Memo to the ABC: 6 – 7 weeknights? Zzzzzz.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
If there’s an award for dullest timeslot of the week, the hour between 6 – 7 pm weeknights on the ABC would probably walk home with the prize.
Seriously, has the ABC given up on this timeslot altogether? It’s the start of nightly prime time, but for more than a year the ABC has made no aggressive attempt to revamp this black hole of television.
While the commercial networks focus on news, current affairs and soap, the offerings from the ABC vary from night to night.
This week the ABC is offering Message Stick, Talking Heads, Time Team, Great Artists, The Cook and the Chef, Grand Designs, Hidden Treasures with Betty Churcher, No Job for a Lady and Can We Help? They vary from interview, documentary, arts, cooking, British comedy and local panel shows. As programming these are akin to a lucky dip, and remember they are sandwiched in between children’s / teen shows and the news.
That’s almost three different audiences in just over one hour.
It’s as if the ABC is still licking its wounds over the demise of Something In the Air over five years ago. The broadcaster famously took the plunge into nightly local soap. It was hugely expensive, and despite mild critical acclaim, ultimately did not connect with the audience. Alas, the days of Bellbird ended generations ago.
After that the ABC launched five nights of locally produced chat and panel shows, largely out of South Australia and WA. Three of these, Talking Heads, The Cook and the Chef and The Collectors remain. It also tried George Negus Tonight, which had a modest but loyal audience. After it dropped him and there was considerable outcry, Negus was embraced by SBS.
We’ve had everything from Keeping up Appearances and Doctor Who to a lazy susan of lazy ideas.
Even SBS has revamped its World News this year, but the ABC acts as if nobody cares about its 6 – 7pm hour. Why can’t we have some decent alternative viewing choices to news, current affairs, Neighbours and Simpsons repeats?
Perhaps visitors of this site would like to suggest a way for the ABC to kick off evening viewing.
What ABC programmes would you like to see screened between 6 and 7pm? Try to lean towards shows that have multiple seasons….
6 Responses
The Goodies back on at 6pm!! I’d watch that 🙂
I actually like quite a few of those shows , in particular, Grand Designs is great! The Cook and the Chef is also good at that time slot, especially if you needing some inspiration for dinner! I must admit though, with a differnt show each day I forget which days the ones I like are on.
I remember TVTV! I never missed an episode… until Mark Mitchell and Tiffany Lamb became the hosts and it was turned into Entertainment Tonight ABC style. I agree with Andrew though, you should host TV Tonight in that 6:30 timeslot for those of us who don’t like stories on where to get cheap petrol.
perhaps you should offer your services to ABC to host “TV Tonight” at 6.30pm 🙂
Ah yes TVTV was good fun (or am I biased), although that’s going back to 1999! James Valentine is now, curiously, a vocal expert on It Takes Two.
remember they tried “Countdown Revolution”? Ratings were very ordinary but i thought it was a good alternative to the 6.30 current affairs shows. “TVTV” was another show that was a good idea they tried at 6.30 – where they discussed TV issues from all networks – a bit like “TVTonight” 🙂 I think there is room for a TV review program (thinking like “At The Movies” but for television).