Re-inventing that Wheel

Nine launch Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune tonight with the desire to lure viewers back to the 5:30PM slot and then stay on for National Nine News and A Current Affair.

So far the network has faired well in 2008 winning last week and MediaSpy reports that Nine and Seven are neck and neck on total audience shares for 2008 at 27.7% each.

Last week Nine’s decision to run the State of Origin in every capital city payed off attracting close to 2.2 million viewers, peaking at 2.4 million viewers.

Two and a Half Men continue to return healthy week night figures with thanks to the lack of interest with Big Brother 2008 which has allowed Home and Away’s position to be challenged for the first time in a few years.

It has been the performance of Sunday’s that is getting Nine off to a good start with last night, Nine captured 31% of the share from Seven on 24%. 60 Minutes is back and Domestic Blitz overtook Gladiators.

Gladiators fad is now wearing off while Scott Cam and Shelly Craft move in to the 6:30 Sunday role which for the last few years has seen the strong performance of Backyard Blitz and prior to that, The Block.

Domestic Blitz is all apart of the same formula which Nine does very well. It sees Renovation Rescue meet Changing Rooms meets Backyard Blitz and Cam has been groomed by the network as a very likeable host suited to the role with Craft.

Whilst Domestic Blitz has been apart of the ‘re-inventing wheel’ Nine will dust off the Wheel in about 15 minutes time to see if that too can assist the Network as they prime themselves towards ratings success in 2008.

With the very likeable Tim Campbell as host and Kelly Landry on the letters, Nine could have a successful new formula.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves but the Today Show’s ratings have increased and a number of Nine’s new shows like Search and Rescue, David Attenbrough, Fire 000 and now Domestic Blitz have been returning healthy numbers. Attenbrough even beat Border Security/Surf Patrol last week; perhaps that has something today with the new voiceover on Surf Patrol, Naomi Robson.

Seven still dominate the news and current affairs hour from 6PM which Nine will look to take ownership of once again.

The re-invention of that wheel continues tonight...