Mixed feelings over SBS absorbing indigenous TV
Monday, 21 May 2012
MANAGEMENT at National Indigenous TV has raised concerns that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network will lose its identity once it is absorbed into SBS on July 1.
The SBS takeover would give the channel a free-to-air national platform for the first time, but at the price of its independence, interim NITV chief executive Michael McMichael said.
It was previously confined to pay-TV and satellite broadcast.
The SBS takeover would give the channel a free-to-air national platform for the first time, but at the price of its independence, interim NITV chief executive Michael McMichael said.
It was previously confined to pay-TV and satellite broadcast.
NRL rights will struggle to break $1bn mark
Monday, 21 May 2012
THE new Australian Rugby League Commission has set an ambitious target of more than $1 billion for its TV rights. A benchmark based, no doubt, on the huge $1.25bn Australian Football League deal completed last year.
The NRL has a lot to learn from the AFL, and is looking at a similar model -- cash and contra, plus a dedicated rugby league channel on Foxtel.
The rights negotiations for the five-year contract starting next year are at an early stage, with Nine and Foxtel eager to retain them over fierce competition from Seven and Ten. It is clear they are worth nothing approaching $1bn, should stay with Nine and Foxtel and should not be split between free-to-air networks.
The NRL has a lot to learn from the AFL, and is looking at a similar model -- cash and contra, plus a dedicated rugby league channel on Foxtel.
The rights negotiations for the five-year contract starting next year are at an early stage, with Nine and Foxtel eager to retain them over fierce competition from Seven and Ten. It is clear they are worth nothing approaching $1bn, should stay with Nine and Foxtel and should not be split between free-to-air networks.
Late news returns as Ten plans revamp
Monday, 21 May 2012
NETWORK TEN will revive its late news presence by launching news and public affairs show Ten Newsnight two weeks from today with senior journalist Hamish Macdonald as host.
The program, which the network will announce today, will air Monday to Thursday at 10.30pm, the time slot occupied by Ten's late night news bulletin until it was axed eight months ago amid budget cuts that slashed staff numbers by 12 per cent.
A news update will fill the spot on Fridays.
The program, which the network will announce today, will air Monday to Thursday at 10.30pm, the time slot occupied by Ten's late night news bulletin until it was axed eight months ago amid budget cuts that slashed staff numbers by 12 per cent.
A news update will fill the spot on Fridays.
Nine burning brightly under Wick
Monday, 21 May 2012
A TURNING point for Nine News, which now dominates the ratings in Sydney and Melbourne, came when Sydney newsreader Peter Overton anchored the bulletin from Canberra -- and Nine News beat Seven News on a big event for the first time in years.
The occasion was the December 2009 partyroom leadership spill that led to Tony Abbott's ascension to Coalition leader. The immediacy of the coverage and political editor Laurie Oakes's reporting appealed to viewers.
Nine's then-Sydney news director Darren Wick took inspiration and saw it was possible to overtake Seven with a good idea.
The occasion was the December 2009 partyroom leadership spill that led to Tony Abbott's ascension to Coalition leader. The immediacy of the coverage and political editor Laurie Oakes's reporting appealed to viewers.
Nine's then-Sydney news director Darren Wick took inspiration and saw it was possible to overtake Seven with a good idea.
'Blowout' in merit ABC, SBS merit appointments
Monday, 21 May 2012
Selecting the ABC chairman and board members for the ABC and SBS was more costly because candidates were no longer chosen from "John Howard's Christmas-card list", the federal government has said.
The government was responding to an opposition attack after answers to Senate estimates questions on notice revealed the merit-based selection process has cost $525,719 to select 11 directors, including ABC chairman Jim Spigelman.
South Australian Liberal senator Simon Birmingham said the process averaged about $50,000 per position. "(Communications Minister) Senator Conroy appears to have created an incredibly wasteful and expensive process to fill ABC and SBS board vacancies," Senator Birmingham said.
The government was responding to an opposition attack after answers to Senate estimates questions on notice revealed the merit-based selection process has cost $525,719 to select 11 directors, including ABC chairman Jim Spigelman.
South Australian Liberal senator Simon Birmingham said the process averaged about $50,000 per position. "(Communications Minister) Senator Conroy appears to have created an incredibly wasteful and expensive process to fill ABC and SBS board vacancies," Senator Birmingham said.
Ten gets closer to EYE Corp deal
Friday, 18 May 2012
TELEVISION broadcaster Ten Network Holdings has entered an exclusivity agreement with a bidder for its outdoor advertising business EYE Corp.
Ten is believed to be in talks with Champ Private Equity-owned oOh!media Group, a person familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
Redbridge Grant Samuel is advising Champ and oOh!media, while UBS is giving financial advice to Ten and Clayton Utz is providing legal advice.
Ten is believed to be in talks with Champ Private Equity-owned oOh!media Group, a person familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
Redbridge Grant Samuel is advising Champ and oOh!media, while UBS is giving financial advice to Ten and Clayton Utz is providing legal advice.
Ten breakfast a distant third
Friday, 18 May 2012
THE Today show on Nine won nationally yesterday, pushing Seven's Sunrise into second place and Breakfast on Ten into a very distant third.
Ten’s Breakfast program had just 28,000 viewers on Thursday morning, a tiny number compared to Today's 376,000 and Sunrise's 356,000.
The fledgling breakfast show hosted by New Zealand import Paul Henry is not growing its audience but Ten insists it is here to stay.
Ten’s Breakfast program had just 28,000 viewers on Thursday morning, a tiny number compared to Today's 376,000 and Sunrise's 356,000.
The fledgling breakfast show hosted by New Zealand import Paul Henry is not growing its audience but Ten insists it is here to stay.
Never too late to play catch-up
Thursday, 17 May 2012
There's no reason to miss out on your favourite shows, writes Adam Turner.
AUSTRALIA'S television networks are making it easier for us to catch up on our favourite shows without turning to a computer.
We all have favourites, from reality-TV shows MasterChef and The Block to thrillers such as Alcatraz and Homeland. One thing these programs have in common is that you can't afford to miss an episode.
AUSTRALIA'S television networks are making it easier for us to catch up on our favourite shows without turning to a computer.
We all have favourites, from reality-TV shows MasterChef and The Block to thrillers such as Alcatraz and Homeland. One thing these programs have in common is that you can't afford to miss an episode.
Seven's talent wins the night
Thursday, 17 May 2012
SEVEN won the ratings last night with a strong performance from Australia's Got Talent and its news programs.
The network's 7pm staple Home and Away (911,000) however was fourth in the competitive timeslot behind The Block (1.10 million) on Nine, ABC News (951,000) and MasterChef Australia (933,000) on Ten.
The grand final of Celebrity Apprentice did manage to break through the 1 million mark - despite the inadvertent release of the winner on the Nine website Ninemsn 24 hours early. Reality show veteran and music executive Ian ``Dicko'' Dickson took the crown and won $10,000 for his charity.
The network's 7pm staple Home and Away (911,000) however was fourth in the competitive timeslot behind The Block (1.10 million) on Nine, ABC News (951,000) and MasterChef Australia (933,000) on Ten.
The grand final of Celebrity Apprentice did manage to break through the 1 million mark - despite the inadvertent release of the winner on the Nine website Ninemsn 24 hours early. Reality show veteran and music executive Ian ``Dicko'' Dickson took the crown and won $10,000 for his charity.
Wave Goodbye to your Remote and say Hello to FOXTEL
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Can’t find your remote control? No need to worry as Kinect on Xbox 360 customers can now select and watch their favourite FOXTEL on Xbox 360 TV shows and movies with a simple hand gesture or voice command.
With Kinect and FOXTEL on Xbox 360 people can navigate through the new-look user interface and locate sports, movies and TV shows with simple voice commands or the wave of a hand.
FOXTEL is the first broadcaster to provide Australians with voice and gesture control to find and watch their favourite live television programs.
With Kinect and FOXTEL on Xbox 360 people can navigate through the new-look user interface and locate sports, movies and TV shows with simple voice commands or the wave of a hand.
FOXTEL is the first broadcaster to provide Australians with voice and gesture control to find and watch their favourite live television programs.
