"knows what it wants"

Channel 7 Chief Executive Officer David Leckie was quoted in Melbourne's Herald Sun on Wednesday saying that Channel 7 was the only network that, "knows what it wants". His comments come after Channel 9 cancelled Temptation and today being the day that 9's head of news Garry Linnell resigns.

Clearly the embattled Nine network are under further pressure with Linnell's resignation amongst a raft of personnel changes and programming changes this year. Until the last few years, Nine was "still the one" and the late Kerry Packer would turn in his grave seeing what has happened to his proudest achievement.

Sensibly James Packer pulled the family from the Network who seems to be losing ground at an alarming rate. I believe Nine still deliver the best commercial television news and their overall package is more professional in appearance than that of Seven.

Leckie's comments are validated with 7 now assured of victory in the ratings war making it 7in07. A strong programming schedule with quality US dramas including Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy. Add the success of their Australian productions: Border Security, Dancing With the Stars and Medical Emergency plus the new Australian successes: Bondi Rescue, The Rich List, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Kath & Kim and Australia's Got Talent.

7 went out aggressively this year and poached one of Nine's biggest personalities Jamie Durie. His defection spelled the end of Nine who was the television stations poster boy.

With 7 launching the newly created The Morning Show beating rivals KAK and 9AM, Seven are now building their daytime audience. City Homicide debuts on Monday night and should hopefully be a success.

Seven and Nine must be credited with their re-investment back into Australian drama. Sea Patrol has been the ratings winner of Thursday prime time (despite having no competition), City Homicide should follow suit on Monday night.

Seven have won 23 of the 25 ratings week and are going to be Number 1 in 2007. Leckie has taken the network to the top at 9's expense to which the network's answer is imitation.

Nine's gambles have not paid off with Things to do Before You Die, What A Year and even Whats Good For You bombing. Nine are not re-inventing the wheel, making stale programming or clip shows like 20 to 1 or tacky game shows like The Singing Bee.

Seven looks like it knows where it is heading with an ever expanding cupboard of quality programming. For Nine, who knows what will screen next week and they have all but exhausted their cupboard. There are only so many times we can watch the same episodes of CSI

Nine does do news well with 60 Minutes still proving to be popular but they are trying to emulate 7's success with poor imitations.

Commercial news for Nine previously had a degree of edge and professionalism over Ten and Seven. The network still has the look, the 'package' but they are trying to adopt it to Seven's 'info-tainment' formula with tabloid journalism dominating our screens.

Unfortunately this type of news is proving to be more and more popular with viewers but it just does not fit the Nine formula. Seven certainly know what viewers want represented in their ratings.

Seven deserve their success because their shows are professionally created, directed and produced. As for Nine, I am sure the alarm bells are ringing because Nine has no idea what it wants, or do they? Show us...

Two Steps Backwards

I can't believe the lack of creativity that Channel 9 has come up with in 2008. The station has most definately lost irrepairable ground and head staright for the dldrums unless some creativity can be salvaged at the netword in 2008 and their new batch of US dramas prove to be a success.

Channel 7 have their own dramas such as why did next to no one watch the Grey's Anatomy's finale and why are is Shark receiving no audience, Las Vegas screening at 8.30 on a Thursday and Seven running 'worl'd worst' 'most shocking' and 'life begins' in primetime slots? Hello these (minus Grey's) shows should not be shown this side of midnight, yet alone during a ratings period.

As for Nine well they are showing nothing! No creativity and reverting now back to the 'hot seat' five nights a week in place of Temptation.

I don't know about you but are we not just a little over game shows? Millionaire won't bost 7pm ratings on Nine.

Every decision that seems to becoming out of Willoughby is negative and back pedalling or reverting decisions made in haste over the last two years. Backyard Blitz is back and even talk of bringing back good ol' Don Burke.

Meanwhile over at 7, they are just re-branding former Channel 9 personalities and giving them shows similar to what they were previously doing.

I am looking forward however to City Homicide next Monday. Aussie Cop drama - thumbs up!

Anything could be better than Sea Patrol...

What about Nine's daytime line-up, they really have screwed things over and their output war with WIN TV will see their day budget slashed further as KAK will no longer reach regional viewers.

SO what should Nine screen during the day... here is an idea:

6AM Today
9AM KAK
11AM Fresh Cooking
1130 The Price Is Right
1200 NEWS
1300 Days of Our Lives
1400 Water Rats
1500 *Kids Programming
1630 Friends
1700 News Chat Show... 'Five Live'
1730 Airline/Airport

might not work but hey i am sure it would get some better ratings than what they have now...

I am still waiting for someone to take a step forward

An e-life in an e-world

It got me thinking today for no real reason in particular but it starting consuming my thoughts as I drove wanting and wondering why I had an urgent desire to use the internet. It had only been about half an hour since I had been away from my computer but for some reason I needed it.

Almost like security or a blanket the internet and my mobile phone are an accessory much like a pair of socks and a pair of jocks. It is seriously ridiculous how I and the rest of the world are so reliant on mobile phones, emails, myspace, facebook… I mean does the world change every hour at such a rapid pace that I need to be re-informed so quickly?

What could have so drastically changed over the last half hour that will have such a significant change, outcome or bearing on my life? It scares me how I and many others are becoming all too consumed by technology and constant interaction in this e-world.

An article in today’s Sydney Morning Herald claimed that facebook is costing businesses over $5 billion per year wasted productivity because of this social network. It can also become eerie and creepy when people, ‘friends’ inform you that they know what you have been doing in your life because they read it on your facebook.

Is there any such thing as a personal space in this e-world? Do any of us lead private lives or have our private diaries, thoughts, emotions, scrapbooks, pictures and video’s been uploaded and opened to all so we can experience an ‘e-life’?

Technology is consuming our lives at a scary rate and I have realised this moreover in the last few months. Posting videos on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and the like gives the entire e-world complete access to your e-life.

It is becoming so easy to discover things about yourself behind the confines of a computer screen and the public forum of the internet.

What did people do 200 years ago? Send letters, carrier pigeons and transport was by horse and cart plus across water via boat. Now it’s instantaneous from the revolutions of AOL Instant Messenger – ICQ – MSN – myspace – facebook and beyond… what is the next part of my e-world to show everyone my e-life…

It’s scary but I am far to consumed by this eworld and wonder if I will stop or if it will stop me.

Garbage on our screens

I am looking very hard to find a television schedule from 1997 because what we are screening on Commercial and Pay television at the moment is garbage. There appears to be no thought, no development or desire to create programmes that will last and be popular, develop, build and maintain audiences.

Thank God You're Here is an acceptation and maybe Border Security but enough of this pseudo infotainment-lifestyle-reality programmes that involve Jamie Durie, backyards, living in confined or remote places and pointless contests that overall are dumbing society. These clip shows like 20 to 1 and What A Year, where is the imagination and who thought up these series?

Not to pick only on 9 but they have had some really bad concepts for television like The Code: Crime and Justice, Mothers In War and wait for it.... here comes The Farmer Wants a Wife... ARE YOU KIDDING?

Why are television stations paying money for people to develop television shows like this? A twelve year old can tell you that NO ONE will watch this and the programme will fail.

I cannot believe that Australia's Best Backyards debuted with such success last night winning the vital 6.30PM Sunday Night slot. Yes it had Jamie Durie but it had no substance, no originality and falls into the same category of shows mentioned above that is all to repetitious.

Last Chance Learners, Celebrity Dog School... I could go on and on... but not to totally bag all the shows coming out of the Networks. There is some merit in Dancing With the Stars and Australian Idol but they to will soon start to become tired.

For a competitive television market and that we have in Australia, I am amused by the amount of bad television that we produce. What do consumers want?!

Drama was starting to become a lost art but All Saints delivers sound figures and McLeods Daughter's holds its own on Wednesday evenings. Sea Patrol has had a stunning debut for 9 and I hope the myriad of new Aussie Dramas replicate this success.

There is no better television in my opinion than a good well-made drama and Aussies do a good job at it. Don't let this industry die, there are thousands of fantastic Aussie actors scratching at the bit for a gig on Australian televsion.

Enough of the info-tainment reality repetitious lifestyle crap... bring on the drama!

Has Seven's horse bolted too early

In a tv market dominated by ratings and revenue, Channel Seven headed by David Leckie have had a stella year-to-date. In Sydney a dominant Sunrise, News and Today Tonight have usurped Channel Nine's long dominance as news and current affairs leader.

With Leckie and Peter Meakin, Seven have all but brought about a new leader in news and current affairs. David Koch and Melissa Doyle, Seven's own born stars still blow Nine's Today Show away every weekday morning. As well Ian Ross and Anna Corren win the competitive 6-7pm news hour in Sydney each week night.

Nine has now answers to-date. The week Peter Harvey read the news, ratings in Sydney increased, could he be the unlikely hero for Nine?

With The Catch-Up failing to impress, The Lost Tribes, The Nation and a bad crop of failed American dramas in 2007, Nine has really felt the effects and will become Number 2 for the first time.

But has the horse bolted on Channel Seven?

Over zealous programming perhaps in their first half year scheduele with Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and The Life of Brian trying to challenge Nine's dominant Sunday Night line-up. Overall it failed to make too many in-roads into 60 Minutes or CSI.

Now Seven's cupboard is looking somewhat bare forcing the network to screen movies on Wednesday evenings when they could have held back the likes of Betty or Grey's. I think Seven went too hard too early and the effects have been felt with poorer than expected ratings for Hereos, Lost and Prison Break.

If Seven had saved some of these shows then their second half dominance would steamroll Nine who have just launched the impressive Sea Patrol.

Seven still have another series of Dancing to air, plus Shark and the debut of Kath and Kim on commercial television. Border Security, RSPCA rescue and Medical Emergerncy are delivering strong 7.30 series but the 8.30 scheduelling is questionable.

Nine could have counteracted this with holding one of their big shows like CSI or CSI (do they have anything else) back and made a real go of part 2, 2007 but there is much more needed to be done at Nine than a few imorts.

Since the Packer's sold Nine, who is in charge and what is happening? Will there be a total overhaul or will Bert Newton and Ray Martin be presenting Today and the news?

Maybe Humphrey B Bear could save the ratings but this second half of the year looks very very interesting

Un(in)credible Affair

Carrissa hopes to start school in Victoria after leaving her home and her parents in Brisbane. A troubled teenager leaves home in Brisbane, and runs to Victoria to be with boyfriend. The girl, 14 here mature aged boyfriend 15 and they met on the interent...

Are you kidding? These two kids claim they want to get married and this makes news. Its a funny story but does warrant 'A Current Affair'...

Take the David Sherma example last week and his bust by Ben Fordham, that was a good example of these current affairs shows but tonights story well well well

THE REPORT CARD

After 11 Rounds of the NRL season, I am rating the teams on their performance, giving them an overall score out of 10… Let’s start with the wooden spoon contenders.

DRAGONS

Horrible run of injuries has impacted a team that have promised so much yet never reached the mark. With only 3/10 wins the team are looking like one of the strongest contenders for the wooden spoon.
THE BAD: The number of injuries: Gasnier, Young, B. Morris, Ryles, Simms, Hornby
THE GOOD: Josh Morris – two are better than one
PREDICTION: Nathan Brown will shoulder the blame and be sacked by the end of the season, Ian Millward to probably get the nod. Should finish in the bottom three.
PERFORMNACE: 1/10

ROOSTERS

Change of guard from the Fittler-Ricketson-Ricky Stuart era. Starting to find form with an excellent win over the Sharks last season, despite also having 3/10. If this new found form continues they could scrape into the 8 although they don’t have a halfback but Craig Wing, Braith Anasta and Anthony Minichello are refinding form – this could be dangerous.
THE BAD: terrible start to the season, Chris Anderson has not had the best influence on the team and looks like he may have lost that coaching credibility.
THE GOOD: Minichello and Wing are back. Sam Perrett and Shaun Kenny-Down have proved to be excellent three-quarters.
PREDICTION: Could make the 8 if Minichello and Wing stay in form otherwise they’ll be fighting off the spoon.
PERFORMANCE: 2/10

BULLDOGS

Another club who have enormous potnential and names but are just not firing. Sitting 14th on the ladder is not acceptable to the club who need to have a good look at their roster. The loss of Asotasi, Myles and O’Meley leaving is taking its toll on a forward pack that haven been feared in the past.
THE BAD: Sonny Bill-Williams, not the player her was two years ago, hope he refinds his form
THE GOOD: Luke Patten – every club has brilliant full backs and Patten is ‘The General’.
PREDICTION: Won’t make the 8 this year which will also cause personnel changes, for a start they need a first grade hooker.
PERFORMANCE: 3/10

PANTHERS
Shown promise and are slowly adapting to new coach Matthew Elliot but they’re hot and cold. Need Gower, Pridiss and Rhys Wesser to fire.
THE BAD: there inconsistency and Joel Clinton
THE GOOD: Peter Walace but he might be off the Broncs
PREDICTION: If they find some consistency and Clinton starts firing they could scrape into the eight
PERFORMANCE: 3/10

BRONCOS
Horrible start to the season but the smashing of Newcastle will be the turning point for the 2006 premiers. A classy side who have a wizard of a coach and the second best player in the world – Darren Lockyer.
THE BAD – the start to the season and Wayne Bennett but also good because he takes attention off his players.
THE GOOD – Darren Lockyer
PREDICTION – see you in the semi’s.
PERFORMANCE: 2/10

TITANS
5/11 not to bad a start and they’re sitting 11th on the ladder so not to far off the mark in their first season. Scott Prince has been fantastic and really stepped up as a brilliant play maker.
THE BAD – Michael Henderson’s injury – head up kid
THE GOOD – Scott Prince and Luke Bailey – priceless ability and work rate plus Anthony Laffranchi – put him in the origin team.
PREDICTION – Will hover, may make it, may not - their fitness is a key to success and Cartwright’s enthusiasm. If they keep Prince, Rogers and Bailey injury free they will be in the 8, without Prince or Bailey, they won’t.
PERFORMANCE: 4/10

RABBITOHS
Super start to the season but they’re struggling and will do without David Kidwell and David Peachey. Huge inroads have been made but we need a little less ‘Hollywood’ and a little mor action.
THE BAD – they are playing like the old days at the moment
THE GOOD – Jason Taylor
PREDICTION – Without an established half, no Kidwell or Peachey, they won’t make the 8, I just hope they don’t bite the spoon.
PERFORMANCE: 4/10

EELS

Growing from strength to strength with Michael Hagan. Look like making the Top 8 and could take things to the final weeks of the finals.
THE BAD – Losing Wade McKinnon to the Warriors.
THE GOOD – Nathan Hindmarsh is a work horse
PREDICTION – semi finals
PERFORMANCE: 5/10

WARRIORS
Another up and down team, they need some consistency but I think they’ll be there come finals time.
THE BAD – Manu Vatevi v Parramatta
THE GOOD – Steven Price the best 33 year old in the game
PREDICTION – They’ll make the 8.
PERFORMANCE: 4/10

KNIGHTS
Can they keep playing without Joey? Brian Smith’s credibility is also on the line…
THE BAD – Joey’s career ending injury.
THE GOOD – Kurt Gidley
PREDICTION – Crash and burn, wont make the finals and Brian Smith wont be the coach in 2008.
PERFORMANCE: 4/10

RAIDERS
Stunning win over the Dragons, if they can maintain this form they will make the finals as a surprise. Canberra can become a real graveyard for traveling teams…
THE BAD – Todd Carney’s off field dilemmas.
THE GOOD – Their young backs led by William Zilman and Captain Alan Tongue.
PREDICTION – they don’t get the credit of the major metro teams but watch out these guys look good. They will make the 8.
PERFORMANCE: 6/10

SHARKS
Found their click. Ricky Sturat is bringing the best out of all their players with Kimmorley looking good again.
THE BAD – Loss to the Roosters, psychological blow over Stuart.
THE GOOD – Greg Bird, now an NRL enforcer
PREDICTION – Semi finals is on the cards
PERFORMANCE: 6/10

COWBOYS
7 wins from 11 starts not bad with the World’s greatest player: Jonathan Thurston. Together with Matt Bowen, they are the best combination in Rugby league.
THE BAD – Luke O’Donnell’s injury
THE GOOD – Jonathan Thurston
PREDICTION – They will be in the semis again but their forward pack are not as mobile this year. Still Steve Southern and Jacob lillyman have to shoulder some of the loss of O’Donnell.
PERFORMANCE: 7/10

WEST TIGERS
Their back and their unearthing some great new talent, like Chris Lawrence.
THE BAD – Benji Marshall’s shoulder… AGAIN
THE GOOD – Robbie Farah, one of the best dummy halves in the game.
PREDICTION – Another top 8 finisher but wont win the comp will make the top 6.
PERFROMANCE: 7/10

MELBOURNE
With 9/11 the Storm are looking like this will be their year. They have learnt from the disappointment from 2006, looking hungrier and more determined to win the premiership this year. Cooper Cronk is climbing the ranks in the half back world
THE BAD – Is there anything bad about this team?
THE GOOD – Israel Falou, where can they fit him?
PREDICTION – 2007 premiership winners
PERFORMANCE: 8/10

MANLY
Sitting top of the table, Des Hasler must be proud of his Sea Eagles. Looking fantastic, but will it last?
THE BAD – trying to fit 17 players into their weekly selections
THE GOOD – Michael Monoghan but why are they letting him go?
PREDICTION – Final 4 but wont be in the grand final. Its hard to maintain this form.
PERFORMANCE: 9/10


FINAL 8 PREDICTION:
MANLY
MELBOURNE
BRISBANE
WEST TIGERS
SHARKS
RAIDERS
TITANS
EELS

FINAL 4 PREDICTION
MANLY
MELBOURNE
BRISBANE
EELS

GRAND FINAL PREDICTION
MELBOURNE
EELS

PREMIERSHIP PREDICTIONMELBOURNE

Thank God... The Return of the Playmaker

Rugby League has been boring for a while. Losing Andrew Johns, we had to wonder are there any creative players left?

With the game (league) becoming so physical, it is now reliant on strong forwards hitting the ball up with the creative element taking a back seat. Probably due to the lack of dominant creative and effective players, we now breathe a collective sigh of relief...

Thank God for Jonathan Thurston. Our faith has been restored that life will go on post Andrew Johns.

Going through the early 1990's there was a plethora of halves including Laurie Daley, Allan Langer, Ricky Stuart and Brad Fittler. In the latter part of the decade and the early naughties the likes of Trent Barrett emerged with Andrew Johns on the mantle.

Darren Lockyer has been groomed into a dangerous half but now we have another superstar in Thurston. The Bulldogs must regret there decision to allow him to leave every day.

Thurston has restored faith in the playmaker and shows finesse that has not been seen since Johns dominance. He is an all round attacking and defensive footballer. A complete player.

His kicking game, ability to kick goals and put players through holes, there is no else like him in the game. New South Wales are just hoping a play-maker with similar ability will be discovered trying Jarrod Mullen in Origin one.

Sitting a little far a way but not to far from Thurston's heels are Scott Prince and Cooper Cronk. Unfortunately two more Queenslander's who fail to fill the New South Wales halves dilemma.

Prince asserts his presence on the game and a contest between himself and Thurston is a pleasure to watch. Cronk, still in his infancy will be the next big time player.

But are there others coming through? The Dragons would like to see Matthew Head play a season to gain his confidence as he can have a devastating effect on the game.

Jarrod Mullen has shown promise but his Origin debut has proven he is not quite up to the mark. Ben Roberts shows promise and is the New Zealand half, but again needs some experience under his belt.

At least the signs are more positive and there is a return of the playmaker. Perhaps we can get more excited about the game and see The Number 7 dominate football again.

Television Stations Focus on Different Nights but Fail Others

Nine have finally decided they'd attack Tuesdays and give Seven some competition. After conceeding to Dancing With the Stars, nothing has worked for the embattled network who is yet to win a ratings week this year.

It would have made sense to attack Tuesdays when Dancing went wrapped up its recent season and It Takes Two returned. Clearly there is not as much interest with It Takes Two down almost half a million viewers than Dancing in that slot.

It should be more but Nine have not offered any competition, rather screen repeats of 20 to 1, CSI and the failed Justice, I Shouldn't Be Alive, Amazing Medical Stories, Extreme Makeover and anything else that won't rate. Finally Nine have moved new episodes of CSI: NY to Tuesdays at 8.30PM, plus the return of the re-branded Crime and Justice plus a new series, Neighbours At War.

Hopefully these will become alternatives to the horrible It Takes Two which should be the last series.

While Nine sharpen it's Tuesday line-up, Seven look to claw back Thursday's by moven Heroes to 8.30 and Lost back to 9.30. The proof will be in the ratings results tomorrow but the expense will be on Wednesdays with Seven more or less conceeding the night but screening a one hour version of Police Files Unlocked.

Seven are hedging there bets with House on ten, Chaser on ABC as the leaders for Wednesday nights.

It's negative tactics, but so are networks showing repeats or specials when there are events on other channels that they know will lose them the night. Seven screening a movie during State of Origin and Nine showing repeats all this week because Origin will win them the week.

Get serious television executives and get competitive. Nine show repeats because they don't have the rating-winning programs but Seven are just as average.

Lets see some quality and variety...

Lots of pressure on Lisa

Lisa Wilkison becomes the latest victim to accept the challenge of the unpopular eviction ‘hot seat’, as the new co-host of the Channel Nine Today Show. Wilkinson, previously the host of Channel Seven’s Weekend Sunrise, will now front the embattled Nine breakfast program five mornings per week.

The former magazine editor becomes the fifth presenter since Tracy Grimshaw left the program at the end of 2005. Jessica Rowe was finally ‘boned’ on Saturday and since has had the glamorous Sarah Murdoch (who would be my pick) and Kellie Connolly in the presenting role.

Is it the embattled co-woman presenter or can some of the blame be passed on to the male equivalent Karl Stefanovick? He must be surely as nervous as Wilkinson, having witnessed the ‘revolving door’ of the women’s seat that he sits next to.

Stefanovick comes across confidently and has grown into the role but he must be slightly concerned about no stable on-air partner.

If Wilkinson is not the answer to the Today Show’s problems, then what will Nine do?

The pressure is mounting on the Network and the troubled breakfast program. It will be interesting to see how Karl and Lisa progress from May 28.

What state is cricket in after the World Cup

Australian Cricket stands head and shoulders above any other cricketing nation, but will this dominance continue and if so, for how long? How are the other nations shaping up after a two month long tournament?

On an off the field, the 2007 Cricket World Cup has been plagued with controversy that could blacken the sport. The off-field dramas including the ticketing prices, the length of the tournament, the death of Pakistani Coach Bob Woolmer have stolen the headlines from the game of cricket itself.

This world cup will be marked as a changing of the guard, as a number of coaches are retiring, key players, legends of the game, marred with turmoil and controversy leaving a rather bitter taste in the ICC’s mouths.

Was the tournament too long and why did the cricket not live up to everyone’s general expectations?

Australia are to take full credit and much of the attention of this world cup as noted above has been on ‘other dramas’. They totally and utterly desimated every opponent with class and charisma. Every player stood up and was counted for in same way, shape or form.

Matthew Hayden’s domination was matched by Glenn McGrath’s pure genius ability to bowl and leave the game on top of the world as player of the tournament.

With John Buchnanan retiring as Australian Coach, a change of the guard will take place as Tim Neilson steps into the role.

McGrath has a long list of replacements ready to take his place including the returning Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus. All are more than capable to add depth to Australia’s bowling but will have enormous shoes to fill.

Nathan Bracken and Shaun Tait have stood up and are to be credited for the excellent bowling in this cup and Bradley Hogg, likewise.

At the next World Cup Australia will not have the likes of McGrath, Hayden, Adam Gilchrist or Brad Hogg. So consider this as a possible team to compete in the 2011 world cup:

Brad Hodge
Michael Hussey
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Andrew Symonds
Brad Haddin
Adam Voges
Brett Lee
Nathan Bracken
Ben Hilfenhaus
Shaun Tait
Also: Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Dan Cullen, Stuart Clark

Note that there is no front-line spinner in this attack as there is also no Shane Watson. I have preferred to go with four genuine pace bowlers spearheaded by Tait and Lee with the added advantage of Bracken and Hilfenhaus. To fill the last quota Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Adam Voges and Brad Hodge can become the part-time spinners, giving Australia more balance and variety in their attack.

The batting is equally impressive with depth as the powerful and promising Adam Voges at number seven behind Brad Haddin.

Australia should continue to dominate but their opponents are starting to build. If England can sort themselves out, they have a promising team in the making.

Likewise Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan.

New Zealand will go through some more tough times with the retirements of Stephen Fleming and Shane Bond imminent and will probably occur before 2011.

India are all out of sorts again as they cannot choose eleven players yet alone an administration that supports both players and coaching staff. They need bowlers for a start and confidence.

Too much is asked of Indian Cricket and lives (as we saw with Woolmer) are placed on the line for success or failure.

Who would want to coach a cricket team after this year’s world cup or even become an administrator?

Let’s get on with playing the game of cricket and keep the bitching politics off the headlines and more of the on-field success taking credit for the game of cricket.

Mental Toughness will make it a hat-trick

Australia totally and utterly destroyed South Africa last night and exposed the weak mental toughness that the South Africans have. Australia always have the edge over South Africa and captain Graeme Smith in particular.

Smith set the tone attempting to slog Bracken in the third over only to be bowled. This single act sums up the stronghold Australia has over South Africa.

To be 5/27 in a semi-final, South Africa looked totally out of their depth and scared in a semi final when they were only two weeks ago ranked the number one team. Credit must be given to the Australian bowling attack spearheaded by Glenn McGrath who grabbed match honours once again.

McGrath took the crucial wickets of Kallis, Prince and Boucher, while Bracken sent the Captain packing. McGrath will leave the game on top of the world, bowling the best he has bowled in years which is a true testament to the longevity of his career, cunning length and line bowling that proves consistency is key.

Shaun Tait has been born and last night took impressive caught behind dismissals with De Villiers, Gibbs and Hall looking out of depth and scared against the extra pace. Again, Brad Hogg was impressive capturing 1/24 (10) and could have had a few more scalps.

Australia walk into the final with their bottom three batsmen (Bracken, McGrath and Tait) not having to pick up the bat. Sri Lanka will undoubtedly pumped up to defeat the favourites but you can’t go past Australia.

Ponting’s men will be switched on and be giving 150% to send Glenn McGrath out a winner. I can’t see the Sri Lankans matching it with the Australians.

COME ON AUSSIE… COME ON!

SALARY CAP INEQUALITIES

I might sound like a winger because the St George Illawarra Dragons are having a woeful start to the season. With injuries to key players, the loss of Trent Barrett and the impact of the salary cap, the Dragons just don’t have depth or experience on the field to be competitive in the NRL.

In the Round 7 clash against the Roosters, the Dragons had no Mark Gasnier, Simon Woolford, Jason Ryles or Dean Young and Matthew Head is out of sorts playing Premier League. Add the loss of Shaun Timmins, Trent Barrett, Luke Bailey and some of the up and comers Daryl Millard, Aaron Gorrell and Clint Greenshields on the back of the 2006, so whats left and who is playing?

Josh and Brett Morris are doing a sterling effort as only twenty year olds, but the exposure of Richard Williams, Tony Ellis, Rangi Chase, Tom Hewitt, Chase Stanley and the like have people wondering who are these kids?

Sure they have ability and promise but they are too young to be playing first grade and be expected to perform. Nathan Brown has no experienced players or older heads to lift the boys around them.

Once these kids have exposure to the top grade a club will the struggle to keep them the following year. Because of the injuries to key players, i.e Mark Gasnier and Simon Woolford then youngsters are exposed to first grade when they shouldn’t be.

While they are exposed to the top grade they now demand that they stay there, get paid more money and consequently leave, go to another club and play first grade becoming regular players. Daniel Holdsworth and Daryl Millard are now at the Bulldogs who came through the Dragons ranks.

Why is it though that some teams can continue to be successful and the salary cap does not affect their performance?

The Broncos have been a dominant team, in/or around the fringes of the premiership for fifiteen seasons. Maybe its lifestyle, maybe the Dragons have deep rooted problems attracting players.

Why would you want to train in two locations an hour and a half apart on alternate days?

A base needs to be established and possibly the salary cap needs to be revisited…

Then there were four

The Cricket World Cup is now in its final week. A time we thought might never come, after a long and at times tideous two month campaign.

Nevertheless the business end of the cup is upon us as the world's eyes will focus on four - Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Probably the four most deserving teams to have made the finals after 48 matches, 16 teams over 50 days of cricket to determine the make-up of the finals mix.

Semi Final 1: New Zealand v. Sri Lanka

An expected bouncy wicket for the first semi final will play into the hands of two key bowlers. Bond, Shane Bond and Slinga Lasith Malinga will be looking to dominate the Sabina track.

New Zealand may choose in fact to bowl as they are keen chasers and if Shane Bond is on song, it could be devestating. Likewise, Lasith Malinga will be itching to get his hands on the ball, as he seems to have an edge over New Zealander's who struggle against the faster skidding ball.

In the past New Zealand batsmen have struggled against Malinga and Australian Brett Lee. Malinga has the back-up in Chaminda Vaas, one of the best bowlers in the modern game and of course Muttiah Muralidaran. This attack is formidable and ricals only the Australian bowling brigade.

New Zealand will rely heavily on Bond, but he can be assisted by Daniel Vettori and (if picked) Jayten Patel. I would be picking the two spinners because the New Zealander's faster bowlers are not as convincing.

Whether Matthew Mason, James Franklin or Mark Gillespe are picked, will be decided on Jacob Oram's fitness. Oram plays an integral role with both bat and ball and I see benefits to Mark Gillespe being the second bowler to Bond, but the selectors will probably go with Franklin.

The batting will also be crucial to the result with Sanath Jayasuriya keen to end his career on a high note and will be going all guns blazing. Kumar Sangakarra has had a quite tournament by his standards, which is a worrying sign as the finals may be his time.

Sri Lanka's stregth lies in its middle order with Mahela Jayawardene, Russell Arnold, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva. Silva is the one who impresses me most and looks a real star for the future.

New Zealand's batsmen could do anything. Hot one day, cold the next.

Stephen Fleming needs runs for his team to score runs and he will be looking for a positive start. Ricky Taylor, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram need to post fortys or half century's to be competitive.

Overall the star studded bowling attack and depth of batting should see Sri Lanka qualify for the grand final.

Semi Final 2: Australia v. South Africa

De ja vu? But what will the result be this time. Australia have the edge over South Africa, thrashing them in the earlier rounds of the competition.

Australia have stood head and shoulders above every team at this world cup, and not making the final would be a failure in the team's books. Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith are the keys for mind both in their leadership and as batsmen, their teams rely on their skippers to have big games for their teams to succeed.

Ponting has the mental toughness, as a Captain, batsmen and big match player. His determination is unrivalled and he has the players to back his decissions.

Nevertheless South Africa have chased down 400 against Australia and won, so there will be some concern in the minds of the Australians.

Matthew Hayden is again key at the top of the order, scoring 580 runs with a highest score of 158 including four centuries in this years would cup at an average of 82.85. Ponting is not far behind him and Adam Gilchrist is still really to fire.

Australia's middle order looks solid with Michael Clarke's consistency, Andrew Symonds big hitting that can turn an innings on its head, Michael Hussey's unquestionable ability in the middle order and Shane Watson can also ignite some fireworks.

Suprisingly Nathan Bracken, Glen McGrath and Shaun Tait have not had to put the pads on once in this world cup, a testament to their top order.

The top class batting has been matched by impecable bowling. Glen McGrath will retire on top of his game.

Australia's fast bowler of the last decade has saved his best performances for the cup, becoming the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets at 14 and he will leave the games as the highest world cup wicket-taker of all time.

McGrath has been backed up in his fast bowling trio by Shaun Tait. Despite going for a few runs , Tait can devistate attackes with his pace, bounce and skid and looks devestating in full flight. Likewise Nathan Bracken has been consistent and provides the variety in this trio, not allowing a batsmen to get settled.

Brad Hogg caps off the variety of this attack having a memorable world cup. Arguably Australia's best bowler of the tournament, Hogg has 19 wickets at 15.21.

Australia has the leading wicket-taker and run scorer. Interestingly 12 months ago Glen McGrath, Matthew Hayden and even Brad Hogg were not guranteed positions in Australia's one day team and today there are the key ingriedients to this team.

South Africa will depend on their top four to score the bulk of their runs. Graeme Smith needs to attack the quicker bowlers and A B de Villiers needs to follow his skipped.

De Villiers has struggled against the Australians. Jacques Kallis needs to stand up and be counted, score runs at a quicker rate than he usually does, likewise Herschelle Gibbs who can be a match winner.

South Africa have stregth in their middle order with Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp and Shaun Pollock.

The bowling is what lets South Africa down. Pollock is not the bowler he was and Makhaya Ntini has struggled to impact on the fast bowler friendly wickets.

Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel or Andrew Hall could have that other position which should go to Nel who can get under the Australian's skin and offers more than the other options.

No quality front line spinner lets down the South Africans who crave a variety, change-up bowler. Their bowling is what lets down the Proteas as I see the game going the way of the Australians.

We will have to see what happenes this week but Australia should knock off the Proteas and meet Sri Lanka in the grand final. All will be revealed in 96 hours.

Talking FM changes its TUNE

So audiences now demand comic relief and the end of the day. Driving home, sitting on a bus or riding in an overcrowded train, people don't want music they want The Akmal Show, Hamish & Andy or Will & Lehmo.

Is there now much difference between and FM or AM drive-time shift? They both have talk, talkback and less and less music.

Perhaps its the ipod revolution, myspace and the internet that is allowing audiences to get their own music and not rely on the good old wireless, but why, now does each younger audience music station have a talk-based drive shift?

Music countdowns come-back in during the night-time and the philosophy seems to be less talk, more music while you are at work. Will any of the FM leaders restore a music based format?

The quality of the talent in drive has also picked up with the untested and somewhat politically incorrect comic Akmal Saleh with Kate Ritchie on NOVA. 2DAY have networked the popular Hamish and Andy duo which seems to have the FM drive momentum.

Triple M have answered the cry on April 2, installing former Glass House and Triple J breakfast presenter Wil Anderson to their drive shift with former SAFM breakfast anchor Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehman.

In the case of the first two, Akmal and Hamish&Andy will be more comic and probably stupid, while Wil and Lehmo will focus on political and news satire.

But what is funny?

In the aftermath of the University Massacre in the United States last week, Will and Lehmo responded by asking their audience to call in and share who in their office would be the most likely candidate to perform a massacre?

Comedy or Distaste?

Say no more... YOU decide

Talking FM changes its TUNE

So audiences now demand comic relief and the end of the day. Driving home, sitting on a bus or riding in an overcrowded train, people don't want music they want The Akmal Show, Hamish & Andy or Will & Lehmo.

Is there now much difference between and FM or AM drive-time shift. They both have talk, talkback and less and less music.

Perhaps its the ipod revolution, myspace and the internet that is allowing audiences to get their own music and not rely on the good old wireless, but why, now does each younger audience music station have a talk-based drive shift?

Music countdowns come-back in during the night-time and the philosophy seems to be less talk, more music while you are at work. Will any of the FM leaders restore a music based format?

The quality of the talent in drive has also picked up with the untested and somewhat politically incorrect comic Akmal Saleh with Kate Ritchie on NOVA. 2DAY have networked the popular Hamish and Andy duo which seems to have the FM drive momentum.

Triple M have answered the cry on April 2, installing former Glass House and Triple J breakfast presenter Wil Anderson to their drive shift with former SAFM breakfast anchor Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehman.

In the case of the first two, Akmal and Hamish&Andy will be more comic and probably stupid, while Wil and Lehmo will focus on political and news satire.

But what is funny?

In the aftermath of the University Massacre in the United States last week, Will and Lehmo responded by asking their audience to call in and share who in their office would be the most likely candidate to perform a massacre?

Comedy or Distaste?

Say no more... YOU decide

What makes news?

Infotainment is the buzz word that news-makers are concerned about because of the perceived preference that audiences what light-hearted, information and entertainment instead of the harder, more serious news.

The changes witnessed in all forms of media, such as the casual more chatty Sunrise breakfast television program which now outrates rival Today is one example of the changing nature and interest of audience.

Even radio, with 2UE's Mike and Fitz Breakfast Show being more light hearted than rival Alan Jones. But why are audiences so interested in this 'coffee chat' gossip?

Britney Spears latest movements, the Anna Nicole-Smith saga and even the movements of Mercedes Corby are all news items that radio, television and newspapers place high emphasis on reporting.

It's not news - it's gossip. So what is news?

There is a continual decline in interst in international news stories or a crisis in a remote region. Surely there are more pressing issues than Britney's head being shaved.

Audience's lack of interest in wars in the middle east, regional pacific unrest and even aids in Africa is a poor reflection on the dumbing down of society.

We are isolating ourselves, becoming arrogant and to overly concerned in celebrity gossip, that we are becoming less inteligent.

A stronger focus on international news is needed to place ourselves in society so that we do not get to wrapped up in ourselves and our own little world.

Seven makes it 2/2

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’?

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.

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

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.

What topic could be next made into a reality television show?

How about mixing Paris Hilton, Jenna Jameson and 10 male virgins and what do you get? “Virgin Territory”.

That’s right Kevin Blatt a well known adult entertainment producer is developing the new reality series featuring Paris and Jenna as possible hosts or coaches.

Blatt is the man who distributed Hilton’s infamous porno, “One Night In Paris”, so the bizarre turn of events may end up seeing Hilton working with Blatt.

The show will feature 10 virgins who compete in challenges such as the “STD spelling bee” and the one who scores the lowest will be eliminated.

When there is one virgin left he will have to chose one of five a-list pornstars to whom he will lose his virginity to. Entrepreneur Bratt will film the ‘sexual encounter’ and distribute it through an adult entertainment company.

It makes you wonder where the boundaries of television, content and more broadly our own morals and ethics are. The development of this project is not only alarming, but distasteful and disgusting.

Audiences and ratings will not be a problem as I can guarantee a huge number of people would watch this program and the threat is that it could become the norm.

Cheap production costs and the increase in reality television is causing havoc amongst the social conscious. Just last year Prime Minister John Howard called for the axing of the distasteful “Big Brother” following the “Camilla Turkey Slapping Incident”.

I hope this program is never made and if it is, we do not see it here. We need to have some standard of ethics and morals and clearly this program does not meet any standards.

What will 2UE be like when John Laws leaves?

This post is all speculation and only my op-inion.

We saw the summer break meant a time for change at 2UE. Not only had Ken Sparkes the voice-over artist for four decades been shown the door but Stan Zemanek, ‘the king’ of night-time radio left the St. Leonards radio station to the Prime Minister announcing he was ‘rooting’ for him.

Now we enter a new year minus Zemanek and with a new voice over artist to complaints of loyal 2UE listeners. It’s a sign that the guard is definitely changing and with a summer schedule that pleased the accountant – cutting one day time shift from its day and adding an extra hour to the breakfast, drive and the combining of mornings and afternoons.

It’s a big year for 2UE. Will the Mike and Fitz breakfast experiment pay off? Will John Laws be heard on the radio more often than not and can a new night time presenter be found for evenings that will rival Brian Wilshere on 2GB.

Alan Jones may take a dive in the ratings after Chris Masters released Jones Town which could unearth the AM leader. One thing is for sure, the changes at 2UE are moving towards cleaning out its line-up.

Steve Price and John Stanley experimented with tag team broadcasting in breakfast while Mike and Fitz took lunch so they may be looking at combining their shows when the station considers the revamp post the John Laws era.

Southern Cross look keen to cut-costs noted with the shedding of news staff last year and the move to have three daytime shifts over summer instead of four. Tag team broadcasting would not assist cost cutting with two salaries needed instead of one.

Perhaps nationally syndicated shows may be the go for southern cross through daytime. Breakfast and Drive need to be local but John Laws is heard right around the country. 2UE could look at Neil Mitchell (the John Laws of Melbourne) doing a syndicated show that would include 2UE mornings.

Or perhaps Laws own 2UE rival, Steve Price. Price would be no stranger to Melbourne audiences and held number 1 in drive, which he is yet to achieve in Sydney. A move to the morning shift could see both Melbourne and Sydney audiences satisfied as well as Southern Cross executives.

Southern Cross have shown some signs for the future. A typical 2UE line-up in the post Laws era could look something like this:

6-10: Mike and Fitz
10-2: Tim Webster
2-6: Price and Stanley
6-8: Sports Today
8-12: Clive Robertson
12-6: Stuart Bocking

Rating this Years Radio

The real radio ratings year has started today as the benchwarmers have left the microphones and the big guns have returned. Golden Tonsils John Laws and new brekkie hosts The Shebang rejoined Alan Jones, Kyle & Jackie O who returned last week.

But who will dominate the ultimate breakfast slot this year on AM? Will the handicap match featuring the tag team of Mike & Fitz on 2UE dethrone AJ on 2GB. Has the Chris Master’s biography had an affect on the Brekkie stalwart? Or will Adam Spencer, the unlikely breakfast host on Aunty continue to improve his ratings and become a real alternative, once again to the commercial networks?

Can Kyle and Jackie O be King and Queen of the FM band in 2007 or can Merrick and Rosso claw their way back to the top? Perhaps this is the break that The Shebang need and may become the new brekkie leaders in the Sydney FM market.

Will VEGA still exist by the end of 2007? With a merry-go-round program changes taking affect a new breakfast show has been formed adding Mikey Robins to Tone, Ange and Bec.

While VEGA have increased the number of breakfast presenters by 400%, MIX has slimmed down over the summer break. Alan Brough has been the casualty of the troubled breakfast show as Sammy and Subby return.

Breakfast is not only experiencing a challenging time but so is Drive with the three major FM brand launching new talk-based drive programs. NOVA have had a fair amount of trouble in the drive program with Bianca Dye being moved sideways for Akmal Saleh and Matthew Newton. Only Newton was sacked before his first shift. Now Home and Away star Kate Ritchie joins Akmal on drive from this week.

2DAY FM have also gone the talk with popular and successful duo Hamish and Andy who’s rating results in Melbourne and Brisbane have elevated them to the Sydney market. While Triple M will have to wait until April where Wil Anderson will host the drive shift vacated by The Shebang.

AM drive will be close again with Philip Clark (2GB), Richard Glover (702) and Steve Price (2UE) fighting out the converted 3-6PM slot. Their lead-ins are essential and the pressure will be felt from brekky, right across the day.

Not only are the drive and breakfast shifts going to be closely fought but now interest has stemmed into daytime radio. Tony Martin moves to a two hour lunch time show from 11 with Ed Kavalee on Triple M but also Jono Coleman returns to WSFM with a nationally syndicated show.

The last shift that will be closely scrutinized is night times. Triple M have established talk-based evening programming with Paul Murray and The Spoonman, while NOVA hope that former VJ Jabba will win their evenings. The HOT 30 on 2DAY has a new host Sam Mac while over on AM, 2UE will be looking closely for a replacement for Stan Zemanek.

It’s set up as an interesting and close year for radio ratings. I believe that Triple M will be the big mover on the FM band with The Shebang in breakfast, Tony Martin over lunch and Wil Anderson on drive. The strength over these personalities should see a return to the Rock station.

NOVA breakfast will demise this year and we won’t see Merrick and Rosso again next year. They are tired – still they are some of the best in the business but it’s time for a change. Akmal and Kate Ritchie will be interesting to watch. Up against Hamish and Andy they will find it hard but ‘Sally’ will pull a big female following and younger audiences will tune it – so they could be the surprise packet for radio shows.

With success Akmal and Kate Ritchie could be the new NOVA breakfast team in 2008. I may be jumping the gun but they are my prediction for 2007. Akmal and Kate, along with the talent of Jabba are the only lights in DMG as they are staring at a poor year in Sydney. VEGA has been a massive headache and Merrick & Rosso must be a concern in breakfast.

Meantime the ABC will be the big movers on AM. Adam Spencer is looking good, Virginia Troili has had a year to settle in and Richard Glover has a few good years behind him to make the charge in 07.

Whatever the story is – the year is set up as the closest in recent history. Station executives will be biting their nails to see those first rating results to establish the trend for the year and make sure their bills can be paid and advertisers remain happy. Wait and see…

Fixing P-Plate Problems

As the debate continues and tradgically more p-plate youths lose their lives, what can be done to make the roads safer?

Restricting p-plate driver numbers could be an option but making a midnight curfew is not an option. In the instances where p-plate drivers and their passangers have been killed a common thread is involved. Full-cars, late nights and dare I say speed and alcohol are involved.

I am not claiming that the driver has been drinking - I am sure he/she has not as there is zero tollerance but it is still a difficult task driving a car full of drunk mates. Not only are they subconciously egging you on to drive faster, you to want to get home because you haven't been drinking and are some aggitated that you have to drive your mates home.

Certainly it is a hard task at any age but in young drivers it is harder. There are less cars on the road so you feel that you can get home quiker. Combine that with your loud mates and it is a recipe for distaster.

It makes it difficult to drive and concentrate and therefore these horrific crashes occur. Remember with a zero tollerance alcohol policy, amongst youth drinkers they know they therefore cannot drive home and therefore can drink as much as they want.

My solution is to bring in a curfew for p-plate drivers. One passanger can travel with the driver after 10PM in the evening until 6AM the following morning.

The arguments therefore for p-plater's who need to drive home in the early hours because of shifts can and will reduce the problems on designated drivers who have to take their drunk mates home. It is a fair compromise and I think something that could go towards improving the fatalities.

I am in no way suggesting that these circumstances surround the current p-plate crashes but suggest these could be reasons as to why they occur.

Debnam the deadbeat

Does Peter Debnam want to become Premier of New South Wales or does he want to be in opposition for another four years, by which time the Liberal Party would have a new leader anyway?All he has to do is SHUT UP.

His claims today that retiring Attorney-General Bob Debus is under police investigation with no proof, is like falling on your own sword.Labor is self-destructing in the state as it is.

Either Debnam needs proof to his claims or just SHUT UP. He need not say anything as Labor are doing their own damage and losing the election.

Obviously Debnam has poor advisors or the wrong people around, or maybe he lacks intelligence and he is not the right man for the job. Possibly a mixture of the lot.

It is too late for Liberal to change leaders now this close to an election. Debnam and his Party need to stand united offer an alternative for change and release a set of policies that will woo voters from Labor to Liberal.

A fair analysis would say most voters are fed up with the Government. A number of fatal flaws have plagued Morris Iemma, since he took on the role of Premier, following the resignation of Premier Five Star - Bob Carr. He could obviously smell shit about to hit the fan and therefore left, allowing Iemma to pick up the pieces, lose sleep and wonder why he ever took the job on.

The Cross-City Tunnel Fiasco, calling the tunnel boss a "f*** wit" mistakenly on national television. The Orkopolous ordeal, Carl Scully dramas. The riots in Cronulla. It just seems to be going from bad to worse to worse to worse.

Let’s be realistic New South Wales - will rail, housing, health, education slow down at? NO

Will there be fewer cars on the road in one year? NO.

We need action plans NOW. Realistic and achievable plans in five year increments that will develop basic infrastructure.

Would you return the Iemma Government after this ill-fated term in office?

Debman and Liberal need to get their act together. If no alternative Government is provided then we will go through the next four years with stalemate as independents will be voted in and no policy will be made.

SO Mr. Debman my message is simple - stop making deadbeat comments and SHUT UP or make sensible, realistic comments and name policy changes so we can have a change of Government.

Dad's Army will still kick the Poms ass

Despite Ian Botham's recent comments that, 'losing to dad's army would be piss poor' (refereing to Australia and England's battle for next week's Ashes) Australia will still defeat England and retain the Ashes this summer.

Age is not a worry. Experience is the difference and speaks for itself.

Despite the fact Australia lost last year's Ashes, we only just lost it. Be realistic, if McGrath had not rolled his ankle, if we had scored four more runs. We would have won the Ashes.

The last 18 months have seen Australia improve and England well, not do to much. Nevertheless the series will be competitive and form means nothing when the Ashes is on the line.

Australia's biggest challenge will be picking the best XI. With a number of options, who will bat at Number 6 and who will be the fourth specialist bowler?

Despite writing that Bracken and Watson had played their way into the 1st test, this week will all but confirm my claims with Pura Cup and tour matches across the country.

Shaun Tait has stood tall with a menacing spell against the Poms in the PM's XI. The fastest bowler in the country was devistating and put the Poms on the backfoot immediately. If he is on target, he could single handedly destroy the English top order.

Phil Jacques is batting himself into form, continually knocking on the selectors doors with two centuries against the poms in three days.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has stated Langer's position is not under threat and the incumbent will be returned as opener for the first test.

With so many possibilities. I am glad that I don't wear a selectors hat and have to make the tough calls.

So which names will be read out and the end of the week? Possibly Jacques could be used in the six batsmen, not as a specialist opener?

Michael Clarke has still not performed with 50 against the Poms while Watson got a duck.

Why not choose Jacques?

In the bowling stocks Mitchell Johnson picked a valuable four wicket haul against the WACAs while Tait's chances were done no harm with his game for the PMXI.

As of Monday November 13, my Australian XI now reads:

1. Justin Langer
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Phil Jacques
5. Damien Martyn
6. Michael Hussey
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Brett Lee
10. Shaun Tait
11. Glen McGrath
12th Nathan Bracken

Labor or Liberal? Who will next Govern NSW

Does our country still have any decent human beings in politics? It's a tough job but you have an obligation if you wish to be a representative of your people.

The Peter Reith phone fiasco chased a decent man out of Federal Parliament a few years ago until now, when Labor MP for NSW Milton Orkopoulos has been sacked over child sex allegations.

This is the most disgraceful allegation and makes you wonder how this person was ever a representative of his people?

I have no time or sympathy for these allegations and if proven true then he should not be given any special privileges nor should he have any entitlements as regular parliamentarians would get.

Turning to the Labor vs. Liberal showdown for state governance who will win?

Iemma and his mob are in tatters. Carl Scully gone - a party in disarray. Cross city tunnel damage. Roads. Tolls. Education. Hospitals.

Its time for change and its time for a new government but is the Liberal Party any better? Debman is raw and new to the job. He has not released any policies. He just plays the opposite card to the Government on every policy issue.

Bickering continues to haunt the Liberals who have inter-party issues with the Right Wing assuming control. While the Party is unstable how could the voters have any confidence to vote them into power?

The underlying question is why then are there no decent people in politics? It is just that politics.

Whether it is between two parties or within the party, egos and agendas always come first as voters are seen as numbers, not participants in the electoral process.

Can we have some sensible, intelligent people going into politics? What is needed to get better representatives running our states and country? Why don't people want to go into Politics?

We couldn't get a worse bunch than we have at the moment and let's hope the problems of the past few months have weeded out the thorns so we can develop and sustain the social and economic issues of this state

Bracken & Watson play their way into the Ashes

Nathan Bracken and Shane Watson completed match winning performances in last night's ICC Champions Trophy final. Bracken, a test discard and Watson who has promised so much but yet to deliver gave selectors their strongest indictaion yet that they are ready and the best men for the two available positions.

Bracken had a stella tournament, partnering Lee with the new ball and proving most useful bowling in the death. With 10 wickets at 19.4 for the tournament, he could not have done more to press his claims. The prize wickets of Chris Gayle, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan last night, came at crucial times and turned the dimension of the game in Australia's way.

Not to be out done, Watson claimed 2/11 off his three overs and then added 57 runs not out as opening batsmen. Watson has proven himself this tournament and with this momentem should be instated to the test XI for the Ashes.

Shaun Tait put another spanner in the works, with an impressive bowling display for South Australia against New South Wales in the Pura Cup. Along with Jason Gillespie, the two were devestating, having NSW 4/1 in their second innings.

The biggest headache for the Poms would have to be the emphatic return of Glenn McGrath. Doubted by some, after a slow start to the Champions Trophy, the spear head of Australian fast bowling came back with a bang and grabbed 10 scalps at 15.80.

Damien Martyn has also found form with the bat, being the most impressive batsmen of the Australians in India and will look to take this form into the Ashes. With an average of 80.33 for the tournament, he will restore the Australian middle order.

With this in mind, my Australia XI for the 1st test against England in Brisbane would be:

1. Justin Langer
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting (c)
4. Damien Martyn
5. Michael Hussey
6. Shane Watson
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Brett Lee
10. Nathan Bracken
11. Glenn McGrath

12th Man: Shaun Tait

What is the value of representing your country in a test match?

International rugby league is a farse anyway but picking a second string team against Great Britain is arrogant. Ricky Stuart well be answerable to the media, fans and administrators this week as we ask, 'why did you pick a number of reserves in the Kangaroos?'

The honor to represent your country and play a test match should be the ultimate prize but if the ARL are going to hand out test jerseys then Nathan Fien should be entitled to play for the Kiwis. In no way is it the individuals who were picked's fault but rather a young ambitious coach who provided yet another example as to why the Roosters sacked him as coach.

Ricky Stuart selceted a jet lagged, unproven Jamie Lyon. Ok, he may have had a great season playing B Grade League in Great Britian but that is no match to NRL or International League.

Ben Hornby a fantastic custodian for the Dragons but if he is the second best half back in Australia, then we have massive problems. The days where a plethora of talent could be selected from the likes of Brad Fittler, Laurie Daley, Kevin Walters, Allan Langer, Geoff Toovey, Andrew Johns, Greg Alexander, Ricky Stuart, Matthew Johns were fighting tooth and nails to break into the Kangaroos halves combinations.

It comes back to a lack of depth in League, similar to the problems with Union. The bigger problem though is the honor we place on playing test match rugby league.

The series should be cancelled if jumpers are going to be handed to players, and rest others in matches. It's not done by any team, any where by any one unless it is assured of a victory.

ARL were proven wrong, Great Britain are not going to be a pushover and they deserve a lot more respect than the code is giving them.

If we want to be serious about International Rugby League then prove it or can it!

12 months on - the Wallabies... same shit different smell

A new coach, a few players in new positions... same shit different smell

Losing on Wednesday evening to a club side has all but summarised the Wallabies year. They have looked woeful at the best of times.

Player depth in Australia is at an all time low. There are no exciting prospects in Rugby in 2006.

I remember the David Campese era, he was an exciting player, a player that would get bums on seats at games. Now who do we have?

Wonder child Matt Giteau will be earning six zereos next year, for what?

A small inside centre that doesn't get the service from his grandfather half back. Or maybe put the million dollar baby in the half position, but ask why would you pay a few million dollars for a halfback?

Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri were the excitment that was injected into the Wallabies but that has failed. Rogers is returning to League, Lote has expressed his desires and well do we need to say anymore about Dell...

So who is the generation of boom of excitment in the Wallabies?

Gregan, Latham, Larkham, Mortlock.... they are solid players but they are not exciting players or Dan Carter's, Joe Rockocko or anyone of the All Black backs.

Australian rugby is in trouble. Our best prospect looks to be boom Joey's fly half, Kurtly Beale. Give him a go..

There is no depth in Australian rugby. Wednesday's loss had players in unfamiliar positions. Gerrard is not a fly half. Turunui is not a winger.

Connolly has done nothing! Yes we have won a few more games, but we don't look any better.

It's time to clean out Australian rugby and re-build. I have not even began to discuss the forwards or the woeful front row combinations the Wallabies have tried this year.

Maybe its time to skip a generation and blood some youth. Australian rugby needs to move forwards and holding onto some of our elder statesman, as well as playing people in unfamiliar positions is not the answer.

Connolly might not be the right man for the job and maybe we need to look at who can lead the Wallabies to a world cup victory on 2007, cause at the moment its just the same shit with a different smell.

[P]lease stop this

Its horrible, its sickening when kids die young, especially when it’s a car crash. Speed… night driving… poor visibility… P plates…

What else can be done to sink the message in?

The image seems to be replayed over and over again, yet we can do something about it. Government legislation is being sounded out to change the driving age laws again, restrict and curfew p plate drivers but this is not the answer.

Being a green [P] plate driver myself, if the laws were to change, [p] plates, particularly green one’s would simply be removed by drivers and then provisional licence holders will be driving illegally.

Raising the age will also not assist. Single handidly it comes down to us as the drivers to fix it. There have been enough shock campaigns telling us to slow down.

The horrific images of the grieving students in Byron Bay last night is enough to tell you to slow down.

Parents, teachers, Government’s must ensure we continue to slam the message in, educate. It is reality. We cannot replace a person’s life – it is to precious.

We need to stand up together and think about it ourselves before its to late.

"Ass?" Allowed or ‘beeped’ - is it a swear word?

Wednesday October 11, National Nine News Sydney.

Story 1 – the flag burner has been asked to carry the flag on Anzac day. One of the ‘vox pops’ said, “Someone will kick his ass all the way up the hill”.

Story 2 – drunk Bondi resident smashes car windscreens. One of the ‘vox pops’ said, “I’d like to kick his a**”.

The word ‘ass’ in the first story was allowed to be said and not ‘beeped’ where the word ‘ass’ was ‘beeped’ in the second story.

What do you think, is ass still a swear word or should it be ‘beeped’ out on the news?

The Price of Nationalism and the Australian Flag

Do you think the 17 year old male who stole the Brighton RSL Australian flag, urinating on it and torching on it has received the rightful punishment?

There have been calls for the male to be jailed, rather than a good behavior bond and for a public apology to all members of the RSL club, possibly even Australia.

Behind closed doors, the male apologized to RSL President and a small contingent of dignitaries which has caused public outcry.

Would it have been sensible to get the male to stand before a few hundred people and media and apologise?

I think not. The riots were a terrible reflection on Australian multi-culturalism and reflected poorly on racial differences between Lebanese Australians and Caucasians. If the apology had been public, this would have stirred further racial differences and given rise to further unrest.

A letter should be written by the male and handed to all members of the RSL club as a mark of respect and remorse for his actions.

It does make you question, what the price of the Australian flag is?

To all Australians and particularly RSL members the flag symbolises unparalleled pride and nationalism. If someone is to disrespect it so despicably, then should they be allowed to just apologise and continue living in this country under the Australian flag?

The punishment should be education and understanding. This male should have been ordered to do community service and be taught what the meaning of the flag is by helping the RSL veterans and therefore learning to respect the flag.

Are our stations safe?

The Daily Telegraph revealed an ‘exclusive’ today that up to 60 train stations are undermanned and some stations have been closed because there are no staff to the run them.

Cityrail has ensured commuters safety will not be jeopardised with no staff member on the platform. Is big brother watching or something?

Morris Iemma and our State Government have an obligation to every citizen of New South Wales to have a staff member at every station. Would you feel safe at a quiet unmanned station?

Rail Corp, Cityrail and the NSW Government need to get their act together and make stations safe. Stations are a perfect location for crime, attacks, dare I even say murder.

With a public transport system in a mess, the Iemma Government can ill-afford to have this fiasco hanging over its head. Install new workers now, raise their pay rates if you must but don’t compromise commuters safety at your own expense and cost-cutting measures.

I assume cost cutting and scaling back the employment of Cityrail and Rail Corp will have occurred in the ticket inspector department too. When the Government weighs up what will create more revenue, a staff member at a railway station or a train cop checking tickets and writing fines?

Surely rationalising commuters safety is not in the public interest Mr Iemma – fix it!

2 years or 2 months?

Rugby League again did itself no favors with their stance on drugs, allowing Mitchell Sargent an opportunity to again play League from one season to another after testing positive to using cocaine.

Yes, it is not a performance enhancing drug, it is a ‘recreational drug’ but how can one code rugby tear the contract of and ban Wendell Sailor for two years for playing any sport when the NRL give Sargent another life at Newcastle?

Fair crack of the whip, its time that the Australian Sports Commission and the Federal Government intervened and got all sports together to decide upon a universal drugs punishment. Tennis, Golf, Lawn Bowls, Synchronised swimming… whatever – the penaly should be the same.

Australians are quick to accuse other nations of cheating and being drug users, but when it comes to our own, we are quick to defend them and make excuses, empathise. We cant have it both ways and we cant be hypocritical.

I like Rugby’s stance on Sailor. I think he is a great athlete, a fine player and brought fines, skill and charisma to rugby. If he is however idiotic, stupid and dumb enough to jeopardise everything for one night on the rack then he deserves his playing days to decease.

Sailor can do what ever he wants when he retires, but while he wears that Wallaby, Waratah and in Seargant’s case Cowboys jersey they take with them a responsibility to their game, their club, their family and them self. There are so many kids desperate to get a shot at making the big time in their game, I am sure they wouldn’t waste it away by sniffing a bit of cocaine one night.

All the kids, who’s heroes now become villains, who’s expectations of these celebrities have been dismayed. Sailor, you are a goose, Sargent you are a goose. NRL you to are a goose.

Clean up your game, clean up Australian sport and develop a universal drugs policy that must be adhered to by every Australian sportsman and woman.

NOVA - sounds different?

Does it? I can’t see how NOVA is any different to the AUSTERO ‘TODAY’ network. When NOVA started they were more provocative, smart asses but now they are just another station that is turning closer and closer to teen hits rather than the demographic of youth and ‘sounding different’.

I want to say, I am not a DMG basher. I may seem to have taken a stance against VEGA and now NOVA but in actual fact I am a big NOVA fan and thought their station was tops. Now, it lacks definition with a tired on-air line up and schedule.

Merrick and Rosso have been the brekkie duo since NOVA began and are just about on their last legs… Their jokes are repetitious and their content is obviously whaling. Dave Rabbett, I like. He has a different accent, yes he is a kiwi but he is a little bit brash.

The afternoons with Lizzie, again an underutilised talent at NOVA. She is wasted in the daytime arvo shift and Bianca Dye does nothing for the drive home.

Thank god Fridgy and Matty have finally been replaced by Jabba. He is a talent, he is a name and he was been underutilised in Brisbane. Jabba will increase NOVA NITES but their concept is non to dissimilar to the HOT 30 countdown with Lowie.

SO you have to ask, does NOVA want to sound different? The marketing strategies and the direction at the station has obviously been neglected to deal with the migrane that Vega is.

In doing so and looking out for Vega, NOVA has had a drop in ratings and comparatively now Kyle and Jackie O have raised Sydney ratings on 2DAYFM. Added, Triple M is now defining itself as ‘music and shows’ and brought back the hilarious Tony Martin with newcomer Ed Kavelee.

These guys are good, they are funny and something new. ARN has launched a new brekkie show with Sammy, Subby and Alan with Lars Peterson as anchor. This may also find some new listeners but they would more than likely be stolen from the ARN owned WSFM graphic or Vega.

Now what does NOVA do? Find a brash, funny, drive team. Try something new and different. Put someone provocative or controversial. A Tony Martin, a Chaser Team or Bessie Bardot. NOVA will continue to slide unless the station is better defined, its music content is re-formatted and even consider blooding a late night show showcasing, unsigned and indy talent.

Something like the ‘UMS’ my term for this sort of music (un-main stream) with a Robbie Buck or a Triple J sell-out or something. JUST try something different, who knows – it may work…

Channel Nine – It’s Ratings and the Eddie McGuire factor

Controversy, controversy, controversy… Will Jessica Rowe be ‘boned’? Will Jana Wendt be ‘boned’. Eddie McGuire, his breakfast cereal and the colour of his socks makes the news as almost a daily occurrence in Australia.

I have spoken about McGuire and about television a bit recently but last night Channel Nine demolished and destroyed television ratings. With a ratings share of 38.5per cent, streaks ahead of Seven who failed with only 20.8 per cent, even being beaten by Ten and Australian Idol, finishing with 21.2%.

McGuire would be high-fiving his executives this morning as I can hear the chants from Willoughby ‘still the one’. Audiences are fickle, as ‘Where Are They Now?’ failed to deliver for Seven in this new series after an impressive debut earlier this year.

Television viewers preferred the Channel Nine Jurassic Park style animated dinosaur series ‘Prehistoric Park’ which won the vital 6.30PM timeslot. Seven were further humiliated with ‘You May Be Right’ now proving to be definitely WRONG.

Viewers were turned off with only 728, 862 viewers, commanding a measly 12.4 per cent in comparison to Nine’s ’60 Minutes’ with 1,613,020 which is 39.2 per cent.

New reporter Liam Bartlett was impressive. As a new addition to the Nine family he came across with command and looks to be a breath of fresh air to the flagship current affairs program.

On Seven, executives will today announce they are pulling the plug on ‘You May Be Right’ after two less than impressive shows.

A few big weeks are poised for Nine, with the relaunching of ‘Sunday’, with Ray Martin being understood to be working on stories for the programme. Will Jana Wendt still be the host in seven days?

The Eddie McGuire factor – any publicity is good publicity…

From Over Re-Action to NO Action

Andrew Johns and Gordon Tallis have proven the NRL handles incidents poorly this week which has consequently discredited CEO David Gallop and the administration.

Joey should not swear at a referee or a touch judge. Plain and simple it is not on. The events that followed and the way the incident was handle was very poor.

A refusal to apologise to the official by Joey is his first idiotic mistake. To then, however find him initially guilty and give him a four week suspension is ridiculous.

Joey is the NRL. He is the best player of this generation and the punishment was arrogant and exaggerated. The reduced two week sentence is still a very harsh penalty but this should have been simply resolved between player and the officials.

If Joey had formally said sorry to the officials then this should have been left at that. I am not encouraging players to swear at referees, far from it. Joey is a role model for the game and kids look to him.

He made a mistake, the referee should have simply ‘sin-binned’ him for 10 minutes, not force the bloke to miss two vital weeks of rugby league which will do considerable damage to the game.

In contrast former NRL hard man and Queensland State of Origin captain Gordon Tallis is allowed to throw a glass at a barman in a Brisbane pub and remain as an NRL director, facing no criminal prosecution.

Tallis should be marched out of the game now and do the honorable thing by the position he holds for News Limited and resign. Tallis does not and should not have to comply with the NRL Code of Conduct because he is a board member.

With the position come certain expectations. Is this man, someone we wish to have as a director of a national sporting competition?

Tallis is an idiot. With ‘under-the-table’ deals assuring he is not prosecuted and the charges dropped. Ridiculous!

The NRL wants to change it’s image and the negative publicity they have received over numerous incidents this century, well look at yourselves as administrators because you do nothing to improve the situation, only create an environment for controversy and drama.

Two extremes this week in the NRL, over re-action to the games greatest player and no action to a former player and now deadbeat director.

Two Twisted

Bryan Brown’s much hyped ‘NEW’ Australian drama ‘Two Twisted’ didn’t really go off with a bang last night. With cream of the crop Aussie actors Melissa George, Steve Bisley and Gary McDonald, the estranged and spooky ‘Two Twisted’ had a rather more amateur feel.

The plot and story lines reminded me of watching a Tropfest entry or a drama student’s clever, twisted video. There didn’t appear to be much substance to the stories, which is the characteristic of this style.

Viewers were thrown into a scenario that they had to guess the context, not knowing much about the characters before them. The plot would unravel and keep viewers on the edge, guessing what would happen next.

With the audience not receiving many answers to the thousands of rhetorical questions, Brown has created a drama that leaves more unknown, undeveloped than the audience should, leaving gaps and creating dramatic irony.

Nevertheless the drama is at least a return of Australian drama, its something different and hopefully the ratings will come its way. Last night, nationally Two Twisted had an audience share 1.10 million and ranked as the 12th most popular show of Monday night.

Stay tuned and see the mysteries unravel…

Creators and Producers

What do television creators and executive producers do all day long? A look at some of the current crop of television being produced, will make you think… not much!

Last night Channel 7 launched a ‘Spicks and Specks’ type show ‘You May Right’ – this was atrocious. Spicks and Specks is an ABC formula show with a clever host in Adam Hills. The cheap Channel 7 imitation should not last any longer than ‘Let Loose Live’ – a horrific live sketch show headed by Peter Moon, lasting one week in 2005.

Have Channel 7 not learnt their lesson? When they pulled Tony Squires and his successful sports show ‘The Fat’ from the ABC to 7 it failed as ‘110% Tony Squires’ and so has he now being referred to as ‘Tone’ on the lowly rating Vega 95.3 breakfast team with Ange and Bec.

It seems 7 cannot find anything to displace 60 Minutes which still features weekly in the Top 10 of Australia’s most watched television shows. This dispels the myth that infotainment is on the war path if we would prefer to be watching ‘You May Be Right’.

Infotainment does command a large section of the ratings and popular television shows such as ‘Border Security’ Australia’s Number 1 show. Executive Producer’s would never have picked that when it was created two years ago.

‘Yasmin’s Getting Married’ lasted a week, one of the most disastrous debuts in television history. Clever didn’t look like such a TV show being axed after a few weeks.

In these cases, the television programmes much like ‘You May Be Right’ will not work. They are over advertised and turn viewers off. 7 hope that Mastermind their new Wednesday night 8.30PM program will get success, but this looks as poor as the other shows currently being produced.

There is hope for one, Two Twisted. Tonight Channel 9 at 9.35PM, hopefully this can restore some credibility to our television executives producing shows that connect with the audience and redefine our ailing drama genre.

Bryan Brown’s ‘Two Twisted’ is the best of a bad bunch and looks like it will be a success. Channel 9 need this to work after the failures of the ‘The Footy Show: Live From Munich’, the exclusive ‘Kylie Interview’ and the terrible ‘Dancing on Ice’.

Just makes you wonder if our creative television directors, developers and producers really are that creative and know what the market want

Vega...not on your wavelength!

Vega variety, on your wavelength – the slogan used by Radio DMG’s troubled new brand Vega. Where is the variety?

DMG entered the Australian radio market with the successful launch of Nova in most capital cities on the Australian mainland. Nova used the slogan, ‘sounds different’ with a brash comic duo in Sydney combining Merrick and Rosso with the outspoken ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil on drive.

Nova Melbourne, also launched with Dave Hughes, Kate Langenbrook and Dave O’Neill quickly building an audience through a clever DMG formula.

Vega has been a different kettle of fish. Struggling to initially define itself and mixing up their on air line-up has thus far had little success. Wendy Harmer and the Vega Café didn’t work.

Angela Catterns has struggled to emulate her success on ABC breakfast as widely hoped and has now been joined by Bec and Tone (Rebecca Wilson and Tony Squires).

What was Vega thinking? Sign Angela Catterns and the ABC listeners will follow? ABC listeners are loyal to their station and are not interested in commercials and 40 years of music.

The music formula has also changed. Vega started as a WSFM type station but now wants to combine this with MIX FM, ABC and Triple M. The demographic can only be so small and those Vega want have decided to get their talk from AM and their music from the all ready defined MIX or WSFM.

Vega is caught in to many demographics. The success of Nova will not be emulated by Vega and could prove to be a very expensive loss to DMG. DMG should cut their loss now and re-invent totally overhaul the station.

Define itself, its listeners and its music… which is? There is no direction at Vega which commands only 1.8% of the ratings in this latest result and sister station Nova is starting to feel the Vega curse, down to 6.4%.

Austereo must be licking their lips with 2MMM and 2DAYFM lifting their profiles and continue to hold the keys to the Sydney FM radio market. Strong marketing strategies involving their listeners and defined talk and music formula seem to be the key to the company.

Vega, hitting the wrong demographic… DMG have success with the young brash market, maybe they should stick to this and consider Vega as a Rap, RNB, Dance station, sure to lift ratings and attract a demographic not yet accounted for in the radio ratings.