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A new beautiful Sunday?

Seven is said to be eyeing its own Sunday evening current affairs programme.

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Seven unveiled some of its 2009 titles to advertisers this week, including Sunday Night, a new Sunday evening current affairs programme. The last time Seven went anywhere near this territory was arguably Witness / The Times.

Certainly for a network that boasts its dominance in News and Current Affairs it is lacking a tough, credible evening format. TEN is the only other free to air network without an equivalent.

Looking at the success of Nine’s perennial 60 Minutes it isn’t hard to see why the network is looking for a piece of the action. Sundays are still considered the most prestigious night of the week, generally with more eyeballs in front of the box, and significantly, an opportunity to promote the coming week.

Seven has had mixed fortunes with its Sunday nights of late. Ugly Betty worked last year but has now subsided. Kath & Kim and Grey’s Anatomy surged, but Gladiators, My Name is Earl, Dancing with the Stars and Brothers and Sisters have been less glorious. Lipstick Jungle and Private Practice flopped.

There are unconfirmed rumours that Mike Munro has been talking with Seven. He leaves Nine at the end of this month, supposedly for retirement. Meanwhile, Ray Martin, who criticised Nine’s dumping of Sunday is set to give the Andrew Olle Lecture later this month.

Is time up for 60 Minutes? Who would you like to see hosting a serious current affairs show on Seven?

Souce: Fin Review

Photo: stock image.

38 Responses

  2. I dont think the words.. Serious.. and Current Affair.. should be.. or can be used in the same sentence..

    Maybe if Channel Seven stopped buying crappy overseas tv shows.. and buy the good ones they wouldn’t be in such a pickle.. Or maybe tried to produce some Australian shows.. (I know most of crap.. but there are and have been good ones out there.. )

    If Channel Seven end up making a “serious current affairs” *cue giggling*.. it’s making foxtel look more attractive. or buying more dvds..

  3. What is with people and negatively judging a show soo extreemly early even before the details come out

    think about it even if it is not as good it will force 60 mins to fight for its audiences and put better stuff on. It would be an idea to have it on at 6:30 so that people are sick of current affairs by 7:30

    i personally think that 60 mins is very strong and will take lots of time/effort to defeat but i think it can be done

    i’ve always thought that a ‘feel good’ version of 60 minutes would suit 7 on a sunday night. i never really understood how people can be in the type of mood to watch a serious show like 60 mins on a Sun. does ne1 know if it has ever been tried on a weekday?

  5. Just bring back The Times. When it began it did not have a host (Paul Barry joined later), it just let people speaking for themselves like Australian Story today.

  6. Wow 200+. I knew it had seen off a few shows over the years but not that many!
    And yes a bit hypocritical as Seven have copied Nine many times over the years.

  7. *sigh* What is with all this copycat BS, I mean people are aware 9 did not create the current affairs genre?

    I think Chris Bath would be a good addition, might keep her happy until Roscoe retires and stop her jumping ship to 9. I would also like to see a bit more of Chris Reason, he really isnt well utilised by 7 and this would be perfect for him IMO.

  8. They have to get Ray Martin for this if it’s to succeed. They should throw so much money at him thay he won’t be able to refuse. Nine would be spitting chips if Seven manage to get Ray.

  9. They are incredible, first seven says Nine are copying there ideas with TODAY and Now seven is doing the same with this new current affairs show. I think the truth of the matter is, 60 minutes will be one of those programs that never dies. It is a brilliant show and as Nine’s head of news and current affairs said himself, 60 Minutes has come up against 200 plus programs in its history all of which has been unsucessful in beating the program. It is great television

  12. Here’s a clue Peter meakin..
    Why not use Todat Tonight as your news/interview follow up/disect serious stories show.

    I do not need aserious news show on Sunday night – that is ‘put brain away and just watch TV for relaxation sake.

  13. Just like Seven to copy Nine isn’t it? I’m with Jonas I’ll be sticking with 60 Minutes which IMO is as strong as ever. I can see this sinking like a stone.

  14. I don’t see Seven as a “serious” news and current affairs network – sure they are by far the most popular, but the journalistic quality of what they have produced in the past doesn’t lend itself to this format.

    It’ll be interesting to see how long they stick to the original scope – and how quickly they revert to 8 minute long Bra stories once it starts rating badly

  16. accept defeat 7…instead of trying to beat 60min…just go and find something alternative… somethings should be left alone…and 60mins is that one thing that maybe beaten short term…but the next time something big happens people will watch 60mins…. its like Sunrise people cant watch Mel and Kochie when the ^%$# hits the fan

  19. People will reject it at first but eventually the loyalty to 60 minutes will subside and with the right presenters it will take over. Just like Today Tonight surpassed ACA with Naomi Robson and Anna Coren (for the large part of her 10 years on that show people loved her, well at least preferred the sound of her voice to Tracy Grimshaw). They don’t have to be much different from 60 minutes just have preferred presenters.

    Alternatively, if they mix it up a little like Sunrise did in toppling Today, the new show may, provided it does it in a way people like, topple 60 minutes quickly (its so bland!!!!!!!!).

  21. I think Peter Meakin has been wanting to sink his teeth his teeth into a project to take on 60mins for some time, id think they would put this at 6.30pm though, rather than directly up against the ticking clock.
    Also, while im sure Seven hoped that more of the DWTS audience would follow it to Sunday, it is, in part doing what Seven wanted it to do, Seven now starts the week only a few % behind nine rather than the 10% or so they were getting thrashed by on Sundays before the Olympics…

  24. If Seven really wants to do “serious” current affairs, Mike Munro cannot be the host, period.

    He’s a comedic figure these days, thanks to his fine work as a host of trash TV in the form of ACA.

    And yes, time was up for 60 Minutes years ago, when they started on the celeb-free-promo-fluff-piece-of-the-week thing.

    If Seven does get this one up, please, please let’s have a REAL current affairs show. They used to rate their arses off, y’know 🙂

  25. Jana I doubt will ever be back at 7 after the whole Witness courtcase debacle. Mike Munro? Ray Martin? Whatever happened to Mike Willisse? Gary Wilkinson is free or is he on Sky? Good idea/right time for 7 to have another crack at 60minutes.

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