Post by Inside Australian Idol on Mar 14, 2005 23:27:55 GMT 10
Ten nervous after Seven ate Nine
By David Dale
March 14, 2005
The TV transformation
The television industry is repeating an ancient joke that kids enjoy when they first learn to count: "Why is Ten scared? Because Seven ate Nine."
Of course, Channel Ten says it isn't panicking about Seven's astonishing resurgence this year because its best shows are yet to come, and anyway it's doing well in its target 16-39 age group - loved by advertisers because they go out and spend money.
In fact, that younger demographic is exactly where Seven has taken the biggest bite.
A comparison of the stations this year with last demonstrates Ten is suffering as much as Nine from the transformation of viewing habits. The ratings figures, to be announced this morning, will show that Ten had only one show in the top 20 last week - Sunday's Grand Prix - while Seven had nine shows and Nine had 10.
In the equivalent week last year, Ten had two shows in the top 20, Seven had two and Nine had 16.
Last week Ten had eight shows in the top 20 of viewers under 40, which looks a lot healthier. But the five favourites with that age group are Desperate Housewives, Lost, CSI, The Amazing Race and CSI Miami - and none is on Ten.
Ten had to cancel its Australian version of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, which should have attracted the lucrative under 40s.
Ten's expensive talent quest, The X-Factor, has tanked with all age groups. American Idol, which charmed the under 40s last year, isn't even in their top 20 this year.
Ten is left with Rove Live, the US thriller Medium and multiple permutations of The Simpsons to maintain its street cred.
Ten's programming manager, David Mott, says he is "absolutely comfortable" and will reveal his big guns after Easter.
But the biggest guns bring big questions: can Big Brother No.5 be different enough from its predecessors to attract a fresh audience; and has Ten damaged its own Australian Idol by overloading the talent quest market with The X-Factor and American Idol?
www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/03/13/1110649057057.html
By David Dale
March 14, 2005
The TV transformation
The television industry is repeating an ancient joke that kids enjoy when they first learn to count: "Why is Ten scared? Because Seven ate Nine."
Of course, Channel Ten says it isn't panicking about Seven's astonishing resurgence this year because its best shows are yet to come, and anyway it's doing well in its target 16-39 age group - loved by advertisers because they go out and spend money.
In fact, that younger demographic is exactly where Seven has taken the biggest bite.
A comparison of the stations this year with last demonstrates Ten is suffering as much as Nine from the transformation of viewing habits. The ratings figures, to be announced this morning, will show that Ten had only one show in the top 20 last week - Sunday's Grand Prix - while Seven had nine shows and Nine had 10.
In the equivalent week last year, Ten had two shows in the top 20, Seven had two and Nine had 16.
Last week Ten had eight shows in the top 20 of viewers under 40, which looks a lot healthier. But the five favourites with that age group are Desperate Housewives, Lost, CSI, The Amazing Race and CSI Miami - and none is on Ten.
Ten had to cancel its Australian version of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, which should have attracted the lucrative under 40s.
Ten's expensive talent quest, The X-Factor, has tanked with all age groups. American Idol, which charmed the under 40s last year, isn't even in their top 20 this year.
Ten is left with Rove Live, the US thriller Medium and multiple permutations of The Simpsons to maintain its street cred.
Ten's programming manager, David Mott, says he is "absolutely comfortable" and will reveal his big guns after Easter.
But the biggest guns bring big questions: can Big Brother No.5 be different enough from its predecessors to attract a fresh audience; and has Ten damaged its own Australian Idol by overloading the talent quest market with The X-Factor and American Idol?
www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/03/13/1110649057057.html