Programming in the national interest

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This blog is now a heritage item - worth studying but not current. To join a daily discussion of Australian attitudes, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

by David Dale.
A wonderful precedent has been set by the ABC's decision to postpone its miniseries about East Timor in order to maximise the audience for Channel Nine's interview with the Beaconsfield miners. In future, we can expect all networks to play their most boring material whenever a competitor is showing something that Australians really ought to see.

The ABC's Director of Television, Kim Dalton, rationalised his act of anti-capitalism thus: "To place these two stories up against each other is to do a disservice to Australian viewers; therefore by holding back the premiere of Answered by Fire, ABC TV is giving people the opportunity to choose both -- a win for Australian audiences.'"

So the ABC replaced Answered By Fire with Agatha Christie A Life In Pictures, which duly got 355,000 viewers to the miners' 2.8 million. In the timeslot, the ABC was beaten by SBS, which refused to play the patriot game and was rewarded with 459,000 viewers for the Eurovision final.

Channel Nine is morally obligated next Sunday to recompense the ABC by showing something so dreary at 8.30 pm that viewers will be driven to the national broadcaster (assuming Seven and Ten also recognise the necessity for Australians to learn how our representatives in East Timor were let down by their own government).

It will not be enough for Nine simply to put on a repeat of CSI rather than a fresh episode. Viewers have demonstrated in the past they they can't tell the difference between old and new episodes of CSI. Just to make sure nobody is tempted to watch, Nine had better show old episodes of the Today show with Jessica Rowe -- a proven alienater of viewers. At the same time, Seven should show repeats of Let Loose Live from last year, while Ten shows repeats of The Hothouse.

For decades, viewers have been complaining about the antisocial way the commercial networks go about the business of competing with each other. Why are the shows we most want to see all on at the same time? This year's prime example is Seven putting Prison Break up against Ten's House. On Wednesdays, this column is forced to watch House until the first commercial break, to see the week's mysterious symptoms, then shift to Prison Break until its next commercial break, to see what obstacles will prevent the escape this week, then back to House for a few minutes of URST (UnResolved Sexual Tension), then back to PB for some gratuitous sadism, and finally back to House for the sudden inspiration that brings a cure.

Other viewers have doubtless devised a similar technique on Monday night for simultaneously getting the gist of Desperate Housewives and Cold Case. We should all give thanks that most series are made to predictable formulas.

But this channel flipping is irritating and unreliable. Now that the ABC has moved television from the age of competiton to the age of cooperation, we can appeal to the better natures of the networks. Nine will happily cancel the State of Origin football on the grounds that competing with House does a disservice to Australian hypochondriacs. Seven will shift Lost from Thursday because competing with Medium does a disservice to Australians who like to see dead people. Ten will reciprocate by shifting Friday Night Games to avoid doing a disservice to Australians learning to renovate their gardens. (We'd be interested to hear your suggestions for other non-competitive programming, below.)

And once Answered By Fire is over, the ABC will continue to do its patriotic duty by showing nothing likely to interest any viewers of commercial television -- in other words, business as usual.

This week the staff at Channel Nine are wondering how much longer Eddie McGuire will be allowed to steer The Titanic, after his expensive stunt of flying a bunch of bogans to Germany for a special edition of 'The Footy Show' ended up as number 42 program for the week, and Nine ended up number two network. Despite a disaster with '24', Channel Seven won the week with 27.7 per cent of the prime time audience, followed by Nine with 26.8, Ten with 23.0, ABC with 15.3 and SBS with 7.3.

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). His latest book is Soffritto -- A delicious Ligurian memoir. To join a daily discussion of Australian attitudes, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Channel 9 should put on a special featuring Jessica Rowe and Bert Newton discussing their move to Channel 9. This will guarantee ratings for ABC

by Darryl on May 22, 2006 at 12:35 PM

With regards to your thoughts on TV networks actually thinking about their audiences - oh! Wouldn't that be wonderful. Thank you, but I'll not be holding my breath for even five seconds - jph

by Jeremy Hogarth on May 22, 2006 at 01:38 PM

Daivd, you are missing a little gem in Spicks and Specks on Wednesday night. Are you going to watch Absolute Power this week which has been highly acclaimed by your two tv critics on the review this week?

Tribal Mind replies: This week I'll be able to watch Absolute Power (some of Stephen Fry's most wicked work) because Seven has wimped out on Prison Break and Ten is showing a repeat of House.

by Jane on May 22, 2006 at 02:39 PM

I see that Seven & Ten are 'rolling over' this Wednesday night due to Festival of the Boot Part I aka State of Origin on Nine.
Prison Break is having (another) dare I say break, while Ten has moved TGYH to Tuesday night and shall show a repeat of House.
Meanwhile the ABC will continue to show new episodes of Spicks and Specks and The Glasshouse.
For the sake of local drama, I hope Answered by Fire does well for Aunty over the next couple of weeks. Knowing my luck, I expect Nine will premiere The Sopranos at 8.30 next Sunday night.

by Sacs on May 22, 2006 at 03:02 PM

Goodness, who's a bit crabby after the weekend then? I'm pleased the ABC finally displayed some programming nous in protecting one of its rare home grown dramas. What's the point of throwing the much admired and long awaited 'Answered by Fire' to the ratings dogs, when the ABC critics (and critics of Oz drama generally) will then use the sad numbers for more finger pointing and sighing about irrelevancy and inept story telling? The ABC isn't bound to chase commercial ratings, thank God, but that doesn't mean it doesn't care about them. And where flagship programs are concerned, that's fair enough.
In the spirit of the blog, I should point out that lovers of theatre sports who are also into blondes on horses are in serious trouble on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. Ten should move TGYH. McLeod's was in the spot first.

by Crispy on May 22, 2006 at 04:04 PM

Obviously the ABC, Nine, Ten, Seven and SBS have forgottent about a great new invention called "The DVD Recorder" - I really can have my cake and eat it. Oh and maybe the ratings system should take it into account as well.

Tribal Mind replies: That presupposes you can record one channel while watching another. Many people can't do that. It's not possible in my house, for example, because our signal arrives by cable.

by Paul on May 23, 2006 at 05:40 AM

I'm not so sure, Darryl. I would think most of them wouldn't notice how dated and irrelevant the discussion was.

Tribal Mind asks: Most of who wouldn't notice?

by Peter Fraser on May 23, 2006 at 07:31 AM

Channel ten should put friday night games up against channel nines jessica rowe, seven should put on the infuriating david koch and whatever his repugnant sidekicks name is. The ABC should put on re-runs of the Bill (the new ones not the old ones when it was good) and SBS should play that ridiculous new movie show with those reviewers with absolutely no qualifications.......ah wait a minute all those shows look like champagne TV compared to friday night games!

by Kent on May 23, 2006 at 08:00 AM

Wow, this finally answered a question thats been bugging me for a while - why do they occasionally show repeats instead of new episodes of House for aparently no reason. Is it really because of whats on other channels? The possibility never even occured to me.. its been about 3 years since theres been more than two things a week that have been worth watching.

Although I may begin to understand this argument once Absolute Power starts in competition with House. Maybe its a sign television might become entertaining on a regular basis again..

by karen on May 23, 2006 at 08:26 AM

I hate all this moving shows around stuff. The TV guide is about as correct as my first University Exam paper. TGYH had been moved to Thursday and advertised as such and then on the same night started getting advertised on Tuesday - make up your mind people!

Sacs - I think you are dreaming of fairies if you think Sopranos will be on at 8:30 Monday night. History shows that C9 waits till the series finishes in the states (They are 3/4 the way through), then they wait a few months, hype it up and then drop it in the 11ish schedule behind whenever Millionaire decides to finish. If I hadn't gone over my download quoto getting season 5 of Scrubs I would be watching new Sopranos. 1 more week till I get my full quota again! (Note to Bigpond, since when did unlimited cable equal 10 gb's?)

by Ryan D on May 23, 2006 at 08:35 AM

A clever move by the ABC. They have just doubled the publicity for Answered by Fire and created a sense of "must see TV" for free.

by Simon on May 23, 2006 at 08:55 AM

Top marks to the ABC for standing aside with their new show to allow people to watch 'The Great Escape' on Sunday night. However, I think it's a bit too much to expect Channel Nine to do the same for them this coming week - their need to outdo Channel Seven in the ratings will win out in the end and will leave ABC out in the cold.
As far as the network's moveable programming goes, we still have the good old fashioned video recorder at work on a Sunday night and this allows me the freedom to watch what I want and when I want. While disappointed that the second half of last week's CSI wasn't aired, I was truly engrossed by the miners' story. All I can say is that Nine better do the right thing and air the new episode of CSI tonight instead of a repeat show that I can watch anytime I want on DVD. It will be interesting....

by Nicki on May 23, 2006 at 09:07 AM

Tribal Mind replies: That presupposes you can record one channel while watching another. Many people can't do that. It's not possible in my house, for example, because our signal arrives by cable.
TM surely a man in your position could justify getting an IQ box?? Apart from the up front cost (which you could surely get Foxtel to ante-up on the basis of your influence... or is that against your ethical principles?) it's only an extra $10 per month to be able to record/watch 2 shows at a time (plus the other benefits of live pause/rewind).
And no, I don't work for Foxtel, I'm just a convert (signed up when the box was free) because I'm sick of the way all the good shows are on at the same time and there's rubbish at other times.

by sharon on May 23, 2006 at 09:14 AM

I only have one word - BitTorent. Soon we will be able to download and watch TV shows whenever we want, so we won't have to put up with TV stations' anti-social programming any more.

by Sea on May 23, 2006 at 09:17 AM

You're on to it crispy. A good decision by the ABC I say, good Australian drama has slowly started to make a come back in the past 12 months, at least on SBS and to a lesser extent the ABC, and everything should be done to nurture that revival.
And on another note, I am obviously out of the loop and will probably look foolish asking this question but what is TGYH?

by Tully on May 23, 2006 at 09:34 AM

Of course the ABC has egg on its face from last year, when it scheduled Hell Has Harbour views up against Lleyton in the Australian Open final.
That killed the chance of a decent audience for what turned out to be half of its local drama for the year. Making the same mistake twice would have surely seen Aunty caned in the press, hence this decision.

by Simon Sharwood on May 23, 2006 at 09:40 AM

Obviously,
(and its a shame I have to say that David)
the ABC is moving its program, not out of motivation to maximize channel nine's ratings, but to maximize their own ratings.

by a cassidy on May 23, 2006 at 09:43 AM

Did anyone see Eurovision on Friday and/or Sunday on SBS? It was so good!! Where do they get that commentary guy from? He is the best.
I am so glad SBS has broadcast the concert and it makes such a difference when there are no commercial breaks after every song-its really enjoyable when you program is not interrupted
And it good to have a choice-I wouldn't have watched the miners interview nor Timor mini series, so glad there was something for viewers like me. Thank you SBS!!!

by Elena on May 23, 2006 at 09:47 AM

Spot on, TM. Its interesting to see that this phenomenon has spread to all the FTA channels. The networks are assuming that audiences are completely transient and don't get into a pattern of watching favourite shows, regardless of what's on the other channel. So they're upsetting the committed viewers by focusing on the 'swinging' viewer.
This is the networks waving the white flag and keeping their good shows up their sleeve for times that they can win ratings, thus signalling the end of competition on FTA. What would happen if the Rabbitohs decided to field their local juniors side each time they were up against stiff competition?! Probably a bad example but you know what I mean.

by Andy on May 23, 2006 at 09:50 AM

It's called a VCR, people! Get one and stop whinging.
Or for the ultimate way to record, get a Foxtel IQ box. Foxtel has Nine, ABC 1 and 2 and SBS, and with the IQ box you can program which shows you want to record up to a week in advance, and even tape two channels at once, then watch at your leisure. That leaves the VCR for Seven and eyeballs for Ten - I never miss a show I want to watch, and my mum never misses her British murder mysteries, which is brilliant because they always seem to be on at the same time. For example - Mondays 8.30 - Desperate Housewives, Cold Case and Supernatural - tape Housewives for later, IQ Cold Case for mum, and put Supernatural on in the background while I tidy up before bed - Perfect!!

by marissa on May 23, 2006 at 10:22 AM

TM quick question - what does BB AO rate? How does this compare to last year? Seems they are not advertising it as much as Un-cut. Maybe this is due to the QLD Govt threatening to cut the funding they give to BB.

I watch nothing on a Monday night and tape Six Feet Under as I can't sit up till 1am.

Bitorrent is so yesterday - the new one is Shareaza. It uses Bitorrent and other P2P technology. Best yet and I have used Mirc, Bit, Limewire...etc.

by Ryan D on May 23, 2006 at 11:00 AM

"The better part of valour is discretion" and ABC did that. I would have watched Answered By Fire over the Miners, but when ABC shifted their show. I watched the Miners as obviously many others did. 7 & 10 are also showing the same logic this Wednesday, moving shows to avoid being beaten up by the State of Origin. Sometimes logic plays a part. Why, waste a good programme, when the opposition is about to kick the crap out of you.
Though repeats in non-rating periods can destroy a shows momentum (Without a Trace - is a classic example) and allow viewers to seek a look at other shows. Also these clip together highlight shows, look what you miss shows, should be canned altogether. Just show a movie or special.
ABC deserve the opportunity to run this mini-series to showcase Australian talent unhindered by hit and run TV programming.

by Garry S on May 23, 2006 at 11:02 AM

TV stations need to wake up to the fact that people are not interested in endless adverts for their stations news channel, the same advert being broadcast more than once in an ad break, endless weather updates, failure to keep to advertised scheduled times, endless pop-ups on the screen, etc. These things are more important than conflicting schedules with another station.

by Bert on May 23, 2006 at 11:07 AM

Elena (How ironic that Eurovision was hosted by Greece [Hellena] this year), the "commentary guy" for Eurovision is Terry Wogan, who has been a British interviewer for about 40 or so years, with his own radio and TV shows. Terry is in fact Irish, so he's always happy when Ireland do well in Eurovision.

Also ironic is that Ireland have done well when Johnny Logan has sung for them, and he's actually Australian, as was the lead singer for this year's German country and western entry.

by nerdboy on May 23, 2006 at 11:09 AM

They [9], as part owners of the ratings agency OZtam, should lobby the other owners of Oztam (7 & 10), to allow the Oztam metering boxes, into homes that watch more than just a few minutes of ABC TV per week, thus ending the biased results.

by TGO on May 23, 2006 at 11:31 AM

"Channel Nine is morally obligated next Sunday to recompense the ABC by showing something so dreary at 8.30 pm that viewers will be driven to the national broadcaster".

Channel Nine shows something dreary 24/7. So do Seven and Ten. The destruction of all TV transmitters except ABC and SBS by terrorists would be barely noticed by me. And there are tens or perhaps hundreds of thousands like me. Fact is though, tens of thousands are barely a blip in the ratings frenzy to sell toilet paper and fast food and Mitsubishi cars, and besides ABC/SBS viewers are too educated to succumb to consumer lust so advertising to them is futile.

by Roger the Shrubber on May 23, 2006 at 11:45 AM

I know this is off the topic, but I couldn't miss an opportunity to whinge about Jessica Rowe et al.

Rowe is AWFUL in this role. Even Karl seems embarrassed by her. I would rather watch Kochie, and that's saying something.

Thank God for Adam Spencer on 702.

by Bec on May 23, 2006 at 11:47 AM

TM,
Do you know if there is aq new series of Doc Martin coming soon?

by vicki on May 23, 2006 at 11:54 AM

I wonder why you have this question at all, surely nobody who watches 'Desperate Housewives' is interested in watching real drama?
Most of those who watch commercial stations would rarely tune to SBS or ABC anyway, so what's the beef?

PS Elena, the Eurovision compere is Terry Wogan, he's a veritable institution in the UK, sort of our version of Bert Newton, but a lot more caustic!

by Mo on May 23, 2006 at 12:02 PM

HEY - it's television! since when has TV been the most important thing in life? don't like what the TV bosses do? - don't watch it.

by lisa on May 23, 2006 at 12:17 PM

Since when does Channel Nines sensationalist "journalism" constitute "something that Australians really ought to see"?? All ABCs supposed altruism meant was that I watched a few minutes of "Bern calling from Switzerland".. then turned off my TV.
Next time, don't assume you know what I should see. I can guarantee you Channel Nine wont give you the same courtesy come Sunday.

by Hamish on May 23, 2006 at 12:25 PM

In the cooperation stakes it should be more like Ten moving or cancelling Friday Night Games to avoid a disservice to Australians (period!).

by Martin on May 23, 2006 at 12:32 PM

Marissa: How nice that you have an IQ Box. Perhaps you can help me move somewhere I can get cable? And buy me the box too? I currently have a standard digital box (so I could get decent reception), so can only record one channel at a time on the VCR.

Personally, whenever there's crap on the telly, I watch a DVD, read a book, or read commentary on the Sydney Morning Herald website...

by Simone on May 23, 2006 at 12:41 PM

What is TGYH?

by Tammy on May 23, 2006 at 12:47 PM

Like Elena, Eurovision was my first choice on Sunday night. Elena, the commentator was Terry Wogan, doing the UK broadcast. He's an absolute scream, with those deadpan comments about kitchen foil pants and German cowboys, and the tally on the number of times the hosts can use the word "amazing"...

In terms of clashing programming, Wednesday night drives me insane. At my place, we start with Thank God You're Here, then switch over to Spicks and Specks as soon as the all-in-group-challenge ends (because Ten runs overtime every week, and I don't care who "won"). We tape Prison Break for my sister (I'm not a fan), and we're waiting for House to come out on DVD, so we can watch it without ads!

by Auxie on May 23, 2006 at 12:47 PM

I was so glad the ABC changed the timing of the mini serices as I wanted to watch both tne miniseries and the miners. I am all in favour of cooperation not competiton. Lets stop putting similar shows and show that are very popular up against each other. It would give us more of choice in the current "down" times.

Also, if memory serves and please correct me if I am wrong, shows that are recorded do not show up on ratings measurements so it seemss to me to get the most accurate picture of what people watch is not just to put it on but to put it on at the time when they wish to watch it, even though it is old hat with downloads etc now as well as VCR.

Good on you ABC!!

By the way. I can recommend Peking to Paris if fellow bloggers have a spare hour next Sunday night.

by Strwaberries on May 23, 2006 at 12:58 PM

Channel 9 are at it again - last night they played two repeat episodes of Cold Case. AFAIK it's still the ratings period, but since they suddenly found Cold Case rated well they're obviously going to stretch out the run by padding new episodes with old. They can't even be decent enough to show a new one backed with an old one. I suppose playing episodes out of order (and yes, the episode order does matter) is a minor, or perhaps, miner, transgression compared with what CSI fans have to put up with.

I wonder why more people don't turn to bit torrent?

by Tom on May 23, 2006 at 01:27 PM

What a beat-up! Look, it's simple. The ABC pays serious money to produce serious TV programming (the East Timor mini-series). Why burn that by running it against an interview which, whilst a one-off, is clearly going to pull viewer attention away from the ABC show. These viewers may well have watched the ABC show if the interview was not going to air. The first episode in the mini-series is crucial: how many people are going to tune-in for later episodes if they have missed the first episode (and the story). All in all, it's smart programming by the ABC and a damn-sight more nimble and intelligent than the decisions made by commercial stations (viz "Fast Eddy" throwing millions to buy someone's 15 minutes of fame!)

by Dave on May 23, 2006 at 01:30 PM

Well done channel nine.Just getting into Six Feet Under again (after 2 years) when you move it to 12am.Hopefully just a temporary move.

by John on May 23, 2006 at 01:32 PM

While as Darryl suggests Jessica Rowe & Bert Newton provide an analysis of their move to 9.
10 should host a program explaining why they were happy to see them go.
7 should have Darryl Somers present a program on just how little interest 7 had in either of these presenters.
And SBS could provide a live forum involving the community in the above & would doubtlessly draw the conclusion that very few people care anyway, hence SBS's low ratings on this night.
I will be watching ABC & would like to remind the goverment to keep up the funding to 'Aunty' or we'll rip your bloody arms off !

by Alan Taylor on May 23, 2006 at 01:58 PM

Why is House a repeat episode this week?
Competing with drugby league state of origin not to their taste?

by Looking on May 23, 2006 at 01:58 PM

Tammy - TGYH is Thank God You're Here.
For all those who don't have Foxtel, you can also get a PVR (personal video recorder) like the TopField. It lets you record two things at a time. Which means you can record two channels, and watch a third on tv. We usually record every show we watch, and watch something pre-recorded. We hardly ever see ads. The TopField also gives you time-shifting. If you pause for around 15 mins you can watch an hour show in about 40 mins without ads. My tv viewing has never been better.

by LR on May 23, 2006 at 02:03 PM

I was just reading thru the comment about advertising, I had an idea that there was a limit to the amount time commercials could be shown i.e. 12 mins per hour. I also remember that most 1 hour programs I have downloaded are around 40 min. That leave 8 min unacounted for. Is self prompotion not included in the 12 min or am I completely wrong about the 12 minute limit ?.

In addition I recent asked about the time a download takes using a torrent (or a deritive). I curious about others experience.

by Fon on May 23, 2006 at 02:05 PM

The ABC's decision to pull Answered By Fire was in no way to allow more viewers to watch the Great Escape. The ABC knew no one would watch it. The reason why Prison Break isn't on this week, and House is a repeat isn't necessarily to allow more people to watch the Origin, it's so they don't lose viewers for the first run episodes of these shows because they know the Origin will rate its socks off. The networks are covering their own bums rather than doing favours for others.

by Steve on May 23, 2006 at 02:12 PM

It's difficult to argue with the Broadcasting companies in America who are beginning to charge, ala Itunes Music Shops, for downloads of popular TV programs. I'm not afraid to admit that i download my favourite tv shows, and as such, i have already seen the end of this seasons Prison Break. In fact, $90 for an unlimited bandwith Broadband connection means that nobody should need to pay for cable again.

by Joab on May 23, 2006 at 02:13 PM

Long live the (ad free) ABC!

by Dee on May 23, 2006 at 02:15 PM

I disagreed with the following assertion, Posted by: Mo at May 23, 2006 12:02 PM - "Most of those who watch commercial stations would rarely tune to SBS or ABC anyway".
I consider myself a regular TV viewer/consumer trying to find something decent to watch on FTA TV. I watch DH, DWTS, Hotel Babylon, TGYH, Shamless, Spicks & Specks, ABC News, SBS Sports & Eurovision and so on (plus the new show on ABC this Wed - Absolute Power). I go where there are something interesting, not because of a particular tv station. I think this is the same with whatever consumer goods that you would buy from the grocery stores be it Coles or Woolies or other independent retailers - your tastes changes and no particular brand will completely satisfy you. You may be conditioned by the society that certain commercial networks or brands are better than the rest, but, if you allow yourself the opportunity to explore the unknown outside of your traditional domain, you may be able to find gems unexpectedly from networks including SBS and ABC.

by ozboy1999 on May 23, 2006 at 02:18 PM

Thank God... for the DVD player
(although I love Funland :)

by Geraint on May 23, 2006 at 02:50 PM

David
The ABC's justification for its actions and your comments along the lines of "this column is forced to watch ... until the first commercial break, to see ..." ignores the fact that for over 20 years people have had the technology in their homes (VCR and now PVR)to record programmes for later viewing and are not tied to broadcast schedules. Broadcast television stations (and some commentators) need to wake up to the fact that there is a difference between broadcasting (making content available), capturing that content from FTA (ie. recording), purchasing that content (eg. retailed DVDs)and replay/viewing.

by L on May 23, 2006 at 03:36 PM

Download/bittorrent speeds really depend on your internet conection and the community you download it from. I have optic fibre and can usually get an hour episode in 10-20 mins. BUT it will take longer with sloer speeds and if you donload from open groups such as mininova. Closed communities are the ay to go!

by Dan on May 23, 2006 at 03:40 PM

I'll be watching ABC this Sunday night. It is good to see some Aussie drama given a chance again.
ABC was right to move it.
As for the commercial networks, well i have pretty much given up on them and the way they treat viewers and now buy my favorite series on DVD.
Channel 9 is disgracful in it's treatment of CSI fans by the way.
They showed the first part of a two part episode the sunday before the big miners interview. So when are they going to show part 2? Never I guess.

by emily on May 23, 2006 at 04:09 PM

There is a rumour circulating that TV networks deliberately stuff up the program schedule to increase DVD sales of programs. It would make sense for TV networks to have shares in DVD production/distribution chains.
If you watch a show for a bit then get hooked, you'll want to see the rest of the series, and if it's put on at 11:30 on a Sunday night or even better at 2am or 3am somewhere randomly, you'll probably just give up and buy the DVD instead. The problem with setting a VCR, DVDR or PVR is that published timetables are rarely adhered to - take anything that follows Big Bother, it never starts on time, so unless you stay up and watch for the actual moment it starts, you run the risk of missing bits.
Of course you can always buy multiple recorders and tape for 30 minutes more than the programmed time.
Alternatively, TV station program directors could just be MORONS who don't give a stuff about you (or their advertisers who pay the bills). Imagine paying a premium to run an ad in the prime time spot, then having it played 15 minutes later, or if its an ad that's meant to (humourously ?)play on a scene that should have just screened, then it will be out of sequence and the punchline will have been lost. I guess the advertisers can always ensure the punch goes somewhere.

by nerdboy on May 23, 2006 at 04:55 PM

Get out there people! Learn to dance, try a new sport, play a musical instrument, meet new people, try making art, take up gardening. Switch off the telly and Make your life more interesting then what your trying to fulfil by watching tv!

Tribal MOnd adds: The computer too.

by david on May 23, 2006 at 05:04 PM

RE: Eurovision....I had to laugh when the commentator stated that he would be amazed if someone didn't say that the performance that he had just witnessed was amazing.
He then went on to say amazing a million times!

by Barry Jive on May 23, 2006 at 05:14 PM

I just want to see the stations start/finish their programming at the advertised time! I've given up believing Ch. 10 anymore, especially now that the garden fertiliser known as Big Brother has re-appeared for yet another dreary season. 8.30pm finish time!? Not likely........

by Craig B on May 23, 2006 at 06:18 PM

Posted by: L at May 23, 2006 03:36 PM
"... ignores the fact that for over "20 years people have had the technology in their homes (VCR and now PVR)to record programmes for later viewing..."
It's slitting hairs, but while it will soon be legal to so, it is currently illegal to record television for later play back.
I'd say the ABC was right. They didn't know that the interview was going to be rubbish and no one would watch it for more then a few minutes so they figured why divide the country between two patriotic programs. Give it to them one at a time. Now, If they had played there own miners disaster program and the same time, that would have been competiton!

by Didius on May 23, 2006 at 06:46 PM

For the love of God, just get a VCR or a DVD-recorder!

by John on May 23, 2006 at 07:32 PM

I was compelled to watch The Great Escape on Sunday - not so much for the stories of the miners - but for the recent freaky facial alterations to Tracey Grimshaw. Her summer hiatus to "have a rest" before starting A Current Affair obviously involved a lot of hospital rest... Like 20 years earlier when Rowena "Pat the Rat" Wallace went to South America for "a rest" and came back looking like Belinda Giblin - Tracey's face has been borrowed from someone else. The Great Escape interview would cut to Tracey, struggling to move those damn facial muscles, and assume some sort of genuine facial reaction. The lips were so big they almost hid her nose. Tracey had only one facial expression for the miners - blank.
I loved every second...

by David on May 23, 2006 at 08:14 PM

I dipped into the story of the miners on Sunday night and the best of good luck to them, but I was so delighted that the ABC put on "Agatha Christie: a life in pictures", as a substitute for its advertised show. What a brilliant programme (British TV at its best)about a mysterious episode in the life of a much loved and hugely successful mystery writer, who died in 1976, incidentally. I don't think Dan Brown will be remembered and revered for anything like that long."Answered by Fire" will be one of those depressing war films, very worthy, no doubt, but not entertainment as far as my tastes go.
Bring back the English Murder Mystery and its glory days in the 1930's-1950's, I say; some were filmed, but not nearly enough. Not just the divine Agatha, but Margery Allingham, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Josephine Tey, Patricia Wentworth- the women mystery writers of those days left the males for dead and what distinguished novels they wrote, literate as well as cunning, full of atmosphere and English ambience, bliss to read and re-read. Try them, you customers of airport bookstalls, you don't know what you're missing.

by Joanne Ewin on May 23, 2006 at 10:47 PM

I watched the miners but was turned off by the ridiculously immature ad about "we're not ambulance chasers", that did it, no matter what the miners had to say that just disgusted me. As an ageing blonde I'm happy to say that I'm happy watching a variety of shows - Despo's, West Wing, Shameless (when is Series 2 onward coming out on DVD?), Doc Martin, The Glass House, All Saints, Rose & Maloney, Dalziel & Pascoe, Enough Rope and Boston Legal - a mishmash of styles to say the least. Most people are complex in their tastes and I don't think you can possibly say that just because someone likes, say Despo's, they aren't going to appreciate, say Enough Rope. The only thing I absolutely won't watch is Rugby League, Soccer et al.

Tribal Mind replies: This journo is delighted to see the name of our favourite Monday show has been Australianised to "Despos", to join ambos, derros, garbos, reffos, yobbos, and drongos. Reckon some of the sheilas on that show have gone troppo.

by Miss Ann on May 23, 2006 at 11:33 PM

Free to air TV in Australia provides better entertainment with those 5 channels than the 57 I get (and pay for) on cable in North America. (We pay $92 a month for cable TV and high speed cable internet.) Night after night it's hard to find something to watch on TV here that's entertaining or informative or that you haven't already seen. We get nothing new from May to September - that's summer break - and we get nothing worth watching for a month over the Christmas period. It seems most series only make about 2 x 12 episodes a year and yes, they pad their weekly spots with repeats to maintain the time slot for the required viewing months before Christmas and summer breaks. We know not to bother watching an episode or record it if there is no (N) after it's listing in the program guide. (N stands for "new episode" so at least the program guide is good enough to alert us to a new episode.)
I hope Aunty and SBS never change to allow commercials. There are NO channels commercial-free in Canada - their CBC (ABC equivalent) is full of commercials and if they don't get enough paid commercials they plug their own programs endlessly until you no longer want to watch them - afterall, they only get the same 40 minute content so they have to fill up 20 minutes somehow. American PBS channels are the best because they only plug sponsors at the beginning and end of a program. Viewers are also encouraged to tell them what kind of programs they'd like to see. Their programs are generally only 20-25 minutes long and they fill in the time with short stories and clips. The commercial channels are now squeezing in so many commercials (I've counted up to 10 per break), they don't have time to show previews of the next episode - just cut them off in the middle of someone talking and move on to fit in yet more commercials before the next program starts. There are so many commercials now I tend to forget what show I'm watching until it comes back on.

by Caz on May 24, 2006 at 01:12 AM

I find it interesting that you compliment the ABC for it's decision "in the national interest" in the same week that you accuse seven of cowardice for failing to run one of it's programmes against the state of origin, when the logic is clearly the same - in both cases, the "sacrificing" broadcaster would rather have higher ratings later than to have their potential audiance siphoned away by a major event on another network. I know Emerson once wrote "a foolish consistancy is the hobgoblin of small minds", but this dichotomy goes a bit far... how much did the ABC pay you - or was it that seven didn't pay enough? Or perhaps we're all so used to bagging the commercial networks that when they do something sensible (for a change)we see it only in the worst possible light - while our love of the battling underdog lets the ABC garner praise for exactly the same act?

Tribal Mind replies: It may be useful to remember that this column sometimes types with its tongue in its cheek. Other readers thought we were attacking the ABC. And for the record, nobody has ever offered to pay this column to say anything -- which is frustrating, because that has deprived us of the opportunity to take the high moral ground.

by Mike Bourke on May 24, 2006 at 03:21 AM

Funny thing was I went into my local video store on Friday night and there was Answered by Fire already on the shelf!
So I've seen it already thanks

Tribal Mind asks: Is it any good?

by DVD hirer on May 24, 2006 at 07:42 AM

Elena, the "commentary guy" on the Eurovision final on Sunday was indeed Terry Wogan.
The "commentary guy" on the Friday night "preliminary" final was Paddy O'Connell of BBC Three.

by BJ on May 24, 2006 at 11:15 AM

They should program Neighbours at the same time as ACA and Today Tonight so that people have something to watch instead of pretend current affairs...Oh, wait, they already do. Thank God.

by Kelli M on May 24, 2006 at 01:18 PM

I still reckon no one will watch the East Timor doco. For some reason, despite having no commercials, people are either totally dedicated to or are totally disinterested in the ABC. Look at what happens when 7 shows World around us wildlife docos, or channel 9 shows a mini series set in ancient Rome. Those same sorts of shows are on almost weekly on SBS and ABC and draw a fraction of the audience. I'll be interested to see the ratings this Sunday for ABC. My bet is around 600,000.

Tribal Mind replies: It's not a doco -- it's a drama.

by Dr DK on May 24, 2006 at 01:38 PM

Hey Kelli M
Neighbours has more credible stories than A Current Affair and Today Tonight these days.
In regards to the networks changing their schedules for big events like moving 'Thank God You're Here', showing a 'House' repeat and dropping 'Prison Break' for the Sate of Origin. Doesn't it make more sense to program a decent alternative for viewers who may not be interested in footy? What about a chick flick or a documentary that might appeal to intellectuals?

by J Bar on May 24, 2006 at 02:09 PM

The real reason the ABC postponed the screening of the mini-series 'Answered by Fire' until this Sunday evening has become obvious.
East Timor is back in the headlines with gun battles between rebels and the government. What great free publicity!!
What's that? Nine is now considering showing the movie 'Wag the Dog' at 8.30 Sunday night.

by Sacs on May 24, 2006 at 02:40 PM

Tribal Mind, just answering your question (only moderately belatedly)... Answered by Fire is in fact, fantastic.
The second half is better than the first.
Having visited Timor myself and with close links to the Australian East Timorese community (including some of the actors), I am amazed how accurately the country and the history has been portrayed (except the roads which are in too good condition!).
I really encourage all Australians to watch the second half, so they might understand how lucky we are to live here.

by amanda on May 29, 2006 at 07:31 PM

Whatever happened to the word obliged?

Tribal Mind replies: Why do you ask?

by James on June 04, 2006 at 07:30 PM

James,
I raised that whole "obliged" vs. "obligated" thing once with a Kiwi linguist, hoping for the silver bullet that would kill that ugly Americanism. He supported it! "Both derived from the same Latin root, obligare".
I reckon (and I know this has nothing to do with the column - sorry David) that, ever since Nixon, Americans just like to end words with "gate".

by Ramjet on June 26, 2006 at 07:38 AM

You have to wonder about the ethics of an organisation that retrenches 100 people and the very same week flys a plane load of bogans to Germany for the World Cup so that they can get their noses in another sports trough that they have bagged for many years. Sounds very similar to the ethics of a gatecrasher!!
Whilst 'good corporate citizen', 'ethics' and Channel 9 are mutually exclusive terms one expects that they will be rewarded in the appropriate way ie Bad Karma delivers Bad Karma.
Maybe they could take a leaf out of the plot of "My name is Earl" and right the 300 wrongs of Channel Nine and its contempt for viewers in recent years.

by Disillusioned on June 26, 2006 at 08:03 AM

Tribal Mind,
Your intro alludes to a disaster with '24' this week. Can you run me through where it sat in the ratings on Wed and Thurs last week. Two nights of two hours had me reaching for the Horlicks to calm my racing heart,
And as for Seven holding back the final episode of 24...i am very cranky...but it won't stop me waiting for it,
Ta
Tim

Tribal Mind replies: When you say "Seven holding back the final episode of 24" -- do you mean prison break? The disaster for Seven last week was that 24 averaged 747,000 on Wednesday and 774,000 on Thursday.

by Tim on June 26, 2006 at 08:50 AM

I wonder if the networks are now thinking it might have been a mistake to let cable freeze them out of A league coverage. Summer sport would then be tennis, cricket and football. I suspect a Friday night game would rate through the roof right now.

by David on June 26, 2006 at 09:11 AM

If Channel 10 has removed Big Brother uncut, where am I going to get my weekly perv now that SBS is soccer 24 hours a day?

by AG on June 26, 2006 at 10:16 AM

What I don't get, is that 24 bombed. I actually like the show, and I find it strange that people don't. Oh well, everyone's different.
I hope this doesn't mean that it will be bumped to a 11pm timeslot or something worse, like just get cancelled...
If it does, I will have to download it by bittorrent.

by Ray on June 26, 2006 at 10:37 AM

Channel 7 is following Channel 9 in the behaviour that caused viewers to get angry and switch to "anything else". Arrogance is what I would call taking for granted the viewing audience. Monday night's Commander in Chief, is replaced by Gray's Anatomy without any announcement either in print or on the website. This type of behaviour pisses off viewers who had developed a liking for a reasonably intelligent but certainly better program than Gray's Anatomy. Rather than moving the program to another time it just been pulled.

Channel 7 dont expect to keep viewers long with this sort of behaviour...you are only number 1 until you are not...

by John on June 26, 2006 at 10:50 AM

I am surprised that 24 tanked for the Seven network. I have loved every season of this show and was on the edge of my seat again last week.

Can you tell me how Mythbusters on SBS fares on average? I think it's a great show but notice that other networks are starting to catch on and have their own "versions" - Channel 9 with What's Good For You (and I think 10 had a show that was a similar but featured bikini models in the experiments!).

by Jen on June 26, 2006 at 11:02 AM

I notice Big Brother isn't in the top ten for the week...
Please channel 10, evict Big Brother. I keep tuning in to channel 10 every now and then hoping that big brother is nearly finished, and you extend my misery by introducing more and more intruders.
It's a good thing the world cup is on...

by Dan on June 26, 2006 at 11:13 AM

From what I have seen in the past Eddie and James P. were good friends so Eddie will not be removed from nine in a hurry.

by Ana on June 26, 2006 at 11:28 AM

Ana,
So were Jodee Rich and James P. You dont seem them talking anymore do you? When you deal with a Packer, business always comes before anything... Eddie will go if it comes to it, no worries.

by braveduck on June 26, 2006 at 12:06 PM

You are right braveduck, however lets not forget that when the Jodee Rich & James P. saga happened, Kerry was still alive and the senior Packer had a very firm hand on business and did not have a problem ending business relationships when necessary influencing his son. This time James is no longer under his father's shadow or influence. The question is does James have the same strength to eliminate even the closest of friends to save his business.
Would Kerry P. have appointed Eddie in this CEO position had he been alive?

by Ana on June 26, 2006 at 12:30 PM

If any or all of the "commercial" TV stations can be considered to represent the program tastes of Sydney then you have got to be a bit fearful for our society. If it wasn't for ABC & SBS I wouldn't bother switching on at all. The commercial stations feature the most narcissistic and egocentric bunch of "journalists" and "entertainers" you could have the misfortune to view. The prfit motive has gone crazy in this town. Eddie M is onother "legend in his own mind" sort of guy in for the same big fall that all those "big names" that we "worshipped" in the 80's and 90's namely Bond, Skase, Rich, Adler, Williams etc. Need I go on? Get a life Sydney and spend more time with the TV off spending quality time with the family.

by Keeping it simple on June 26, 2006 at 12:50 PM

How wonderful is that there are ABC and SBS and we can see and learn something valuable. Those documentaries you will never see on the other stations.....

by Ivan on June 26, 2006 at 01:42 PM

Disillusioned you are so right !! The "Footy Show" in Germany was pathetic. While the Socceroos are making us proud the clowns of The Footy Show are an embarassment! This kind of crap might play well to yobbo AFL/NRL types who still it's funny to get on the piss after a game and make morons of yourself back at the clubhouse but Eddie, newsflash, football (what you call "soccer") people think this is small town and moronic. They are used to watching quality coverage of a world class sport, with knowledgeable commentators. This is why over 2m people tune to SBS to watch the beautiful game.

by realfootball on June 26, 2006 at 01:49 PM

What I recon is gonna happen at ch9 is James is gonna call Eddie into his office and say Jezz Eddie we can't get a programe into the top 15 and the abc is out rating us so I'am here to tell you to take a hike,and by the way here's a S..T SANDWICH to chew on.

by tosick on June 26, 2006 at 01:51 PM

What do you expect when pigs have their noses in the trough

by Chris on June 26, 2006 at 03:37 PM

What a load of old tripe, the so called "Footy Show" was in Germany. These ignorant presenters no nothing about Football, and the sports they represent Rugby League and AFL are just a drop in the ocean, when compared to Football. When are these media giants gonna realise that pumping money and resources into NRL & AFL, is like flogging a dead horse. Hopefully Australia's successful World Cup campaign can finally put the nail in the NRL & AFL coffin.

by Dan F on June 26, 2006 at 03:55 PM

If Channel 10 has removed Big Brother uncut, where am I going to get my weekly perv now that SBS is soccer 24 hours a day?
Posted by: AG at June 26, 2006 10:16 AM
Why dont you just watch the football and perv on the players there !???!!! I mean there are some real hotties especially in the italian & brasillian teams ...
Do you really need to be bare flesh to enjoy a perv? i mean really!

by a1 on June 26, 2006 at 04:06 PM

EDDIE MCGUIRE's German junket would be deplorable if it weren't so sad. For a CEO he sure looked like a dill in his ruggers, pot belly and chicken legs kicking the round ball. What an Aussie dud.

by Better Than Everyone Else on June 26, 2006 at 05:24 PM

'quote from Dan':
I notice Big Brother isn't in the top ten for the week...
Please channel 10, evict Big Brother. I keep tuning in to channel 10 every now and then hoping that big brother is nearly finished, and you extend my misery by introducing more and more intruders.
It's a good thing the world cup is on..
*******
There is nothing I hate more on TV than turning on (mainly out of boredom) CH10 to watch Supernatural at 8:40, when it is supposed to start, and having to sit there with the TV on mute until 8:55 when that horror Grettle or whatever finally shuts up and Big Brother ends.****
Then you check the TV guide (last time I bothered) and from 7pm til 1:30am is all Big Brother apart from a 1 hour show and the News.****
Is that travesty of a show actually so popular that it warrants 5 hours of out 6.5 in a night? And most night of the weeks I think too..****
More so, have we come so pathetic on average that people actually watch so much of that crap?****
Well, hopefully going on those ratings, no, we're not.****
Seriously Channel 10, the only reason I turn your channel on now is to watch NCIS and sometimes Supernatural. Everything else you seem to show is crud. It's sad what your station turned into when Big Brother was released.****
R.I.P.

by Tevil on June 26, 2006 at 05:27 PM

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