Who We Are
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They're not monsters, they're just animals
by David Dale.
Channel Nine is rearranging the deckchairs, Ten is wondering what's the matter with kids today, and Seven is smiling smugly. Yes, the "official" ratings season is about to start, and already it's clear this will be a dangerous year for the stations and a thrilling year for the viewers. This column needs to make predictions and mix metaphors ...
In the 50th year of television, Channel Nine is like the Liberal Party in 1983 and the Labor Party in 1996. This makes Channel Seven both Bob Hawke and John Howard, which is a stretch. We'd better revise the imagery.
Instead of a political struggle, picture the age-old competition between Australia's commercial networks as a dragdown ripup wrestling match between a tyrannosaurus rex and a brontosaurus, with a raptor running round the sidelines tearing shreds off both giants. After smashing the others into the ground for 49 years, Rex had grown arrogant. In 2005, the brontosaurus suddenly turned carnivore, the raptor kept tripping over its own feet and Rex showed his age.
In 2006, we reckon Bronto will defeat Rex, because he has stronger teeth. The molars that worked for Bronto last year will be augmented by a bunch of new incisors, while Rex's chompers are full of cavities and the other dinosaurs he's called in to help are themselves close to extinction.
Let's pull out of the jurassic jungle for a moment and clarify that prediction: Channel Seven will be the most watched network this year. Nine had the worst audience share in its history in 2005, and this year will be worse.
Making poor Bert Newton prance around at 5.30 won't help Nine win back the news and current affairs hour that starts prime time viewing each night. More than a million viewers have now swapped a Nine habit for a Seven habit, leaving their remotes untouched between news time and bed time (9.40pm). And it's hard to place much hope in the appointment of Eddie McGuire as ringmaster -- a man whose greatest professional asset is the ability to make two quiz questions last one hour.
Seven will win Tuesdays with Dancing With The Stars and Wednesdays with Prison Break (audience of 1.9 million in the mainland capitals last week, with a further 960,000 on Monday). Those who aren't captured by Prison Break will return to House on Ten. Seven will win Thursdays with Lost (2.1 million viewers last week) and Mondays with Desperate Housewives (2.2m this week).
Nine's once reliable cop shows -- Without A Trace, Cold Case and three CSIs -- are fading fast. It needs fresh dramas and comedies, but Seven and Ten have, through the sheer luck of deals done long ago, ended up with all the shows that topped the US ratings (The Ghost Whisperer, Commander in Chief, Supernatural, My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris), leaving Nine with lame reworkings of old formulas (The Evidence, Close To Home, Invasion, Suspicious Minds). Nine's most interesting drama is Rome, a miniseries about Julius Caesar. But that's risky -- some viewers will consider it more suitable for the ABC (which took over The West Wing because Nine couldn't program it properly).
Last year, when this column raised the question of why the viewers had grown to hate Channel Nine, we received 329 outpourings of rage (click here to read them). And when we quoted Nine's boss, Sam Chisholm, as saying there was "no evidence" viewers were irritated by his programming policies, we got another 87 (click here) .
This year we want to be constructive. Below, lets hear your suggestions on how Fast Eddie might save a noble creature from extinction. If Nine can't buy the best of American comedy and drama, what other content might bring back the viewers? If, between us, we can develop a new strategy for Australia's oldest network, we might deflect the asteroid -- unless you think the T. Rex deserves whatever's coming.
The Tribal Mind column appears every Tuesday in The Sydney Morning Herald. To read earlier columns, go to www.smh.com.au/tribalmind . David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A guidebook for the New Australia (Allen and Unwin).
Most watched shows last week (viewers 16-39)
1. LOST (7)
2. PRISON BREAK (7)
3. TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN'S FINAL (7)
4. SUPERNATURAL (10)
5. THE O.C. (10)
6. FUTURAMA MONDAY (10)
7. LAS VEGAS (7)
8. THE SIMPSONS MONDAY (10)
9. GHOST WHISPERER (7)
10. HOUSE (10)
OZTAM
COMMENTS
I think casting jessica rowe as front woman for today show is the final nail on the coffin for nine...sorry she just does'nt come accross as sincere and down to earth which is what the majority of viewers of these commercial channels are. This is not to say she is'nt ,but to me it does'nt come accross that way on the screen.
- by dans on February 06, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Nine in particular has been arrogant in its programming (West Wing, Sopranos etc). The problem used to be that Nine bought all the good stuff. Seven and Ten seem to have woken up and now all that Nine is left with is the arrogance and no material. I'm happy to see them learn a lesson the hard way.
- by Rob on February 06, 2006 at 01:43 PM
Downloading is the go - lets forget about the FTA nazis! Can someone recomend the best sites?
- by Jessie Purrier on February 06, 2006 at 01:46 PM
I thought channel seven had the worst shows ever 12 months ago and now I seem to be always locked on channel 7. I still prefer channel 9 personalities, but the shows on 7 is far more entertaining. But in all seriousness, I wouldn't mind watching the 3,000 year old mummy documentary tonight instead of those desperate housewives - I am probably the only human being in Australian who isn't addicted to that show.
Channel nine - you need people like me!
- by Jane on February 06, 2006 at 01:49 PM
Bring Back Micallef Tonight!
lol
- by Steph on February 06, 2006 at 01:52 PM
Good on channel 7's Sunrise team. They are such down to earth personalities who enjoy what they do sincerely and its reflected in the manner they conduct their news, sport and entertainment every morn. Very enjoyable waking up and seeing smiling, happy faces.
- by Sham on February 06, 2006 at 01:53 PM
Channel 9 have done it to themselves with their horrible programming choices and timeslot abuse.
It's time for 7 and 10 to pounce and crush 9 once and for all. To see their smug celebrities get their comeupance (Eddie, Durie, Ray, et al) will be worth it. I mean, check out their 2 new recruits - Bert who gave up a cheesy but well liked and respected TV show on 10 to star in a resurrected TV game show thats been off air for a while as it was, well, crap in the first place. Then there's Jessica Rowe, possibly the most annoying tv 'personality' I have ever seen. If I hear her proclaim her love for one more thing I will scream. Just recall this dialogue exchange with Richard Wilkins:
(Not word for word, it would be too painful to relive it as it happened...)
Wilko - Something about the new Wallabies coach possibly giving Gregan a reprieve on his playing future
Rowe - Oh, I love the Wallabies, and I love George Gregan
Wilko - says something about Gregans coffee shop
Rowe - I love George Gregan, and I love his coffee
Wilko - and coming up is an interview with Troy Casser-Daley
Rowe - Ooh, I love Troy
My god - TV for morons! The poor thing is not cut out for this sort of stuff...
Oh well channel 9 - you have really sh@t in your own nest this time around - enjoy rolling around in it...
- by keygs on February 06, 2006 at 02:06 PM
I agree with Dan's - Jessica Rowe is definitely the nail in the coffin for Channel 9. She is laughing all the time and even when something is not funny - Channel 10 are lucky to have seen the back of her. While Jessica Rowe is sitting there I will definitely not be watching Today anymore. The weather girl Sharyn would be much better
in the main chair. She acts like a normal person.
- by Miriam on February 06, 2006 at 02:11 PM
All i have to say is foxtel. It has nearly everything and once installed, you will forget you ever watched the rubbish on network TV.
- by TC on February 06, 2006 at 02:12 PM
Channel 9 are out of touch with TV audiences. They seem to base their shows "celebrity" and not on content. Just because somebody is popular once, doesn't mean viewers will always want to watch them over, and over, and over again (Bert Newton, Jessica Rowe, and yes even the Corby family).
- by Dave on February 06, 2006 at 02:18 PM
Eddie is the perfect dinasour to lead them into the ice age of extinction
- by eddie the dinasour on February 06, 2006 at 03:00 PM
The Channel nine promo with them all singing jazz style is the perfect example of how smug and sickening they are. Jessica Rowe only has one style of presentation: news reader style.
whatever
- by antimatter on February 06, 2006 at 03:17 PM
ive been a channel nine person for years....but have to admit channel 7 have just about won me over...the way nine treat us viewers smacks of arrogance....CSI finale cut in half...no season 5 of six feet under not to mention west wing (i gave that up after 2 seasons)etc, etc.....7 & 10 have all the best shows now..Oh and also istalled foxtel thank god! even though you cant get a good reception on 7 & 10 cause low and behold they are not on the channel selection...Who owns half of foxtel??
- by shanna on February 06, 2006 at 03:19 PM
The Sunrise Team on 7 start the day as if you are one of their family. We hardly move from 7, but the movies on Showtime & the Movie Network (Pay TV) are hopeless, thinking seriously of dropping the movie package and just doing Box Office and paying for somthing decent!
- by Ian on February 06, 2006 at 03:31 PM
Channel Nine should bring back the Sopranos and stop mucking viewers around, like with cutting the Quentin Tarantino CSI episode in half etc etc. The only half decent stuff they have on is Antiques Roadshow.
Stop with the crappy reality but get real and give us good consistently predictably timed drama.
- by Lye Lin Ho on February 06, 2006 at 03:32 PM
Let the Rex Die!!!
Channel 9 has been irritating me for years...
- by Will From Sydney on February 06, 2006 at 03:38 PM
Who cares? As an entrenched ABC/SBS viewer whether they sink into the sunset or not will not worry me one iota...although having said that I must admit I will miss such priceless gems as the cricket commentary ("he puffed out his chest, walked down the wicket and bonked him into oblivion") or the tennis ("making her first debut" or "she has a brilliant tennis mind - she knows where the head of her racquet is")...although a part of me thinks if this is their standard they'd be better off sliding into oblivion.
- by Mark Lott on February 06, 2006 at 04:16 PM
The family business is finally crumbling. Nine want to buy ratings by paying high prices for sport. Hello - what do the people want. Perhaps 7 and 10 have finally woken up and listened to the people, they are after all the ones who vote in the ratings. Nine - you deserve to lose. Listen to the people not your wallet.
- by Paul on February 06, 2006 at 04:21 PM
Does Channel 9 seriously think they're going to attract a wide audience with 'Antiques Roadshow' and Bert Newtown? Talk around the water cooler is that nine is turning into the old codger's network. Have a look at their latest prommo too. Jazz band and a collection of old rejects from the other networks.
What happened to the hip and funky promos they did a few years ago to the latest track by Fatboy Slim? Channel Ten has the right idea with their fresh and cool promo. Aimed at the under 40s but at the same time grabbing the attention of those over 40, who still want to be cool.
- by J Bar on February 06, 2006 at 04:30 PM
Channel 9 confound me. James Packer appears to be a resonably smart man but he's looking like a doofus whilst he panders and defers to chisolm and alexander. It makes me laugh everytime I see a billboard with still the one on it.
9's idea's are stale and dumb as dog excrement. So much so, I have recently reprogrammed only 4 stations into my TV. ABC, Seven, Ten and SBS.
- by Greg on February 06, 2006 at 04:38 PM
Lets face it all the stations have a lot to answer too. Channel 7 is going great now but could easily go the way of nine if it starts changing times and taking shows off half way through a season. Channel 9 really needs to take a good look at its self and the contract is has with its overseas conterparts and perhaps read the feedback that has been submitted to tribal mind over the years. Nine says shows like West Wing, Soprano's didn't rate as well but every time a question is raised about tv viewing the publice list these show as the top for not being shown in in their complaints, no wonder the CSI's are struggling how can you keep track with time changes and repeats in the middle of a season. The rating system isn't working and needs to be overhauled now.
The answer is keep shows in the same time slot and day and build a habit from your viewers.
Watched the first ep of seson 2 of Love My Way keep it up foxtel with great Ausssie drama and you could become the next HBO.
As with Eddie becoming CEO at least we wont have to see him on every second show on nine.
- by Shelly on February 06, 2006 at 04:54 PM
'Channel Nine should bring back the Sopranos'
Would not really blame Nine for the cast and crew of The Sopranos taking a year and a half break. Not really Bert/Eddie's fault.
The shows that each network gets in based on existing deals with the US Production houses. Seven just has a current good crop, I mean 9 had Friends for ten years then gets lumped with Joey (hey I prefer Joey). It?s just dumb luck.
However I concur with the idea of the Network purchasing ?names or faces (Bert and Jess) and recycling old ideas (how?s Temptation going?) with the blind hope that it?ll ?be OK?. Might plug the holes in the dyke but da floods a coming. Good luck Eddie!
Post Script: Kudos to Futurama doing so well, great show!
- by Miso Kool on February 06, 2006 at 04:55 PM
Channel 9 news is still the one in my eyes - Several friends and colleagues of mine strongly find Channel 7 news to be biased, VERY BIASED. I also have this point of view. Besides the news though, 9 doesn't seem to have much going for it at present... Come on Channel 9, you used to be so good, don't make us leave you forever - at least not for channel 7 anyway..
- by Sandie on February 06, 2006 at 05:12 PM
I can't believe that there is a more annoying person on TV than Kochie, but 9 has done it (and paid $500K) with Jessica Rowe. I remember when 7 was the oldies station with Blue Heelers, et al, but how times change. Channel 9 has nothing for me.
- by peta on February 06, 2006 at 05:27 PM
Channel 9 deserve this, they deserve to do badly, this could be the eye opener that has been coming for a long time, other channels, 7 and 10, have had great shows for yrs, im glad they have been patient enough and are now pulling audiances, they have listened to viewers. As far as im concerned, Channel 9 should close up shop and make way for a new channel, one decent enough to listen to viewers - go get em 7 and 10.
Channel 9 seem to think that a new logo (which looks like crap) and some old talent from other networks who did an equally crap job with the channel promo launch is going to get them audiences....? pfft, channel 9 are a joke!
As for Eddie, that would really make a good joke hilarious! he has to be one of the most annoying poeple on TV, with the exception of Richard Wilkins.
- by Craig on February 06, 2006 at 05:56 PM
I have the all out cure for Channel Nine! A week long Days of our Lives Marathon DURING the cricket season! WOOHOO!!!!
- by Mari on February 06, 2006 at 06:05 PM
Cant work out why Nine have not been pro active in the purchase of the top raters from the US. Have they not learnt from missing out on Wives and Lost. The five you mention are going gangbusters over there. Someone call Kerry and cue the sun.
- by Jamie Chadwick on February 06, 2006 at 06:22 PM
I still don't understand the 6pm news wars anyway - especially in regards to allegations of bias. why? Because the SBS World news and ABC news are a thousand times better, and give us all a break from the horrors of Summer Bay and Ramsey Street.
As for Jessica Rowe on the Today Show, when will Nine wake up and realise that the format is slow, the content boring, and the hosts wooden? Sunrise is only better, because you remember that they are on a real set, not spookily (and earily silently) inhabiting your television set like Today.
I can't wait to install Cable.
- by Marty on February 06, 2006 at 06:42 PM
Where to begin? Let's just state my point of view at first; It's not a "water cooler" opinion that Channel Nine is the "old codger" station. It's fact. Evidence? -The same old crappy, tired shows that have been running so long you can see the dust on the opening credits reel. -THE NEW PROMO! What is going? Are there a bunch of 50 or 60 year olds sitting around a table going "By gosh, William, let's have a jazz themed promo! The kids will love that!" =S I just don't get it. Actually - they just don't get it. I can't remember who was talking about ten's "all age-appealing" promos but this is where Nine constantly go wrong. They shoot themselves in the foot each time they recruit/push an old face...Now, ok ok, they have that "Young" guy who does the news and Jessica Rowe, but because they are surrounded by the Olds, the station feels like an everlasting episode of "the Babysitter's club". Channel 7, on the other hand have the older Ian Ross, amongst an almost entirely young crew, making viewers appreciate these more experienced anchors and hosts as wiser - like a kind old uncle or grandfather/mother you can always put your trust in. Channel Nine needs a complete overhaul. Maybe the entire station should be called 'Nine's Wide World of Sports and News' - given that news and sports are the only things the station is half good for. On the contrary, to be quite honest, if it ceased to exist, I wouldn't mind at all. In fact I'd probably have some kind of celebration - inviting people over to watch "Prison Break" and "Dancing With The Stars" sounds like a good idea.
- by Richard on February 06, 2006 at 06:52 PM
Channel 9 should give up their still the one claim.They've lost the top spot and they deserve it. Seven are ahead for several reasons. For giving us some decent shows, and for keeping them in fixed, viewer friendly spots and promoting them well, as well as not giving up on them and pulling them when they don't perform, enraging viewers.
Speaking of enraging viewers, not only have 9 and 10 pulled shows mid season, they've had the nerve to label them season finals, when we know these shows have in some cases as many as 20 episodes left before the season final. Great tactic, adding insult to injury.
- by Anna on February 06, 2006 at 07:37 PM
Good to see Channel 9 on a losing streak. Excepting the cricket, I refuse to watch any 9 program. I've never forgiven them for canning Hey Hey it's Saturday and Burkes Backyard. The over 40 people watch TV too and there is a huge market waiting out there for someone to tap. Bye-bye 9.
- by Steve on February 06, 2006 at 07:48 PM
Well I thought David Koch was the most annoying person on televison, but now he has been upstaged. JESSICA ROWE. Does she ever close her mouth; does she ever stop gushing with meaningless 'I love this, I love that'; and that laugh..please stop it now. Why on earth was Sharyn Ghidella not given this role?? The mind boggles. Jessica Rowe is positively excrutiating. Goodbye channel 9 and good riddance!
- by Steve Mantle on February 06, 2006 at 07:57 PM
Channel 9 please give Eddie the CEO job so that we don't have to suffer him on screen anymore
- by Maca on February 06, 2006 at 08:45 PM
i kind of agree with all the people slagging Nine.
i suspect they must be right about jessica row, and i Know they're right about bert newton being a desperate measure.
but i stopped watching the crap on Nine years ago because i was sick to death of having times altered, programs dumped. lies told (season finale BULLshit) etc.
i'll never know if Nine is "worse" or "worst" because i gave it the flick years ago.
abc classic fm? 2MBS FM? now you are talking. i can read And not have to listen to idiots promote themselves and their colleagues.
- by tony on February 06, 2006 at 08:54 PM
To Judith: I agree. I am not happy that Veronica Mars is being stopped.
Nor was I happy that the much publicised return of One Tree Hill on Ten was stopped after one measley episode.
I've almost given up on Nine.
Ten is only holding me with Supernatural. If that gets taken off half way through the season, I will NOT be happy.
Prison Break and Seven have my vote.
- by lindy on February 06, 2006 at 09:47 PM
Congratulations to Steve Mantle - I agree with you about Kochie and
how Jessica Rowe has really upstaged him and that is making a big statement. I am definitely finished with Channel 9 - and the bit about Jessica Rowe being positively excrucitating is spot on. I will either watch SBS Foreign language news items or listen to the radio.Auf wiedersehen
channel 9.
- by Mim on February 06, 2006 at 10:00 PM
Jessica Rowe is and always has been awful. The only time she has lost that annoying laugh was when Ten made the correct decision to relegate her to the late News briefly.
Her presence has made Today unwatchable. I wonder how long Nine will persist with her. My bet is too long.
- by Adam on February 06, 2006 at 11:06 PM
Just a response to the person who said Nine should be proactive in getting top raters from the US - it doesn't work like that.
Nine, Seven and Ten are all locked into contracts with various production companies in the US and it is the luck of the draw which shows they get and how well they rate.
Nine's output deal with Warner Bros worked well for years - ER, Friends etc, but now Seven has the good fortune to have the output deal with the production companies who provide Housewives and Lost.
Doesn't mean that Nine isn't handling other things badly , but they have no real control over what product they get from the US -it's all down to the output deals.
- by Rob on February 07, 2006 at 02:01 AM
Nine should bring back Burke's Backyard with Don Burke for Friday nights at 7:30pm, and rather than Bert Newton at 5:30pm, re-hire Nicky Buckley to host a quiz program or whatever for that timeslot. (Resurrect that Larry Emdur 'Price is Right' half hour with Nicky hosting. It'd work.) Nine's 'Getaway' on Thursdays at 7:30pm is still the best holiday program of its type on TV. It's just tremendous! Nine just needs to make a few 'smart choices' to regain lost territory to Seven to regain the 'number one' possie on the remote.
- by Sam on February 07, 2006 at 03:38 AM
I'm an Aussie currently in the US on business. The people I'm staying with have a Windows Media Centre computer hooked up to their digital box. It's changed the way I'll watch TV when I get home, as I'm going to march down to the stores and pick one up.
Much like a TiVo but with more features (and no spyware to report back to advertisers what you're watching), this system allows you to schedule what you want to watch (so you can record House AND Lost if you see fit) and then watch them at your leisure, with digital fast forwarding to skip the ads.
Similar hard drive video recorders (or Personal Video Recorders, PVRs as they're commonly known) are available as set top boxes in Australia - while a bit pricier (around $800 for a decent one, with inbuilt dual digital tuner cards so you can record two things and watch another from the memory), they give the viewers control over the TV experience for the first time.
I don't know whether we'll be having these debates in a few years...
- by Geoff McQueen on February 07, 2006 at 04:56 AM
What is it about Nine's Today show? Just when I thought Karl Stefanovic had the most annoying, smug laugh on TV - alongs come Jessica Rowe! I actually feel sorry for Karl now having to have a taste of his own medicine at close quarters, and don't start me on David Koch over at Seven. When is Australian morning TV going to find a format that is uniquely Australian - not an amateurish version of US shows? What amazes me most is the money these stations are willing to pay for these 'talking heads'. The only saving grace is Steve Jacobs who can elicit a genuine laugh. Take care Sharyn Ghidella - get out while you are still normal!
- by Michael on February 07, 2006 at 06:40 AM
Channel Nine has been treating viewers as second class citizens for years. Bringing back Sam Chisholm to wave a magic wand was laughable. All he did was try tired old formula's from twenty years ago. I am guessing if you stood up to his tactis at Nine you risked being sacked. They deserve all they lose. Tip for nine - respect viewers, show some sporting events live and you will get viewers !
- by Randall on February 07, 2006 at 07:04 AM
I haven't watched a lot of Nine's programs for the past couple of years, so I can't comment on why it is that they have been exposed as second-rate. I can say that my viewing habits represent a growing trend - the switch to Pay TV.
I decided not to watch free-to-air any more when Big Brother, Eddie McGuire, teen poppettes and an endless parade of "celebrity" this-and-that (Footy Show, travel, home improvement, etc) seemed set to take over. It is a decision that I have not regretted for a second.
The analysis of Nine's fall from grace inevitably must include the numbers lost by all free-to-air. I have not moved to Seven and I will not be coming back to Nine. Where is that in the stats?
- by ramjet on February 07, 2006 at 07:16 AM
As an expat living in London for the last two years it is with some surprise, that people are only now waking up to the fact that Channel 9, in fact commercial TV, is unadulterated tripe. ABC and SBS are the only genuine TV stations in Australia worth watching. The fact that Eddie Macguire has even made it to tv, reflects poorly upon Australians as a whole. in fact it is "un"Australian for Eddie Macguire to be given any air time on the box, and if he becomes the CEO, well people, it will be cultural armageddon. SOme solutions though, read a book, learn a language, learn an instrument, talk to your spouses and family or better still or write your own tv show and stop buying American rubbish. Oi! Get your hand out of the chicken bucket lard Ar*ses!!!
- by Dougie on February 07, 2006 at 07:28 AM
Channel 9 will take some very big hits I predict.
Very simple they lost Darrel Sommers; Rove Macmanus; Burkes Backyard and brought in a poor morninng news programme. It is obvious to all the Tracy; Jessica no match and to Sydney centric.
- by Craig on February 07, 2006 at 07:29 AM
Sunrise on Nine.
Nine has been doing its best to copy to Sunrise format, forgetting that people choose to watch Today because they don't like Sunrise. The 'new' format of the Today program is just plain awful and unwatchable.
- by Peter on February 07, 2006 at 07:41 AM
TV. What's a TV? In the last year I have watched 50 hours worth. I hear of an over-hyped new show, watch a bit of it and lose interest. The ones I do want to watch disappear, get relegated to 11:00pm, show up for two weeks and then get canned cause of some stupid brainless special. I'm with Judith (first post) get everything you want to watch from the States on DVD and watch at your leisure without ads. So what if you can't join in some conversations.
- by tony on February 07, 2006 at 07:50 AM
Introducing Channel Nine's new show:- What to Think! Hosted by Eddie Macguire. An exciting, original concept this is the show where WE give YOU all the opinions and conversation starters to get you through the week. Natrually, Eddie will only raise two opinions during the hour long show, with plenty of through space and long, pensive, questioning looks to ensure you really understand what he's saying! The show will dull your mind and ignore any serious issues. From helping you understand what the AWB stands for, why it's a great thing not to sign the Kyoto protocol and why John Howard is showing no signs of dementia, this is the show for you!
Sorry - oh, right yes, Channel Nine already do this at 6pm each night. Bummer.
- by Katie on February 07, 2006 at 08:02 AM
Channel Nine 06 is an ultimate sad reflection of the programming style of Sam Chisholm: rooted in the past. As a result, Channel Nine and Chisholm seem to be now rooted in the present.
- by LJ on February 07, 2006 at 08:03 AM
The new NINE look is very 1960s, NINE once had style, but it is now become the nursing home of Australian commercial television has beens.
Someone needs to find the light switch and turn it off!
Seven is the network to watch...thank you for the Seven revolution!
- by Michael Thomas on February 07, 2006 at 08:07 AM
The most frustrating thing about channel 9 is that there seems to be no shame in not showing quality programs (such as the West Wing- or for many years - till they finally got it - Frasier!). I echo everyone's comments about pulling shows mid season - claiming they are finales - yet they still manage to resurrect the most dreadful movies to show in place of half decent programs - how many times does Police Academy have to be shown - particularly when you have at least one and half seasons of Gilmore Girls, about 2 seasons of Judging Amy, and countless other programs that would hold anyone's attention longer than Police Academy -If Eddie is the new CEO, we will hopefully see less of him, but it would be nice if he actually sought the opinions of potential viewers (or read David Dale) to see what it is that annoys us the most! And thank god the ABC has the West Wing - at least we will see it!
- by Cathy on February 07, 2006 at 08:08 AM
I used to be a loyal Today Show viewer and then along came Jessica Rowe and her excruciating non stop laughing and inane comments. It's hard to believe 9 has got it so wrong and still it appears they haven't told Jessica to put a sock in it!!!
- by Tony on February 07, 2006 at 08:24 AM
Channel Nine News is still pretty good. Seven's drama is better etc but I CAN'T STAND TODAY TONIGHT it should be classed as a comedy. When they did a segment on "Why people distrust the media" I expected Naomi Robson to point at herself. ABC is still the one in my eyes - despite being poor in drama (I go to Seven and Ten for that) I like the news and docos and interviews. Even if you can't really get any unbiased news on any TV any more, this is done with a bit of class.
And how about SBS for a few quirky little shows ... at least they don't have to go 'round with skywriting a logo to come up with some really cool gems
- by H.T. on February 07, 2006 at 08:33 AM
Nine, Seven, Ten - who cares? I am already watching the new seasons of Lost, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, BSG, Stargate Atlantis, Amazing Race, My Name is Earl, Commander in Chief, Four Kings, 24, ER, West Wing etc, etc. People - the internet is a wonder thing. Who needs the "middle-man" changing the scheduling of shows at a whim when they have been available for months in HDTV without ads ready to be downloaded and watched at a time of our choosing? A broadband connection and 60 GB of hard disk and you are in business. And before the Nine/Ten/Seven people jump up and down - it is your choice to delay broadcasting these shows for in some cases over 6 months after they have aired in the US. The Networks are only of any use for News / Current Affairs and live sport.
- by Cut-out-the-middle-man on February 07, 2006 at 08:43 AM
My Predictions:
Jessica Rowe will not be hosting 'Today' by the end of the year. She will end up on '60 Minutes' or 'Sunday'. They will give the 'Today' gig to Sharon Ghidella (logical choice). Watch the ratings rise then.
Bert and his "new" show will be sidelined after 2-3 months and he'll be put on ice, only to appear at The Logies and other specials.
Larry and 'Price' will be back.
Bring back a variety show like 'Hey Hey'. Who will host though? Even though the shows format was old and Daryl most times lame, that was part of it's appeal. It still made for entertaining TV. That was a time when 9 had a sense of humour and could laugh at itself.
Quite frankly no one has a sense of humour on 9 at the moment. I'm sure they could get away with computer generated hosts and no one will notice.
Also 'Burkes Backyard', it was made professionally by Don Burke and had a real sincere feel about it. It wasn't a hip garden show trying to force products down your throat. No one wore tight shirts or skimpy shorts.
I have discovered 'Love My Way' on Foxtel. I have to say, this is the best drama series I have seen. I'm very happy for all those involved in it's production. It goes to show what risk and belief in what you are doing can pay off. If 9 had this show they'd destroy it. I'm glad Foxtel won't sell this gem to anyone.
The only show I watch on 9 is 'Letterman', if I am awake at that time. Sometimes we watch 'ACA' for a laugh during dinner. It's truly entertaining as we all laugh through it and gasp at all the dangers of life that surround us. Everyone's a comedian in our house when 'ACA' is on.
Oh, and bring back Micallef!!!!!!!
- by Myfanway on February 07, 2006 at 08:52 AM
Channel 9 did not just not programme The West Wing incorrectly.
The West Wing was run for sometime at 9.30pm Tuesdays, a good slot. The West Wing simply just did not rate high enough for the number one station.
Channel 7 and Channel 10 did not buy up the best programmes beating Channel 9. US programmes are allocated by deals between the Australian Networks and US production companies, most of them sorted out in the late eighties/early ninties.
Channel 7 did badly when ABC and Fox had poor shows and now that those networks have made Lost, Desperate Housewives and Prison Break Channel 7 are doing well.
- by dewatf on February 07, 2006 at 08:59 AM
As I was watching Jessica Rowe talk crap about Pirates of the Carribean 2 this morning I couldn't help noticing how ironic it was that she looks just like one of those skeletons from the first movie.
- by Wags on February 07, 2006 at 09:00 AM
Something is wrong - about 50 or so posts and no self-righteous fool proclaiming that they don't watch tv, that they read Homer's Iliad to their chidlren each night and run 50kms before putting their tofu dinner on.
Me personally, I don't watch TV, I read the Iliad to my chi....
Anyway, I get sick of 9 changing the format of the Today show in response to the Sunrise show. I preferred it years ago when 6-7 am was 2 half hour news spots with Mark Fergusson reading the news, showing the sport and weather and Michael Pascoe reading the doom and gloom of the finance report (as it was back then). I don't need the likes of Stefanovic or Rowe or Koch or anyone giving me their opinions by editorialising everything.
One thing I will begrudgingly give Koch is that he interviews in a much more 'aggressive' style than anyone from Channel 9, particularly if it is a politician. I think a MacDonalds drive-thru operator asks more hard-hitting questions than Stefanovic.
- by PA on February 07, 2006 at 09:02 AM
Mr Collingwood as CEO of Channel 9?? I wonder if the market watchers will start short selling PBL shares some suggest there could be some money to be made!!
While were are at it, why dont we make me POPE and my wife president of the world and and lets bring back some dotcom darling and make him Prime Minister !!.
I would have thought that people learn from their past errors....but not the case at Nine it seems....
Appointing Mr Collingwood as CEO would be like making me a brain surgeon when in fact I am only qualified to be an accountant.
Lets now see if the patient bleeds and dies!
:)
- by Nepotism is Cool on February 07, 2006 at 09:19 AM
The analogy of the two fighting dinosaurs couldn?t be more apt - network television as we have known it in this country is finished. We wont need to rely on self-interested broadcasters to watch our favourite dramas, comedies and sporting events. Television will be online thanks to devices similar to Playstations and Xboxes that will connect our TVs directly to full-frame, Dolby Digital surround sound, High Definition video from anywhere in the world.
Already the BBC in the UK has announced plans for making its programs available online (where do I sign?), and the current trend in the US is to ?launch? new TV shows online for a few episodes before the official broadcast date to generate ?buzz?.
But if you can?t wait, it?s not that hard to do it already ? with just a bit of effort you can plug just about any modern computer into your TV and sound system and with the correct software download content (some legal, most not) from overseas. Personally I?ve already seen the complete first series of ?Prison Break? (don?t get too wrapt in it ? it gets silly fast), ?Rome?, ?My Name is Earl?, ?The Triangle? (crap) to name a few. I?m also completely up to date with the sadly ending ?The West Wing?, and I?ve seen great shows that will never see the light of day here ? Penn and Tellers ?Bullsh!t? (Just like Michael Moore only credible) and ?Weeds?. All were watched on my beautiful Widescreen TV with surround sound.
Predictions? Australian broadcasters will lose access to all major foreign programming, including sport, over the next five years. Producers of content and sporting bodies will make more money selling their product directly to the global consumer. The Packers will talk Telstra into buying Nine for an outrageous amount of money (another dinosaur, but that?s another story), Seven will morph itself into an online network quite successfully and Channel Ten will be left standing around with its hands in its pockets wondering what the hell happened. The ABC will wave moderate success with ?The West Wing? by putting it into a regular time-slot and KEEPING it there. Both the ABC and SBS will still offer interesting and intelligent programming and will make quite a bit of money distributing niche Australian documentaries and dramas to the rest of the world. And finally? Fairfax will sink a lot of money into its online broadcasting division, and while it will struggle initially, it will eventually succeed beyond all expectations, replacing Channel Ten as the third ?network??
It?s all coming ? and I can?t wait.
- by AJ on February 07, 2006 at 09:21 AM
Bring on Survivor!!! I know a huge group who love it.
- by Janelle on February 07, 2006 at 09:28 AM
Just a couple of ideas for Channel 9.
1. Dump Eddie Everywhere (enough said)
2. Start and finish programs at the scheduled time. Stop running over by 15-30 mins (refer Eddie E and Millionare)
3. Stop playing around with the order of TV series, ie playing 1st half of series then putting on reruns for 6 months, or playing whole season except last episode then playing reruns for 6 months before doing us a favour and showing it.
4. Start treating the viewers as customers and show them something worth watching.
5. Rethink who you have commentating sports events. Some of the commentators don't have any idea what they are reporting, also get rid of the negative commentators (especially Ian Chappell - nothing is ever as good as in his time).
6. News - Bring back Brian - get rid of Mike Munro (after years of reporting current affairs, he's even trying to sensationalise the news aaarrgh)
7. .............
Oh - whats the point Nine will never learn.
Thank heavens for Foxtel.
They give you what you want and satisfy all the suggestions listed above.
- by Cable TV lover on February 07, 2006 at 09:36 AM
As a so called senior citizen who works in the industry I'm livid at the way the FTA audience is treated. I tried to get around it by getting an IQ box but find I'm forever missing the end of programs as they over run their times.
I downloaded Bit Torrent but found the program a bit complicated for me. Could anyone give me concise instrucions on a step by step basis on how to download my favourites.
I will be forever in your debt.
- by Mick on February 07, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Today made a grave mistake by replacing Grimshaw with Rowe, Ghidella would have been a more appropriate choice. Instead of trying to keep up with those crazy antics of Kochie and Mel (who provide a shallow news offering) they should have carved a niche by providing a more serious, considered, adult news format. You may not get all the kids watching but im sure alot of those 30+ who actually require a decent news fix in the morning to operate effectively at work that day would watch. Viewership may be less than sunrise but advertising value could remain relatively higher, isnt that right SMH?
- by chris on February 07, 2006 at 09:38 AM
With a programming platform of 15 different cop & mystery shows, two rather awful footy shows, and some rather dull game shows, is it any wonder we are turning off in droves.
Eddie's claim to fame is that he is the chairman of a melbourne based AFL club that no-one likes. Why channel 9 thinks he has any appeal to the 10 million or so people living in Qld and NSW remains one of the great programming mysteries - particularly when his main football related mantra is to put the northern clubs out of business. Collingwood have been a complete success under his reign, so I can't wait for him to run the 9 network. My tip is he will campaign for funding cuts to the ABC, SBS, radio, cable TV and the internet, because they are obviously the reason channel 9 isn't winning everything.
- by michael on February 07, 2006 at 09:44 AM
Channel 9 deserves to go down the hill. They treat viewers with contempt.
Look at what they did with Days Of Our Lives and The Young and The Restless, they fast forwarded both shows by 4 and a half years and they showed us about 15mins of the missing years.
Not to mention the fact that they play cricket all day long, who would be at home at 1pm in the afternoon willing to watch cricket.
Surely they can play 6hours of a game instead of 8.
Ten also deserves to be at the bottom, Take One Tree Hill, bought it back for one week then it dissappeared, and they have treated their daytime viewers with contempt for years, take General Hospital viewers as an example.
Now we have 9 am with the BORING david and Kim, and home life style which is nothing but infomercials.
GO 7, bring down Nine and keep Ten at the bottom.
- by Sarah on February 07, 2006 at 09:45 AM
Channel 9 should bite the bullet and bring back Hey Hey it's Saturday; Saturday night tele is pathetic these days. I agree with someone else's comment that no programmers seem to cater for those over 40. Hey Hey's problem was that it tried to cater for a younger audience (remember all the hopeless overseas acts featured by Molly Meldrum? - Video Hits kind of rubbish)and ended up failing. It should have grown up with its fan base. Burkes Backyard should also be brought back. As for Bert, I'll give him a go; he is always good value and if the under 35s don't like it...well don't watch - easy.
In regard to the Today Show vs Sunrise. I can't stand Sunrise and the opinionated David Koch and I've tried to stick with Today.... but Jessica Rowe? She is painful.. Actually she has always reminded me of one of those aliens from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (sorry Jess, I'm sure you are a lovely 'person'!). Bring back the Super Flying Fun Show with Miss Marilyn!!
- by Steve Mantle on February 07, 2006 at 09:47 AM
And that new 9 non-logo. A complete joke!!
- by Tony on February 07, 2006 at 09:59 AM
"Today made a grave mistake by replacing Grimshaw with Rowe, Ghidella would have been a more appropriate choice."
God how true: who wants to wake up to a blonde with a fake smile!
- by john Smith on February 07, 2006 at 10:05 AM
Bit.
Torrent.
- by Brendan on February 07, 2006 at 10:06 AM
Channel nine should start showing Prison Break and Desperate Housewives and just make sure they keep ahead of channel 7. This is easily done if they download the programs graciously uploaded on to the Net by geeks in the US. Hell, I don't watch a show that isn't downloaded. You can watch at your own pace and no ads! Oh, and bring back Stingers will you.
- by Dr DK on February 07, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Might want to revise that dinosaur analogy a bit, given that brontosaurus never actually existed. The only brontosaurus skeleton ever found was actually that of an apatosaurus, with bits and pieces added from other fossils to make a different (but non-existent) creature.
See the following link for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontosaurus
David Dale responds: You're right, of course, Jon (or should I say, Ross Geller?) and apparently T. Rexes didn't have molars. But I was picturing the whole situation as a Warner Brothers cartoon set in prehistoric times. Reality has nothing to do with television programming.
- by Jon Stewart on February 07, 2006 at 10:09 AM
Could someone tell me if CH 7 and 10 are still on the air? I got fox digital about 16 months ago, and everytime we go to watch a show on 7 or 10, the TV says something about not entered into an agreement or something, so we end up watching one of the other 3 stations, have discovered some great shows on SBS (Top Gear) and CH 2 (Spicks & Specks) though.
- by john Smith on February 07, 2006 at 10:10 AM
Channel Nine's High Definition logo has ballooned!
My guess is the content Nine are currently showing needs a distraction from the poor quality programs being aired.
Or perhaps it stands for 9 Half Dead (9HD)
With their pro mo having all the presenters trying a bit of cabaret, perhaps they should have sung " So long farewell"
- by Lasty on February 07, 2006 at 10:11 AM
They say that Sam Chisholm @ Channel 9 has forgotten more about Television than most people know - it's a shame he can't remember it perhaps then Channel 9 would be as it once was.
- by CM on February 07, 2006 at 10:17 AM
1. Show the rugby league live on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.
2.I agree re: an earlier comment on Today copying Sunrise. When I get up in the morning, I don't want to hear inane chatter about domestic mundanity - I just want the news. hence my watching of Today over Sunrise.
3. Dump 'Clever' before it even begins. From what I've heard of this dreadful show, it's like a dumbed down version of Brainiac and Mythbusters - even copying some of the stunts both of these shows have explored. Pathetic.
4. Bring back Six Feet Under and put in the 9.30 slot. Surely it can't do any worse than what they're currently flogging.
- by Gwenda on February 07, 2006 at 10:27 AM
Channel 9 was KING when I was a child. Always had the best shows - we watched most of the time. In recent years I hardly, if ever, watch anymore. Apart from the comments already expressed on this page, I would like add the following:
1. Stop appealing to the lowest common denominator. You have a responsibility to raise the standards and stop treating all viewers as non-thinking twits.
1.Get rid of all those ghastly "lifestyle/big brother/biggest loser" type programmes that all stations seem to think we want. WE DONT!!!!
2.If you are really serious about getting back market share - put your money where your mouth is and spend on some local drama. You used to be good at it. (Remember Crawrfords).
3. Give some work to our wonderful talent - actors, singers, writers, directors, producers, technicians. Why should they have to go OS to earn a living?
INVEST - WHAT GOES ROUND COMES ROUND.
3. Stop importing all that rubbish from the US. Why do we have to have so many "cop" shows? ONE IS ENOUGH.
- by Gillian on February 07, 2006 at 10:36 AM
The problem with commercial TV stations in Australia is that they're all trying to look & be like American TV stations. Eddie should try and re-model 9 into a station which looks and feels Australian rather than American.
- by Michael on February 07, 2006 at 10:40 AM
Ok I'm back...This one's for Mick and anyone else who's sick of waiting 6 months + (And even more in the case of channel nine) for new episodes of their fave shows. Before I go on, I have to say that, even though there is a considerable gap between USA/Aus airplay, I have to hand it to Channel Seven for the big bucks spent hyping their new shows the last few years - it seems to have worked. If Ten did a bit more hype advertising outside the actual station itself (That wasn't for Big Brother) it would probably get the same results, and as for Nine...Well...It's got nothing to hype anyway, now, does it? HAha, Oh I"m such a 9 Cynic. now...for MICK... go to this site
http://sourceforge.net/projects/azureus/ and download the 'azureus' bittorrent program. Once it is all installed, unlike traditional file sharing programs, none of the actual searching is done in the program itself, it is done on separate websites. The most popular websites for getting your fave TV SHOWS (Old and new) are; www.mininova.org and www.torrentspy.com . Just do a search, click "Download torrent" and it should automatically open up your program (Client). Depending ont he popularity of the file and your connection speed, you could have an episode in half an hour or an entire season in a few hours. Did I mention that a lot of these are also in High Definition? I'm up to speed with the USA for Lost but, as someone mentioned here previously, you lose something in watching ahead, socially whereby you are itching to talk about an episode to someone but can't, or your friends are talking about an episode that you saw ages ago. Then again, isn't it the same case with reading books? Watching movies? If you're really desperate, burn the stuff for your friends so they can keep up!! Hmm, now we may be getting a little illegal. Meh, maybe if enough people do this the networks will realise they are losing viewers and shorten the lag between airplay.
Ok, I know I'm being lengthy but I have two more things to say... In response to the Jessica Rowe slagging I thought I'd switch on this morning to TODAY for the first time....
*After an interview with John Farnham*
JESSICA: Oh, heeeee's fantaaastic!
*Richard Wilkins Cuts to the Pirates of the Caribbean2 Preview*
JESSICA: Oh i LOOOOVE Orland Bloom!!
ME: *Changes channel back to Seven for Sunrise.*
And one last thing...One show I have to say that Seven treats with real contempt is SCRUBS. Now, I never liked the show, I thought it was a little immoral and not really funny. HOWEVER, of late I was loaned the Season 1 DVD and within a few weeks I am almost through Season 2 as well. I am HOoked. What has surprised me is, all of a sudden I'm speaking to many other people who are hooked...yet..they have become hooked because of the DVDs! Maybe it is because season one is only 20 bucks right now, but I think it's because Seven saw the show as a "simpsons-like program; One offs, When in actual fact the show continues with various plotlines - kind of hard to follow when it has been shifted around at least 20 times, and can't even hold the semi-regular presence of 2 in the morning. BAD PROGRAMMING!!! It is hillarious, does any one agree? If not, rent/download/buy season one and see if your mind changes. OK I"m Done!!!
- by Richard on February 07, 2006 at 10:43 AM
They could start by showing some much deserved respect to their viewers during the summer and play something other than the cricket. The bachelor and wife swap were good for a while, but now they are old school, which pretty much sums Channel 9.
- by Rachael on February 07, 2006 at 10:58 AM
tv is over rated.
only things worth watching are:
House
Smallville
Desperate Housewives
Prison Break
Little Britain
and anything on SBS/ABC
As far as i am concerned the rest of the content is worthless, news is biased, morning + daytime tv depressing and sport(ie cricket) - to lengthly..no wonder ppl are overweight - its from sitting on their posterior all day watching tv!
Very sad when there are more things to do in sydney.. even with family (shock horror!)- ie movies, museums, art galleries, concerts.. or even .. actual fitness..!! get out there people and teach the ppl that run the channels a thing or two..
Whatever happened to Six feet under, Central park west, American Gothic and twillight zone..
- by gordana on February 07, 2006 at 11:05 AM
get a dvd player, purchase on the net, and watch!
- by welch on February 07, 2006 at 11:08 AM
I s'pose you can put me down as an old codger, but not quite into Grumpy Old Man territory - yet.
ABC and SBS get the bulk of my viewing (Unit One on SBS, Teachers on ABC are current favourites), and a few years ago I hated 7 with a passion; never ever on time, and basically they were programming for morons. Now it seems that at least they are programming for morons that have a sense of humour. 'Boston Legal' is wonderful, but it got shown with episodes out of sequence, and then temporarily removed from the schedule. It's coming back in March, I believe. 9 really does seem to be living on past glories. Did I say living ? Wallowing is more appropriate. And if the ABC, SBS or the occasional gem on 7 doesn't get you in, there's always the marvellous 'House' on 10, the radio or a good book.
No doubt 9 will keep trudging along their dreary path; after all, their execs know best, right ? Finger on the pulse etc. etc.? Unfortunately they won't find any pulse where they seem to be keeping their fingers at present.
Here's an idea - instead of what seems like 50 meaningless one day cricket games between 3 teams to end up with 2 in the final, why not play a 3 team final as well ? All those extra advert. opportunities at the end of every over ! With the additional loot, they could clone some more Jessica Rowes. You know it makes sense . . . . .
- by John on February 07, 2006 at 11:17 AM
i flick over to jessica rowe in the ads on sunrise just for the pure entertainment. 9's ratings will go up just because we are all transfixed by watching jessica crash and burn. it's not just her laugh, she has no warmth at all and sometimes her enunciation is very difficult to hear, something to do with her deep or hysterical voice, constant laughing and talking over Karl. as for richard wilkins, he gives me the creeps, that guy is sure to have a bad temper in private, how channel 9 could think he has any warmth or talent is beyond me. when he interviews celebrities, even the celebs look at him as if they don't like him. why don't channel 9 hire normal sincere people with personalities instead of barbie dolls?
- by Jessica G on February 07, 2006 at 11:17 AM
a)When I was growing up, Channel 9 used to set the trend in viewing, but I have noticed in the last couple of years, all they try to do is copy things that work on other channels and do a really poor job of it. So firstly, they need some new shows that arent pathetic copies.
b)You cant have never ending cop shows mixed with lifestyle shows and expect to keep people interested. Channel 7 is winning through variety in viewing
c)You got to give the viewer respect. You disrespect us, we wont forget it and will burn you bad
d)Quality sports coverage - Channel 9 has always had the best sports, but the worst sports coverage. New fresh presentations with fresher commentators that actually make it a quality production would be a start.
e)Show a current affairs program, that perhaps even talks about current affairs.
f)Start thinking of the future. If they just try to play catch up this year, Channel 7 will be in front for years to come. They need to especially think of new technologies.
It honestly doesnt worry me though, because I just download stuff now anyway, it is so much easier and I dont have a network screwing around with my viewing.
- by Stu on February 07, 2006 at 11:24 AM
Nine could start by hiring some programmers who can actually understand that the way a program builds momentum and crosses over from cult to must see is picking a time slot and sticking with it. How many times have we witnessed NINE destroying a show that's a ratings success in the US by shifting programming around. Remember 'West Wing', 'Sopranos' to name just 2 - and now 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' one of the sharpest bits of comedy to come out of the US since Seinfeld and NINE wacks it on at 11:00PM. Does anyone in NINE programming have a clue? Is there actually a programmer position at NINE - or do they just let Sam Chisolm pull numbers out of a hat at Friday drinks each week?
- by Geoff H on February 07, 2006 at 11:28 AM
In order to compete, Channel 9 needs to put on some good quality home grown programs. Obviously they have, for the time being, lost out on US shows and (as others have mentioned) can't do a thing about it. Quality shows are needed to draw audiences who aren't going to watch what's being shown on Seven and Ten. Burke's Backyard was great. There are too many copycat home renovation/game show programs that look the same. Nine needs to do something different. Whether it be comedy, drama or documentary, Nine needs to try something that isn't done on other channels. Something to grab a DIFFERENT audience because they aren't going to wrestle those watching Seven and Ten's programs.
Logo - I mean talk about ugly! The old logo was classy. This new in-your-face logo doesn't fit the station. The Nine promo is black and gold (old colours) and then the blue and white logo pops up. Ugh!
If the stations want viewer loyalty...stop messing around!!! Stop airing shows as "finales" when they aren't (and yes...we know).
Why do numbers seem to drop when shows are pulled off air then put back on?? It's because we're fed up and have already viewed it another way.
- by parker on February 07, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Channel Nine made one big mistake when they hired Jessica Rowe for the today show.There is an old saying "those who laugh a lot on the outside do not laugh much on the inside."There is something terribly wrong with the new host who laughs at everything.She may be trying too hard to impress or perhaps she lacks confidence.But her laughter is enough to turn anyone of the Today show.
- by Winstone Robinson on February 07, 2006 at 11:44 AM
I was just feeling a little sorry for Channel 9 and so thought I might try and email them the link to this page so they could perhaps learn why they've given us all the shits - but the only ways provided were by snail mail or telephone - which only proves they have completely lost touch with the rest of the world! And I'm yet another bittorrent gal - why would anyone with broadband put up with being shown one half of the Quentin Tarantino CSI episode "Grave Danger" when it screened in one piece in the US? They're so stupid to alienate the audience that way. And I also agree with an earlier comment - I wish Ch 7 and 10 would show things at the same time as the States - would lower my downloads considerably! :-D
- by Elektra on February 07, 2006 at 11:50 AM
A lot of Channel 9's loss of audience can be linked to their arrogance and complete disrespect of viewers. Look at how they're commanding that Channel 9 is 'Still The One' you must turn to. Meanwhile Channel 7 is sincerely saying 'Thank you for watching Channel 7' between their programs.
The reliance on US imports for high ratings was brought about by Channel 9, over the past 15 years. Using their big bucks and muscle they poached some top-rating shows like 'Friends' and 'Lois & Clark' from Channel 7. This forced all the networks to pay more for future imports and lock in contracts for the life of a show.
They then used big budget imports like CSI to kill off the quality, but low budget Australian dramas. Now that we're stuck with a wasteland of imports, we can only manage to produce Australian reality and game shows to try and compete.
The highest rating shows on British TV are still British programs. Most countries around the world still prefer their own shows to the imports. Channel 9 decided it was cheaper to buy imports rather than create our own quality programs that could be exported. In effect, they created this wasteland on Australian TV. Now that they couldn't continue to get their hands on the top US imports, they've shot themselves in the foot. Although they still try to control everything by buying everything and then on-selling the 'failed' shows like 'Smallville' & 'The OC' to 10 and 'West Wing' to the ABC. It's quite interesting that Channel 9 axed 'The Alice' which had average ratings in its first few weeks but a show like 'The OC'is Channel 10's jewel which they don't stop raving about, even though it rated considerably lower each week.
I think the only solution is to create some uniquely Australian programming and to give it a chance. Some of the biggest Australian successes took time. Blue Heelers was almost axed after its first year but then became the top show for about five years. 'McLeod's Daughters' wasn't an instant success either when it debuted. Even 'Hey Hey It's Saturday', '60 Minutes' and 'Sunrise' weren't a huge success from day one. It took time to build up an audience.
I also think it's a good idea for the ratings to run throughout the whole year, as they do in Britain and America. That could only lead to better programs and allow for shows to remain on air longer and build an audience.
- by J Bar on February 07, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Channel 9 news Melbourne is just a front for liberal party fokes.... censorship & spin.. heard about some Oil for food thing happening in Sydney....one needs to watch abc for details.
- by paul on February 07, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Dearest Eddie;
Here is a tip for free.... Get rid of those puppetts called presenters and keep them to one show at a time. Let your presenters have their own opinions not that of the management. I.E.. Phil Gould; Allan Jones...i AM FINING IT DIFFICULT TO TELL THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN nine AND fOX NEWS.
You may look of your own mug on T.V but do we have to see it every time we turn the box on. If it is not you then its Ray Warren, Mathew Johns... the list goes on... Try something new and refreshing blood some new talent... you guys after all are not carved in stone.
Oh and the continual cross promotion for another program from another program ...please give me a break.... PUT THE CARTOONS BACK ON IN THE MORNING... THE TODAY SHOW IS YESTERDAYS IDEA. At least i get a real laugh from the cartoons instaed of the fake rubbish that you guys dish up every morning.
- by couch potatoe on February 07, 2006 at 12:13 PM
What Nine is lacking is vision, strategy, and humility. Nine succeeded as a market leader when it led rather than followed the market. It requires a point of difference and investment (program content and market research) ? something that?s possible to do even in times of flat revenue and cost-cutting.
My advice to Nine; take market share by giving your audience target market segments a reason to watch with innovative, fresh, intelligent, entertaining and compelling content.
1.Today-Replace Rowe with Ghidella as should have happened when Grimshaw vacated the role. Have hard news /quality journalism and some light entertainment but don't make the content light news editorialised entertainment. The 2006 format of Today is beyond woeful (or Rowe-ful).
2.5pm to 6pm. The TV industry may love Bert Newton but Nine will find out to its chagrin that audiences don't. Schedule Ent.Tonight at 5pm and bring a local version of 'Jeopardy' to air at 5.30pm.
3. News. Ferguson is a great asset but replace smirking Munro with Jim Waley (who's credible) on weekends. And the quality of news-writing and scope of news covered needs to regain lost ground - just because vision exists for a story, doesn't mean its worthy of the main news bulletin.
4. ACA - George Negus got the formula right in this timeslot at ABC with an intelligent balance of newsworthy rather than newsbreaking stories, interspersed with profile interviews and 5 minutes of light stories at the end. Grimshaw is too insightful a journalist to waste on tabloid television branded as a 'people' show - please!
5. Drama -there are places beyond hospitals and police stations where drama can happen. It's why shows like The West Wing and Weeds succeed. Develop local content that includes only 12 episodes rather than 30 eps. This means the stories remain tight and fresh, programmed without interruption, and there is scope to develop or invest in more than one show. Consider some of the quality drama and mini-series coming out of the UK as programming alternatives to American garbage with big production budgets.
6. Sport - now is the time to develop Soccer coverage while access is cheap. League is dying and hopefully the Footy Show will too.
7. Entertainment regain ground in the Lifestyle shows without resorting to a Celebrity freak show (overhaul / circus / skating) or Jamie Durie and his maaaates. The UK's "No Going Back" represents a demographic trend in Australia that is compelling viewing.
- by Jacqueline on February 07, 2006 at 12:19 PM
Wow, i'm really going overboard with the comments this time, but has anyone ever heard the chinese proverb (I think..) that goes something along the lines of "Any business with the colour red in it will be prosperous?". I'm not chinese myself but I've heard the saying many times. Coke, Mcdonalds, etc...Well don't you find it strange that Seven's success began a few years ago when they rebranded/remodelled the station with that Red logo look? Seemingly fit, then, that Nine was once gold/yellow (the binary opposite of red), and is now blue (Yet another opposite primary colour)...and Ten is Blue AND Yellow..
Mate, this is getting too deep. I don't think there were blue and yellow dinosaurs anyway.
- by richard on February 07, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Channel Nine has kicked sand in the face of its audience for years, and now, at last, with Bittorrent or whatever it is called (I'm not very good with computers, but got a friend to find and download part 2 of the final CSI-Las Vegas programme they left us hanging with last year, the two parter episode that the director Quentin tarantino insisted he never wanted split up), the audience can finally stand up for itself. Also Jessica Rowe - Is she the love child of Jennie Little and Don Lane? She certainly has the painful, grating insincerity and hysteria of both of them, and none of the charm. And Karl Stevanovic is such a pill, such a dill, such a tragic bore. It's a pity, I don't like to say horrible things about people, but by putting themselves in the public eye they're asking our opinion.
- by James on February 07, 2006 at 12:29 PM
Who watches commercial TV? I know, people who love mindless rubbish, i,e they don't have to think or question what is served up to them. Such mindless boring drivel that is served up as what life is about it is rubbish, thank God for the ABC & SBS.
- by Carmel on February 07, 2006 at 12:37 PM
I grew up in a country town on the south coast, and for 20 of my first years- excluding the first 4 when we didn't own a television- I had access to two stations,both of which featured a test pattern for the first half of the day. One of these, of course, was the ABC, the other was the slightly more commercial Channel 4, owned at the time by Rupert.
As a result I went bush or ran around in enormous paddocks playing league & cricket a lot.
This year is my 22nd anniversary of living in Sydney town and my exposure to the 'big 3'.
Channel 9 is, in my view, eye candy for the intellectually lazy.
7 & 10 at least produce some local material that puts dollars in to local actors pockets, 9 pays the same knobheads to rip up houses & gardens at a rate that should see most of Sydney renovated soon, and all this without a shred of writing or talent.
Anyone over 30 still retaining any of the big 3 as their favoured choice of viewing has a serious disconnect with the real world or simply doesn't care about the state of the planet and international affairs.
If not for ABC, SBS, BBC News, The History Channel (Fox News is an abomination on mankind) etc., I know what was delivered to me via the dreaded box would have been screened for approval, politically, by someone very close to the top.
I shall always be faithful to Aunty as long as she keeps producing such world class investigative journalism and doco's & the same with SBS - however most of what I want, and at the time that I want it, sits at my fingertips as I type.
In the medium term, for broadcast television, the tar pits call.
- by Ben Link on February 07, 2006 at 12:55 PM
I cannot remember the last time I watched a whole TV show on 9. It really has a smell of decay about it. I did flick on to see Jessica Rowe's debut but lasted all of five minutes. She is dreadfully false and irritating. Richard Wilkins is another C9 creep that could do with a spell on the dole along w
I predict that the various networks will continue showing complete contempt for their viewing audience. Have you noticed that Veronica Mars is being pulled only halfway into the season? I give up—I'm just going to order the DVDs from the US from now on!