[daniel]

Fans of The Sopranos and Six Feet Under rest easy. SBS has guaranteed an 8.30 timeslot for the HBO hit drama, Big Love.

Big Love provides an intriguing insight into the long outlawed practice and hidden world of polygamy. Featuring a stellar movie star cast including Bill Paxton, Chloe Sevigny and Jeanne Tripplehorn, the 12 part series centres on Mormon patriarch Bill Henrickson (played by Paxton) with his three wives and their seven children. Bill struggles to balance the financial and emotional needs of Barb, Nicki and Margene, who live in separate, adjacent houses and take turns sharing their husband each night. While managing the household finances together and routinely sharing "family home nights," they try to keep simmering jealousies in check and their arrangement a secret — polygamy is illegal in Utah and banned by the mainstream Mormon Church.

Produced by Warner Bros, Big Love made up part of Nine’s output deal but they decided to on sell when approached by SBS late last year.

Director of Television and Online Content Matt Campbell said "Frankly were delighted but also a bit surprised Nine passed on this little gem. I think they deemed it too edgy for their audience but when it comes to drama edge is what people have come to expect from SBS."

The success in the US and UK has seen Big Love renewed for a second series.

"With our growing stable of international drama series, including Don Matteo, The Emmy award winning Eagle and If The Dead Could Speak (another HBO production), SBS is assembling a formidable line-up of the worlds best drama". Campbell said.

"Were committed to demonstrating it’s not just the US that produces slick and engaging drama series. Over the coming months SBS will allow all Australians to explore dramas from diverse places like Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Italy and France, not to mention our own commissioned Australian dramas The Circuit, Kick and Major Crime."

Big Love will begin on SBS mid 2007.




I think this is a good outcome for all- Big Love fans will have a secure timeslot and Nine won't cop flak from its viewers.

[Firetorch]

When was Australias Funniest Home Videos theme changed? I obviously haven't watched in a long time.

[Pun]

Caps of the new look Footy Show.

Attached File(s)

•  FootyShow.jpg (812.66K)
  Number of downloads: 24

[Firetorch]

Anyone seen the adverts Nine is running promoting their website? Using the footy tippers is a good way to get people going there.

[Terry]

BERT "RESTED".

Following on from Bert Newton’s celebrations of 50 years in Australian television last week, Channel Nine is pleased to announce Bert has renewed his contract with the Nine Network, and will host the new series of What a Year in the coming months.

“Channel Nine is thrilled to continue its close relationship with Bert, and is looking forward to him being at the Network for years to come. He is a true television legend,“ said Michael Healy, Director of Programming.

A four-time Gold Logie winner and Logie Hall of Fame recipient, Newton joined the Nine Network in the late 1950s to work with Graham Kennedy on In Melbourne Tonight, which made him a household name. In 1976 he joined The Don Lane Show where his “Wheel” segment became one of the most talked about events on television.

Bert’s premiere special event 50 to 1 was the top rating show for Nine last night capturing a national audience of 1.303 million viewers and was the number one show in the 25–54 demographic, proving once again his popularity, across all age groups.

Bert will have another busy year at Nine, as he continues to host 20 to 1 on Tuesday nights at 7.30pm, along with the new series of What a Year, and other special events. Bert’s Family Feud, 5.30pm week days, will continue to air until the current series concludes in June, when it will be rested.

Bert Newton said, “Finding another contract with the Nine Network is not foreign to me, but this one is especially significant. 50 years is a long time and since rejoining the Network last year I have felt I am home. 2008 is another year on the clock, and What a Year is another challenge I look forward to.”.

[Terry]

Gary Pert, Nine Melbourne Manager- set to become new Collingwood Chief Executive.

[Kevin]

Terry, on May 10 2007, 07:40 AM, said:

Gary Pert, Nine Melbourne Manager- set to become new Collingwood Chief Executive.

Yeah I heard that this morning. You have to wonder what Nine are thinking with this one

I dunno if Eddie has announced this yet, so this may not be true, but the rumour earlier today was that Gary was going to do both jobs - Collingwood CEO while remaining Manager of Nine in Melbourne. Don't ask me how that is supposed to work

[Terry]

Perhaps Eddie will go and run Nine Melbourne??

Or they could just replace Pert.

Nine have far greater concerns, mainly what to put at 5:30.

This post has been edited by Terry: 10 May 2007 - 10:02 AM

[Kevin]

Terry, on May 10 2007, 10:02 AM, said:

Perhaps Eddie will go and run Nine Melbourne??

Terry, on May 10 2007, 10:02 AM, said:

Nine have far greater concerns, mainly what to put at 5:30.

Exactly. That should be their main concern, as it's been proven that the lead in to the news is what improves news ratings. It's also been proven that the news generally decides on what channel people will watch for the rest of the night.

This is where Eddie has his priorities wrong. His focus should be on Nine, not who's running Collingwood. I thought it was strange in the beginning when he said he'll keep doing both jobs. I don't think he can do both at once and I think the past year or so for Nine has proven that.

[Terry]

The Nanny has been axed.

Fresh to 11:30- Mcleods Daughter's to 12:00 - The Catch up at 1:00.

This post has been edited by Terry: 10 May 2007 - 11:33 AM

[dude]

Terry, on May 10 2007, 07:40 AM, said:

Gary Pert, Nine Melbourne Manager- set to become new Collingwood Chief Executive.

Jobs for the boys. Shame Eddie, shame.

[Terry]

Today the Nine Network Australia announced that Gary Pert would stand down from the role of Managing Director, Channel Nine Melbourne (GTV).

Pert has decided to pursue a full time career in football administration with the Collingwood Football Club.

Tony Shepherd will continue in his role as Station Manager of Channel Nine Melbourne.

Shepherd will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of GTV as the Nine Network does not propose to replace Pert's role of Managing Director in Melbourne.

This structure will be similar to the model of Channel Nine Brisbane (QTQ) and is in line with the Network’s management objectives.

Nine Network Australia, Executive Director, Jeffrey Browne, said: "Nine appreciates Gary's contribution to the Network and understands that he wishes to pursue a change in his career. We wish him well in this endeavour. We are fortunate to have Tony Shepherd who will assume many of the duties previously allocated to Pert's position.

Of his time at the Network, Pert said: "It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work with such a great team of people at Channel Nine. I have no doubt that Tony and the Executive Team will maintain the performance and culture that GTV9 is famous for."

Pert will leave Channel Nine Melbourne at the end of this week.


Thanks to TV Tonight.

[Slj]

Terry, on May 10 2007, 11:31 AM, said:

The Nanny has been axed.

Fresh to 11:30- Mcleods Daughter's to 12:00 - The Catch up at 1:00.

Surely not long now until The Catch up is axed, below 100k yesterday.

[The Big Walbowski]

Terry, on May 9 2007, 08:43 PM, said:

Bert’s Family Feud, 5.30pm week days, will continue to air until the current series concludes in June, when it will be rested.

The last time a prominent Nine game/quiz show was rested (Sale of the Century, IIRC), it didn't come back in its original form. So I fear that FF will be as good as boned.

This post has been edited by The Big Walbowski: 12 May 2007 - 09:38 PM

[Kevin]

A very, very interesting read from today's Crikey...

Crushed and despondent: a view from inside Nine said:

Crushed and despondent: a view from inside Nine
A Nine Network insider writes:

Who gives a f-ck if it's Sam Chisholm, John Alexander or Ian Law who is responsible for Channel Nine's woes. You guys are continually missing the point about the sickness in the joint. Margaret Simons is right and good on her for saying it like it is. The fact is it's real, and getting worse every day.

What none of us can understand is why the financial press cravenly inserts itself up the rear end of Park Street every week and slavishly reports the brilliance of James' latest private equity deal or, as last week, the split up of the media and gaming.

Nick Tabakoff's weekly plaudits for Park Street make us all puke. There needs to be a public debate about what rapacious, greedy, self-centred little sh-ts have done to a once-great media organisation... and why the Howard Government is letting this happen to a joint that used to - used to - do some tough news and current affairs.

None of us can understand what CVC thinks is worth paying $4.5B for 50% of the joint we now know about. The only thing that adds value to Nine is its culture and staff knowledge base and they've pissed that up against the wall for the last five years of cost-cutting.

Here in News, the people who used to know how to help a young reporter write a script have left the building in disgust. Most people who know how to run a TV station have left the joint and the TV station is now run exclusively by newspapermen and accountants. The equipment is held together with band-aids (and that is Sam's fault as much as everyone else's) and they've cut archives, maintenance, capital expenditure and staff hiring so tightly that not only is the place looking tatty, people are totally crushed and despondent.

Start reporting the detail ... the full extent of the ratings slump, the complete lack of a corporate plan other than carting out tired old repeats, the complete lack of imagination and repeated meddling by Park Street.

Someone ask John Alexander what his grand plan is - because he doesn't have one. He's just maximising his own short-term returns and he's delegated running Nine to Chris Anderson, Linnell, Law ... all tired old newspaper men. None of us can understand why Nine is worth $4.5B ... and we all reckon there's got to be a massive crash in the share price when the shareholders start asking questions.

Nine is a textbook study in a corporate failure and the full extent of it has not yet been told.

Source: Crikey.com.au

And you pro-Nine lot think Nine is still the one? I don't think so, especially not with management like that

[cartman]

Kevin, on May 15 2007, 01:46 PM, said:

A very, very interesting read from today's Crikey...
And you pro-Nine lot think Nine is still the one? I don't think so, especially not with management like that

There are some people here who are quick to dismiss Seven as being "bodge", but in fact that article is right. Nine's stations are held together with band-aid and gaffer tape solutions and their equipment is old and tired.

Yet, which broadcaster has new state of the art broadcast facilities in Melbourne and Sydney, and soon, Adelaide too? It's not the Nine Network.

And don't come back at me with that "Seven is 576p and Nine is 1080i" rubbish because that, alone, does not make Nine a better broadcaster.

[dude]

Kevin, on May 15 2007, 11:46 AM, said:

A very, very interesting read from today's Crikey...


And you pro-Nine lot think Nine is still the one? I don't think so, especially not with management like that

"a textbook study in corporate failure"

Channel Nine - 100% dismal

[Firetorch]

Kevin, on May 15 2007, 11:46 AM, said:

And you pro-Nine lot think Nine is still the one? I don't think so, especially not with management like that

Well I enjoy the television network, not the internal operations of the company.

Nine is not great...but its better than Seven.

[dude]

Firetruck, on May 15 2007, 02:02 PM, said:

Well I enjoy the television network, not the internal operations of the company.

You make a good point there.

[Terry]

Kevin, on May 15 2007, 11:46 AM, said:

A very, very interesting read from today's Crikey...
And you pro-Nine lot think Nine is still the one? I don't think so, especially not with management like that

Do you not think this crap goes on at Seven? Do you not think that there are hundreds of workers sitting around thinking "When will our cost cutting begin"??

Do you think that the culture of getting pissed and then nearly knocking over a policeman in your car is a good one? Or the fact that most in News Department detest the Breakfeast workers?

Or that most of Seven off-air "talent" is near retirement age??

You won't read this in Crikey.


FTA television is dying, and it would be an idea for you and many others- to realise that in 10 years, Seven and Nine will mere shadows of there former selves.

This post has been edited by Terry: 15 May 2007 - 04:41 PM

[The Big Walbowski]

Kevin, on May 15 2007, 01:16 PM, said:

A very, very interesting read from today's Crikey...
And you pro-Nine lot think Nine is still the one? I don't think so, especially not with management like that

Don't worry: I'm not pro-Nine. Or pro-any network, for that matter. The people I met at that other site will vouch for that.

None of that stuff surprises me at all. The impression I get is that Nine management take themselves far too seriously these days.

In particular, Eddie McGuire who, as the recent controversy surrounding his mate Gary Pert's appointment as Collingwood Magpies CEO would show, seems to be able to dish it out, but can't take it.

[Pun]

While at I was at SAS7, we all joked about NWS9 not being able to get their chopper up during a factory fire because of their strict budget .

[Terry]

New Nine Schedule.

Monday
WGFY
1 Vs 100
CSI: repeat

Tuesday
Code- Crime and Justice
CSI: New York (New)
CSI??? (Unsure about this one.)

[Firetorch]

Terry, on May 16 2007, 12:34 PM, said:

Tuesday
Code- Crime and Justice
CSI: New York (New)
CSI??? (Unsure about this one.)

I can't believe how low Two and a Half Men rated last night.

Nine should have been better prepared once DWTS finished, to take on Seven. Very disappointing.

[The Big Walbowski]

Pun, on May 16 2007, 12:35 AM, said:

While at I was at SAS7, we all joked about NWS9 not being able to get their chopper up during a factory fire because of their strict budget .

That wouldn't be far from the truth, by the looks of things.