News Archive:
Getting the picture
As networks seek to promote their wares to media, there are various strategies adopted by different networks.
New programmes are announced Press Releases are sent to journalists, radio presenters, editors, online media, yes and even bloggers, in the hope it will attract attention and lead to articles, interviews, media opportunities, cover stories and thereby excite a viewing audience.
And in a world where every picture tells a story, photos are a crucial tool of communication. Some networks provide online galleries for journalists, while others prefer the human touch and meet each request on …
Cold Case frozen out for Mentalist
A change to programming for next Wednesday April 1st on Nine.
With the two hour finale of Farmer Wants a Wife at 7:30pm, Nine had planned to hold over The Mentalist.
Now it’s decided to hold over Cold Case instead, and move the Simon Baker series to 9:30pm with the episode “Bloodshot.” A better outcome really. Though it would have made sense to settle on that decision before some print guides locked off copy.
There’s still a repeat for fans at 10:30pm anyway.
A week later the Footy Show (AFL) will air at 8:30pm on …
Nine renovates post Easter schedule
Channel Nine will premiere its new renovation series homeMADE after the Easter non-ratings break.
Previously titled Home Run, the series is developed by The Chopping Block’s Julian Cress and David Barbour. Both also created The Block. Interior designers will battle it out as they make over everyday Australian family homes. The homes will be the stage where “the designers will wage war on each other until only one remains and takes out the ultimate prize.”
The series, hosted by Sydney interior designer David Heimann, is expected to be stripped across the 7pm timeslot. …
Fall season sounds dull already
Last year’s US Fall season really only produced one bonafide hit in the US: The Mentalist.
Oh how we long for the days that Desperate Housewives, Lost and Prison Break compelled us to the screens each week.
Now CBS says the next season looks tight.
Network CEO Les Moonves said, “The advertisers are nervous.
“They’re going to be locking their budgets in a lot later.”
And so, to cut costs, CBS is producing 6 fewer pilot this year compared with 2008. He says the network only has room for 3 or 4 new shows in its …
Bumped: Flashpoint , Cold Case.
Nine has responded quickly to last night’s ratings with a switcheroo for its Wednesday night crime shows.
From next week Cold Case moves to 9:30pm with Flashpoint bumped out to 10:30pm.
Flashpoint last night took 632,000 viewers, beaten by Gangs of Oz on1.18m and Life on 810,000.
Cold Case (561,000) managed to beat Lost (516,000). In Nine’s favour at least it is a show that has established an audience and could trail better out of The Mentalist than the Canadian action drama.
Also on Wednesday night TEN’s Guerilla Gardeners didn’t have a strong debut with …
Wednesday scheduling update
Here are today’s amendments for News and beyond.
Nine (GTV / TCN / QTQ)
Wed Feb 11
6:00pm Nine News 1hr
7:00pm A Current Affair
7:30pm The Farmer Wants a Wife
8:30pm The Mentalist S1E10 “Red Brick and Ivy”
9:30pm Flashpoint
10:30pm Nine News Special 1 hr
Thu Feb 12
6:00pm Nine News
7:00pm A Current Affair
7:30pm Australia Unites 4.5 hrs
This means Cold Case and Two and a Half Men are out.
Nine has also altered an episode of The Mentalist, which was to have been S1E9 “Flame Red”. No doubt its arson attack storyline was deemed inappropriate. Good to see a sensible …
Airdate: Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Channel Nine has locked in its premiere for Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities -and it’s not what was reported in The Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph this morning.
The prequel will premiere at 8:30pm Monday February 9th and, reports The Australian, “stay in the Monday timeslot.”
TV Tonight can also confirm it will be a two hour premiere.
This pits the show head to head with Desperate Housewives and Good News Week on Seven and TEN, plus Dexter and Brothers and Sisters.
Yesterday Nine announced the return of The Mentalist, Kitchen Nightmares: USA …
Returning: The Mentalist, Cold Case, Kitchen Nightmares
UPDATED: Nine has revealed details of its schedule next week, the final week of non-ratings, which includes the return of The Mentalist in new episodes.
Episode 8 “Thin Red Line” screens at 8:30pm Wednesday February 4th followed by Flashpoint’s 7th episode “He Knows His Brother.”
New Cold Case episodes move to “new night, new time” at 10:30pm with “Wednesday’s Women.”
What that means for ER, starting its 14th season at 10:30pm tomorrow night, is extremely unclear. It won’t be in the same slot next week. Madness.
Amended: New episodes of Kitchen Nightmares USA return at …
Programming war heats up
An article today speculates on more programming plans between Seven and Nine with the following:
SEVEN
- Border Security to 7:30pm Sunday followed by Triple Zero Heroes.
- City Homicide to 8:30pm Sunday followed by Bones.
- How I Met Your Mother 7:30pm Monday.
- Australia’s Got Talent to 7:30pm Wednesday.
NINE
- Two and a Half Men (new) to 7:30pm Monday
- Domestic Blitz to 7:30pm Wednesday -this is already confirmed, and while Blitz has had its order upped, it tends to perform as a special or short-run series.
Nine’s director of research Steve Weaver said “dog” shows will …
Lie to Me
America must really be afraid of putting American actors into lead roles lately. Especially when they’re required to be just a little bit left of centre. We’ve got Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis, Simon Baker, Jason O’Mara and Toni Collette just to name a few who are prominent right now.
Enter Tim Roth, in Lie to Me which premieres today in the US. Roth plays Dr. Cal Lightman, an expert in reading body language, facial expressions and all manner of deception. He runs a private company housed in an ultra-sleek, contemporary building where …
Lie to Me lays low
One of TEN’s new hopes Lie To Me, starring Tim Roth and Kelli Williams, is about to premiere in the US.
So far the reviews are lukewarm.
Roth plays Dr. Cal Lightman, a scientist specializing in decoding facial expressions and body language who works with police. Yes, it’s hard not find reviews that don’t reference The Mentalist, Psych or Monk.
Variety said: Tim Roth is such an interesting actor that the prospect of him coming to TV should be cause for celebration — if, that is, Fox had seen fit to craft a …
American premieres in January
Ok, it’s a quiet news day. So you wanna know what’s returning to American screens in January? We won’t ask why…..
All dates are US dateline.
Jan. 6: After a nearly 11-month break, FX’s Nip / Tuck returns for the second installment of Season 5 (4 is on 9HD Mondays, while part 1 of S5 hasn’t started here yet).
Jan 6: ABC takes over Scrubs from NBC for what may - or may not - be its final season.
Jan. 7: Damages makes it long-awaited return with Glenn Close’s Patty Hewes keeping at least one …