeslot: Monday 10:30PM or 9:30PM Tuesday
Prediction – own sustainable audience that will have a consistent audience around 800 000 if shown at 9.30.
Big Shots – looks like an Entourage clone which is a different market that Channel Nine is targeting with this show.
Possible Timeslot: Monday 9:30PM (after Cashmere Mafia Season)
Prediction – another good started that will struggle to hold a loyal audience.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – very segmented market that would be interested in this type of series. A cult audience.
Possible Timeslot: Thursday 9:30PM or Saturday 7:30PM
Prediction – cult audience following that will be loyal and love the show but want make headlines as a ratings success.
Heroes & Villains – I hadn’t seen this show until the preview and don’t think much of it... probably will be a weeknight show for the 7:30PM slots.
Possible Timeslot: Monday 7:30PM
Prediction: Another one of Nine’s failed 7:30 shows...
Canterbury’s Law – the preview skipped over this show a bit but looks O.K. Cannot see it being a runaway success but could surprise a few people. Trouble will be where to put it. Best off the back of a successful show like CSI, so maybe after the franchises return.
Possible Timeslot: Sunday 9:30PM
Prediction: Could be another Cold Case. Ratings are consistent but not outstanding.
Rock Rivals – from the creator’s of Footballer’s Wives this show looks different and interesting. Will gain a small loyal audience.
Possible Timeslot: Tuesday 7:30PM
Prediction: Not quite your traditional Nine show but a good effort.
The commercial then advertised its returning dramas for 2008 with all new seasons of:
Sea Patrol
McLeod’s Daughters
CSI
CSI: NY
CSI: Miami
Cold Case
Without A Trace
Hotel Babylon
Primeval
Damages - returning? It failed!
ER – surely ER will not be returned to prime time ratings period!
enter Catorina Rowntree explaining what ‘heart’ means to her
Lifestyle/Reality
The Chopping Block – Restaurants competing for transformation. Don’t know about this as My Restaurant Rules was never a high rating series but I could be wrong.
Possible timeslot: Sunday 6:30PM
Prediction: Strong ratings at start of series that will gradually fall
Animal Emergency – Nine’s version of RSPCA: Animal Rescue. I think Seven have done this one, unfortunately not an original thought.
Possible timeslot: Monday 7:30PM
Prediction: bomber
Search & Rescue – I like this one more. New, original concept (although not many left) in this reality environment that should command an audience.
Possible timeslot: Monday’s 8PM
Prediction: surprise ratings success, around 1-1.1 million.
The Waiting Room – Nine have really flogged their hospital, medical series. I think this one won’t rate as highly as others but will follow the Thursday night, medical night with The Gift and RPA.
Possible timeslot: Thursday (anytime)
Prediction: won’t work... overkill
Hunted – new one to me. re-enactments of murders, killers, police crime... looks like all the unemployed actors who use to appear on Australia’s Most Wanted doing the re-enactments... I liked it as a kid. It’s good to see Nine trying to bring back a police information series.
Possible timeslot: Tuesday 7:30PM
Prediction: may be hit and miss at least it’s not Commercial Breakdown or Surprise Surprise: Jackie O’s on television... quick turn off!
Royal Flying Doctor Service – was tried last year in the dumb time of 9:30PM Monday. It has potential if used at the right time.
Possible timeslot: Tuesday 8PM
Prediction: can work with the right scheduling.
Domestic Blitz! – another take on Renovation Rescue and as the name suggests, Backyard Blitz. Seen it all before but its a good concept with a good host, Scott Cam. He is funny, very likeable and well received, Shelly Craft will partner her well.
Possible timeslot: Monday 7:30PM/Sunday 6:30PM
Prediction: I’ll back it as a winner!
Weddings: Where are they Now? – what is next, Bert’s Family Feud Competitors: Where Are they Now? Boned – those fired by Eddie McGuire: Where Are they Now?... please, did I miss a show from 10 years a go called ‘Weddings’? I mean who cares? Unless of course it’s alarming that out of 10 couples 9 are divorced! Maybe not such a good idea for a show...
Possible timeslot: Sunday 3AM
Prediction: don’t waste time producing this...
Fire Fighters - Another original concept that sounds good. I reckon this won could work.
Possible timeslot: Monday 8PM.
Prediction: It will work
Power of 10 -Don’t know about all these weather men and women going onto new tasks... Steve Jacobs hosting a game show... hmmm... I don’t know...
Possible timeslot: Tuesday 8:30PM
Prediction: Could work, might fail... I think it’s fate will be all too similar to Millionaire and 1v100
I Know My Kids A Star – Reality series following Australian kids wanting to make it. I’m looking forward to the ‘ugly parent syndrome’
Possible timeslot: Sunday 6:30PM
Prediction: rating’s success
Here Come the Newlyweds – It is like a Temptation Island show where couples test their love.
Possible timeslot: Monday 10:30PM
Prediction: May win a late-night timeslot but won’t be anything special.
Hole in the Wall – well this Japanese game show looks interesting. Might work with some Australian viewers. Looks stupid but funny. Would suit Saturday night audiences of Australia’s Funniest Home Videos. I could see Paul Vauttin hosting this one.
Possible timeslot: Saturday 7PM/Friday 7:30PM
Prediction: will win its slot but the novelty may wear thin.
There was also note of a new surprise reality sit-com that is ‘so top secret’... hmmm.. I wonder
Plus a whole host of returning series:
The Gift
The Farmer Wants A Wife
RPA
Missing Persons Unit
This Is Your Life
Temptation
The Footy Show(s) (NRL/AFL)
20 to 1
Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show – needing a new host
Getaway – with a new preview showing Natalie and Jules, no Catorina Rowntree
Livinia Nixon then explained what heart meant to her...
David Attenbrough's Life In Cold Blood: this series could work and will be a surprise packet.
Possible timeslot: Sunday 6:30PM
Prediction: Surprise success
Monarchy- will attract older viewers
Possible timeslot: 7:30PM Saturday
Prediction: small, loyal audeince
Scorched – hadn’t heard of this one... looks ok
Possible timeslot: Tuesday 7:30Pm
Prediction: might work...
The Academy Awards
The 50th TV Logie Awards
News
all the presenters of National Nine News across Australia explain ‘heart’ and the new who’s who of news, standing by you theme explained... all the regulars and hosts back, no changes.
Today
National Nine Monring News
National Nine Afternoon News
National Nine News
A Current Affair
Nightline
Sunday
60 Minutes
Sport
And then it was Ken Sutcliffe with the what ‘heart’ means to sport and the live sport including:
NRL
Cricket
Horse Racing: Spring and Autumn Carnivals
Tennis: US Open & Wimbledon
Swimming: Beijing Olympic Trials
Golf: British Open
2010 & 2012 Olympics
then the voiceover... ‘with over 30 BRAND NEW PROGRAMS’ plus new series including:
The Salon – competition between budding owners of a hair salon, which sounds like a good concept.
The Strip – another Police Drama set for filming in the Gold Coast.
Jingles - ???
Amnesia - ???
Despite the prelude of ‘much more’ there was nothing mentioned about
Monster House
I think this show will be a flop!
Flying Doctors
No cast has been named yet, to early to call but I like the sound of it. Former Australia's Funniest Home Video host Toni Pearan has been whispered as a potnential recruit.
Burke’s Backyard
???????? – Is Donny getting his show back??? Come ON!
Not Returning?
What’s Good For You – won a logie last year and was not a bad show... they must have run out of thing’s that are good... maybe a new ‘What’s Bad For You Series’
Millionaire – not advertised
1 v 100 – not advertised
Eddie McGuire – what’s Eddie going to do? He doesn’t even get to host The Power of 10
Commercial Breakdown – I hope it doesn’t...
The Lost Tribes - good idea
Surprise Surprise: Gotcha – had such potential. very poorly executed
Overall
David Gyngell said he was prepared to have a go and gamble and that he has. There is some excellent television in there. Nine are definitely having a go and with the US Writer’s Strike taking effect, Nine has cleverly and luckily ordered a lot of local content to fill the void.
I remember they did something like this last year and we never got to see Invasion, ...MANIA or Monarchy (which is about to appear now)... so which previewed shows this year will not make the cut?
This years ratings war will be close, very close and Nine could even grab it back... the car’s are still in neutral... not long until GO GO GO!
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