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Aussie assault to tackle strike

More Kyle and Jackie O for TEN, Underbelly and Canal Road at Nine and new Aussie programming from Seven -that’s how the big three commercial networks are addressing the lengthy US writer’s strike.

All the networks have been preparing contingency plans as their shelves are gradually being stripped bare of US product in the wake of the strike.

“We’ve been developing a plan which is now coming together pretty quick,” Seven’s Tim Worner tells The Courier Mail.

“We’ve kept a fair bit of content up our sleeve anyway and there is now good depth in that inventory.

“On top of that, we’ve stepped up development of Australian programs. We figure there has never been a better time to launch a show on Seven than right now and if the writers’ strike kicks in, we are going to turn a problem into an opportunity.”

Nine also has a swathe of new products in the pipeline, headed up by the two new dramas it has been shooting in 2007. David Gyngell boasts it’s the “strongest investment ever made in Australian drama in a single year by any network.”

But TEN is in the perilous situation of needing its 4 big reality shows (Biggest Loser, So You Think You Can Dance, Idol and Big Brother) to underpin its year.

It may look to Kyle and Jackie O being on screen more than Gretel Killeen if the strike drags on. Despite news that BB UpLate is to go, TEN is actually looking to increase the BB airtime. We wait with bated breath…

16 Responses

  1. David, I think you’re doing a bang up job. After all, this is a blog about TELEVISION, so of course you’re going to do stories about TELEVISION.

    As for Kyle Sandilands? I can’t stand him either. I have stopped watching Idol simply because of him, and you can bet I won’t be tuning into BB.

  2. Neo Kitten, yes its a conspiracy, all the Anonymous messages are really from network spies singling out this blog. Me? Im at Sandilands house right now and we have a computer hive set up to counteract all negative feedback. 🙂

  3. First off, this isnt about blogger Dave, this is about a claim that the Aussies have planned an “assualt” to tackle the writers strike.
    The last writers strike that took place in America lasted for around eighty days (Im sure David will correct) we are closing day sixty and already a show has settled its conflicts. (Jon Stewarts blog has stated its near done with its negotiations as well).
    Statements were released by all networks weeks before the strike started stating that the networks have been buying up scripts to all shows BIG time. i.e not just usual writing team scripts but all scripts in proper format. The writers of the shows claim they have only penned minimal amounts of scripts but in a lot of cases even before the strikes it doesn’t mean they are always used and outside writers are ALWAYS used with any show. Before any show starts in the states a detailed treatment is written showing there direction of the story, its characters, its twists, locations etc etc. Although the treatments are a guideline and slightly change over seasons to season, all changes are run through the networks and need approval relating to budget and MPA standards.
    This is all 101 stuff here. IT is by no means a bunch of people rock up to a room, write a bunch of tv shows and throw em at some other dude who goes out and films them. And when you run out its all over pack up and go home.
    As for Desperate Housewives. Its first season was a huge success. Its second seasons was hugely bagged causing a lot of NE writers to walk. In Australia it may have been a power house when it first aired but yes, we do get re-runs quite a lot. And two the second seasons poor quality had an impact here and its numbers have dived.
    Lets say they only have “ten” episodes left from OC writers. It no way means they will shoot ten episodes wrap up a storyline season in the episodes and call it a day.
    Hence the mass buying of scripts in the months leading up to the strike. It just means OC writer scripts wont be used.
    A classic case of repeat fever here in Australia was Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In its final two seasons 6-7. It aired over here in Australia near 6 months after it aired over in the States. It showed a new episode followed by a repeat, new episode, repeat etc etc. A tactic that is used quite often.
    We are not as fanatical of TV over here as the US is. If someone see’s a repeat they groan, watch , get up and go to work the next morning and by the end of the day have forgotten all about it. And even in this day if the networks here show a repeat, a fan simply gets online and downloads the new episode.
    This is apparent for shows like Heroes and Lost. Most of the fans are so keen to see what happens next they simply download it. By the time it airs here the majority of fans have seen it and don’t bother to watch, hence “fast-tracking” and eventually poor ratings.
    One thing you do have to remember that being a member of the WGA isn’t compulsory. And not all writers are. The original points of the strike were about royalties relating to on-line streaming. Something musicians have been fighting to achieve for a very long time.
    And in saying this the writers for Stewart are leading the charge. They are the most re-produced on line segments around featuring on political blogs all over the place.
    The strike is closer to its end as it is to its start. They hold out for the extra few bucks and get back to work.
    Hey, think about cinema, a longer, more expensive process but similar. Movies are optioned and bought all the time. Most never see light of day but the ones that do are re-written by execs NE writers and very rarely what the writer first submitted ends up being seen on screen. The same thing happens in TV.
    And a reader of this blog should know that a “plan” to air 22 episodes of anything is flimsy at best. IF the show has a great first season (and a lot of times the networks only option 10-12 episodes for a first season). The second season is highly anticipated, promoted and allocated. But in Australia this a rare feat.
    If it don’t rate quick, its destroyed. That goes for established and non established shows a like.
    No way will the writers strike effect us here as bad as the US.
    House threw up repeats mid season, no one cared. DH did the same and a few ladies cried but didn’t change a thing. CSI and Law and Order barely EVER show in sequence. Ugly Betty hasn’t aired for a while and I’m sure a few more months will go by barely un-noticed here. By the time we get to airing new episodes of the two or three shows that matter the strike will be over. And showing a few repeats at the end of a season to fill out the slots isn’t new by any means and barely ever noticed or complained about.
    Will it effect our TV screens?? Barely. Will Aussies care? Not at all.
    And please, don’t say me talking about the writers strike to someone I don’t know, never heard of never met as “having a go”
    If your going to critique and throw in personal opinion Hynch style, expect people to disagree with you.
    As for the no Anonymous rule. I guess I’ll just to fill in John and be done. Theres no conspiracy against you Dave. It just seems to me your more a child of the later generation as opposed to the newer. And I think you really really have a crush on Americans.
    Its fine and all, but we have to call a spade a spade.
    And people just want to know where there bloggers beliefs lie.
    Hey, you may even sit down to watch a show tonight you think is new and find out it aired in the states a year ago!! ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

  4. I’m finding it hard to see how someone can fail to understand how the WGA strike in America can have an impact on television in Australia. The time delay mentioned that we have on most primetime US shows won’t stop there being an impact here.

    Using a show that has already been mentioned as an example, Desperate Housewives. It usually has approximately 22 episodes in a season. Now, whether it is currently popular or not, the chances of Seven dropping it from a primetime timeslot are pretty slim. If Seven are expecting those 22 episodes to plan their line-up and, due to the writers strike, there are only 12 episodes available that is 10 weeks of that particular timeslot that needs to be filled. It certainly won’t be impossible to do, but surely you can see that it will therefore be having an effect on our programming here for all networks that air US shows, whether they are a major drawcard or not. It will be changing what we would have been seeing in 2008.

    I am aware that we do get a lot of repeats aired here with popular US shows (in particular things like CSI). But if we already get that amount of repeats, imagine what it could or will be like next year. If the strike doesn’t end any time soon, then the majority of US programming will only have half a season worth of material.

    I’m not quite sure what this “5. America has claimed it has at least one more season of scripts for its top shows before its “used up”.” means. They may have back up shows that they haven’t used yet, but they certainly don’t have at least one more season worth of scripts for shows that are already popular and loved. Unless there is something that I’m not aware of. Otherwise I am sure that they would still be in production making them.

    “6. The only shows truly affected are ones we dont even air here on free-to-air. And the ones we do air are 90% of the time re-runs.”

    This statement also confuses me a little. So shows like Grey’s Anatomy, House, Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters (as well as previously mentioned shows like Heroes and Prison Break) and a whole new line-up of shows that are due to start here on free-to-air tv in 2008 won’t be affected? And I have to say that claiming 90% of the time that they are re-runs is surely a stretch. It’s certainly not like that during the ratings season.

    And even if you say “I understand the strike is big news in AMERICA, but to try tie it up with our TV is a HUGE stretch of the imagination, the impact here will be minimal at best and easily fixed by throwing up re-runs.”. What is supposed to happen? They throw in 10 weeks worth of re-runs for all shows, not including the re-runs that are already thrown in during a season that is a full 22 episodes? So basically we’d be watching the season twice in one year? Maybe I’m misunderstanding you, but that doesn’t seem like it fixes anything.

    I just feel like you’re clutching at straws to come up with reasons why it won’t be a problem here (and maybe just to give David a hard time). I understand that we are not completely reliant on US programming, but that doesn’t mean it won’t impact us. And I personally think that it’s great that David is keeping us informed here about the strike in terms of what it means for Australia. There are people who are interested, and to not have to completely rely on American sources is wonderful. So cheers to David from me!

  5. The days of 100% anonymous comments on this site are numbered anyway.

    I’ve been very patient with lots of comments that I view as ‘hit and run’ and some comments have waged e-wars that I don’t wish to facilitate.

    I welcomed comments in order to provide a Q+A facility. Those who wish to just attack have messageboards at their disposal.

    While it comes with the territory to some extent I’m re-thinking ways of discouraging it and excluding anonymous comments is one option. It won’t be foolproof of course, but it discourages….

    2008 awaits.

  6. Agree 110% with Anonymous…Kitten give up and stop being so knitpicking and simply jealous!
    Im also sick and tired of having this K & J argument with people on here.
    Lets just wait and see shall we.

  7. kitten: FM radio listeners are the demographic Big Brother wants to target, so getting popular radio personalities makes complete sense – back to training at the pound for you 😛

  8. Anonymous 1: FM radio is not television. Bear in mind that every TV show Jackie O has been involved in has been a disaster both crtically and commercially. Sandilands, meanwhile, single-handedly turned people off Idol. He won’t be allowed to be his ratings-grabbing “controversial” (i.e. absusive bogan dickhead) persona on BB, so what does he have left? A squint, basically.

    Anonymous 2: Many US shows that air here are directly affected by the writers’ strike. Heroes, for one, as David already pointed out. Lost is another. There are many more.

  9. These shows you have listed, Heroes, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Bionic Woman, you stated a few blogs back these shows are already rating low and on there last legs with Aussie audiences. Some of them dont even air till after 10:30pm. The “fast Tracking” of these shows is testimony to that, trying to beat the rush as most fans just download the episodes moments after they have aired overseas. Most of the time the fans of said shows have already seen the episodes by the time they get to Aussie screens.
    Personally I dont think patting nine on the back for giving more time to aussies shows is right. Its like saying well done for something they should have been doing all along.
    Letterman, Conan and Leno arent ratings boomers here in OZ, they constantly show repeats and have for years and it goes by un-noticed. Again, Letterman is the only free-to-air and he isnt on till way way after prime time. These three could drop of the screens here in Aus tommorrow and no one would give a hoot.
    I understand the strike is big news in AMERICA, but to try tie it up with our TV is a HUGE stretch of the imagination, the impact here will be minimal at best and easily fixed by throwing up re-runs.
    Im always fascinated at the way Aussies always try to connect us with Americas problems, why would we do that?
    Bottom line, its not gonna do jack to us over here.

  10. Nine was investing in more Aussie programs before the strike. Since they’ve got 35 new shows for next year I think they’re the most prepared out of any network. However, all of 7’s hits in 2007 were locally made.

  11. I guess as the Courier Mail (amongst other newspapers) indicates I’m not the only one keeping an eye on the WGA Strike and wondering how it will affect us here. Clearly the ‘fast-tracked’ shows are a major concern. Seven only has two eps of Heroes up its sleeve with no idea when the next batch will arrive.

    We also saw Nine go and buy more UK shows recently, a move to counter its lowly US purchases again. As with the nod to more Aussie programmes its a good way to counter the effects of the strike.

    I agree with you that extra reality is no answer to the strike, but I don’t agree the only ones it truly affects are the ones we don’t even air here. Letterman, Conan and Leno were off air here as soon as the strike started. Desperate Housewives has half a season in the bag. There’s no clear path for Bionic Woman. Lost has 8 eps, and on it goes. The only plus is our networks ‘buy’ more time by not starting these til Feb anyway.

    It’s a major industry story and I’d be remiss in not monitoring it.

  12. It will be so gratifying to watch the commercials wallowing in this mess of their own making – swamping their schedules with cheap US pap, instead of filling them with aussie content.

  13. This is the only Tv website that is trying so hard to connect the American writers strike with our viewing.
    1. Australian audiences are barely aware of the writers strike going on in ANOTHER country.
    2. TV networks here are famous for showing shows months behind American airtimes (only the 2-3 they show “hours” after but only when the ratings are dipping”)
    3. For years reruns have happaned in American TV shows.
    4. Tagging on an extra half hour in Aussie reality shows is not a measure to counter act a writers strike.
    4. What about English TV, we still air Benny hill in prime time weekend hours Im sure no one will notice if we slip in more top 80’s british sitcoms.
    5. America has claimed it has at least one more season of scripts for its top shows before its “used up”.
    6. The only shows truly affected are ones we dont even air here on free-to-air. And the ones we do air are 90% of the time re-runs.

    Dave why are you trying to tie this American writers strike to our TV so badly?

  14. hey kitten, if K&J are “so despised” then why are they #1 FM in the biggest market in Australia?

    They might be despised by people such as yourself, but I think you’ll find 90% of those who say they “despise” them are actually completely jealous of their success.

  15. “…if the writers’ strike kicks in…”???

    Err, Tim Worner, please stop working in television. It’s obviously not your strong suit.

    As for Ten, well, someone really should tell them how despised Kyle and Jackie O are before they go overboard. And for saying that I probably get a “punch in the throat” from Australia’s favourite bogan.

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