Current affairs taste test: ACA vs TT vs 7PM
They're always comparing brands, so TV Tonight turns the tables and tests A Current Affair, Today Tonight & The 7PM Project. How do they stack up?
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
They dominate our television viewing every weeknight with stories on supermarket prices, celebrities, diets, road rules, beautiful homes, technology and network cross promos.
But did A Current Affair and Today Tonight reflect the stories that dominated media headlines last week: Racism in sport, World Cup, Sydney plane crash, Rudd’s declining popularity, Obama’s stance against BP, proposed Mining Tax. Just one News headline was featured by both:Â the David Jones CEO scandal.
In contrast The 7PM Project raised several in discussion, if sometimes briefly and lightly.
TV Tonight spent the week looking at the stories that make up the three commercial shows and found that while Consumer stories dominate the Nine and Seven offerings, TEN’s newcomer is tackling more News stories as it approaches its first anniversary on air.
Some stories on A Current Affair and Today Tonight were almost identical, even airing at the same time.
On Monday TT had a story on “grey army” vigilantes in Tweed Heads taking action against street gangs while ACA profiled a man who had been assaulted in Coolongatta. Both featured stories on the power of big supermarkets on Wednesday. On Thursday there were stories on McDonald’s burgers shrinking in size being broadcast at exactly the same time. Both used video footage by irate customer Leo Henry, who was interviewed only by Today Tonight.
On Friday both led with the breaking story of the David Jones CEO, a seemingly tailor-made topic. Both had Stephen Mayne from the Australian Shareholders Association giving quotes, making it difficult to determine a point of difference. Similarly, Steve Price was a panellist on The 7PM Project and also interviewed for comment by Today Tonight.
Neither Tracy Grimshaw nor Matt White conducted any studio interviews last week (although Grimshaw featured in a story on anti-terror training on Monday night). Just one politician was interviewed by any of the three shows all week: Bob Katter on The 7PM Project.
Today Tonight featured two cross-promo stories on Australia’s Got Talent plus Breaking the Magician’s Code, while The 7PM Project had two on Hamish & Andy (also produced by Roving Enterprises), one story with the Barefoot Investor (which also features on the network), a ONE commentator and several references to its own successful bid of Kevin Rudd at the Canberra Press Gallery’s Mid-Winter Ball charity auction. There were several guests from ABC, SBS and Foxtel.
ACA featured one report in which its own reporter was a significant part of the story and also drew upon credited ABC footage twice. It also used a clip from Are You Being Served? for its story on the David Jones CEO while Today Tonight showed Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino for its story on Tweed Heads violence.
The 7PM Project (with guest host Dr. Andrew Rochford) regularly featured humourous video clips and outtakes, most introduced by Dave Hughes whose segues are becoming as creative as those by Anna Coren once-mocked on The Chaser. Today Tonight had several short items with Matt White in voice-over to vision and Samantha Armytage hosted Friday’s edition. A Current Affair had one night with Grimshaw hosting on location, on the Gold Coast, telling viewers she was on assignment for an upcoming story. Rochford’s ads for an Insurance company also ran during The 7PM Project.
In terms of popularity, Today Tonight won all five nights averaging 1.45m, ACA averaged 1.17m and The 7PM Project averaged 942,000 viewers.
TV Tonight approached all three shows and asked them to identify their “Best Story” for the week.
Craig Campbell, Executive Producer for The 7PM Project said, “Our Organ Donation story was about courage and hope, and I believe if only a few people who watched it start to consider their position on organ donation then we have achieved something worthwhile. We always want our items to make you feel something, for us it’s not just about facts and talking heads, we want our audience to feel emotion and get drawn into the story.
“Our panel always have the opportunity to add opinion into the story as well, and Thursday with a group of parents who also happen to be a doctor, comedian, and a couple of journalists you got a real discussion surrounding the issues attached to organ donation in our country. Opinions and discussion that I hope made people think of their position.”
Grant Williams, Executive Producer of A Current Affair, spoke about the difficulties of directly following a News bulletin, including one which increasingly covers similar terrain.
Williams also told TV Tonight TEN should be commended for sticking with a new concept and said he was a fan of both Carrie Bickmore and Dave Hughes. However he defended Nine’s long-running format.
“I’m not sure ACA or TT would become more popular or worthy programs by abandoning their existing styles and instead asking three comedians and a well regarded journalist from the ABC or SBS into the studio each night, to sit with Tracy Grimshaw or Matt White and talk for half an hour about what they watched that night on TEN’s 5 o’clock news,” he said.
“I don’t think you can compare 7PM Project with the two 6.30pm shows. We were never compared to The Panel when Working Dog was making that.”
Campbell agreed his show was not looking to be compared but was a “reactive” news show.
“We’ve actually never been in the game to try and compete. We have the luxury of being able to talk about stories. It’s not like Tracy or Matt can come back and have a conversation with themselves. The most important point of difference for us is that we can talk stories rather than have to produce a taped story about it.”
He said the show was driven by daily topics from newspapers and talk radio, added with opinion.
“We very much like posing a question and trying to answer it ourselves and get an expert who is going to further the conversation at home,” he said.
Williams identified a ten minute story with Walkley-winner Tracy Grimshaw profiling the work of the NSW Police Counter Terrorism Unit as his Best Story of the week.
“ACA connects with real people every day of the week….and covers real stories that impact upon everyday Australian families. We also do our fair share of hip-pocket stories because that’s what many families are looking for and in fairness they are some of our highest rating stories.”
But while The 7PM Project may provide commentary on news and current affairs, in nearly a year of episodes it is yet to “break” a story that resonates in the landscape.
Says Williams, “We have broken countless stories this year including the Hey Dad Scandal for which we were even applauded by Media Watch. Those are the things that set us apart from the rest. Good luck to The 7PM Project. I wish them all the best. I just hope they stay away from supermarket stories.”
Craig McPherson, Executive Producer of Today Tonight, issued a statement to TV Tonight: “One of the best stories this week would be Walkley-award winner Tim Noonan’s expose on the child gangs taking over Tweed Heads. Tim spent several weeks with the victims, the police and the child gangs on the streets of Tweed, capturing the explosive situation from all sides. ACA did a spoiler piece on Coolangatta crime this week as a result.”
Both stories identified by ACA and Today Tonight also kicked off their week, as the lead story 6:30pm on Monday, both billed as ‘Exclusives.’
Please note the following are subjective summaries of the stories broadcast on all three shows:
Monday June 14
A Current Affair
Anti-terror-training camp for police
The Dukan diet
Coolongatta street violence
Make Up tests
Today Tonight
Senior-aged vigilantes against rebellious youths in Tweed Heads
Push to simplify speed zones
Socceroos loss
Supercar Club liquidation
Breaking the Magician’s Code
The 7PM Project
Queen’s Birthday Honours
Socceroos loss / World Cup clips
Japanese space capsule lands in South Australia
A night with ambulances
Hamish & Andy in London
Tue Jun 15
A Current Affair
WA man on racial vilification charge turns the cameras on ACA reporter
Mega Malls
Chocolate ban on school fundraisers
Man wants govt to pay for tummy tuck surgery
Kinnect: video games without controllers
Today Tonight
David Jones v Myer ‘retail espionage’
Road potholes neglected by councils
Fightback campaign: Australia’s Worst House
Fightback campaign: Charges laid against defrauded dentist
Talent show discoveries / Australia’s Got Talent finalists
The world’s 3 best diets
The 7PM Project
Vuvuzelas at the World Cup
Racism row surrounding Andrew Johns
Bullfighting clip
Kevin Rudd Press Conference clips
‘Helicopter’ parents ‘wrapping kids in cotton wool’
Pups in prisons program
Kitty Flanagan comedy spot
Wed June 16
A Current Affair
Supermarket price comparisons
E3 video gaming expo
Baby ban at cafe
Dental work for Dreamworld tiger
Best face creams
Today Tonight
Independent supermarket bought out by Coles
New technology in Home Entertainment games
Home Loan exit fees
Australia’s Got Talent winners
Mum teaches daughter pole-dancing
Cosmetic surgery with stem cells not implants
The 7PM Project
Mid-Winter Ball charity auction
BP oil disaster
NBA player becomes ONE commentator
Barefoot Investor money advice
Swearing ban in Queensland
Thu June 17
A Current Affair
Are McDonald’s burgers getting smaller?
Tax investigation into Paul Hogan
Bakery breads vs Supermarket breads
Man arrested for defending son before Qld Police
Push for dual pedals for nervous passengers
Today Tonight
Woman arrested after complaint to McDonalds / Are Big Macs getting smaller?
Good Samaritans: would you help or ignore?
Allergies affecting children on the rise
$610m in unclaimed money
Ownership dispute over meteorite rock
Grandmother wants teen mums to give up children
The 7PM Project
State of Origin result
Mal Brown explains offensive AFL remark
Get Up’s Riz Wakil to go surfing with Tony Abbott
Cluey high school student tells media not to speculate about school fire
World Cup clip: Harry Kewell
Profile on organ donation campaign
Hamish and Andy UK tour
Sneezing bear cliip
Friday June 18
A Current Affair
David Jones CEO scandal
Don’t pay full price for grocery items
Invention to detect early cancer
Australia’s most beautiful homes
Designer wear for tots
Today Tonight
David Jones CEO scandal
Corporate leaders sleeping out for CEO Sleepout
Resident complains about Insurance assessor who turned up drunk
Backstage at Miss Universe Australia
Retirees spending big on extreme holidays
The 7PM Project
Miss Universe Australia slip up, politician bloopers
Man given 30 days jail for using bubble gum in court
Kevin Rudd jokes on 7:30 Report
Tara Moss talks crime and new Foxtel series
US proposal to shutdown internet in emergencies
Metro Whip around
Sports results
49 Responses
Only one problem if they were to move project on Channel 10 to 6:30pm.What to use at 7pm that is not an American Sitcom that has not been done to death a million times over.Did anyone stop to think about those of us so over the crap that is 2.5 men and Home and Away or those of us who can’t be home in time for earlier news bulletins.
I find 7PM Project to be naive in terms of their investigative journalism, far more than ACA or TT (despite my loathing of those shows as well). If I was running their show, I’d stick to the jokes, conversations, interviews and advice, as I do enjoy those parts of the 7PM Project, but leave out the headlines, politics and investigative reports, as in my opinion, they are compiled in a clumsy manner.
But what about other current affairs shows, such as 7:30 Report (The best in my opinion), Dateline, Lateline, 4 Corners, 60 Minutes etc. They could be analysed too.
ACA and TT are obviously better than the silliness of the 7pm Project and that’s why they rate.
ACA and TT are like Woman’s Day/New Idea, all about deals, paid exclusives and promoting other shows. 7pm Project is more like The Punch or even this blog, where the story comes from the discussions and opinions, not just the PR boilerplate. I don’t mind the lighter side of 7pm Project because that’s how the pitch it, not as a serious investigative program that just takes the p**s.
great article!
News on commercial TV is just as bad as CA programs… 7pm works for me because of the off the cuff satirical run down of news of the day… its not in depth, and i doubt people go to it for depth – i know I dont – but its a bit of fun with seriousness thrown in… its about as close as I can get the a The Panel-esque show these days…
Tracy Grimshaw won a Walkley??? Why haven’t I?!
I get really angry with the amount of news based tv shows in all… we wake up to the stupid world of channel 7 and 9 direct competition with each other, sunrise and today. Then theres the crap that comes on after 9. Ten decided they would have the first at 5 report, but the other two seem to see this as a childish game to put on a 4:30 report. Then they are head to head again at 6 only to follow up with the crap that is TT and ACA. Well done channel 10 simply for being original, so great to see. Did anyone stop to think about the “light comedy relief” affect of 2.5 men and why that was so successful… i’d love more of this at prime time simply because by that time i’m over the events of todays news.
That was such a great read!!! 🙂
I don’t watch TT or ACA because I feel like all these sort of stories have been done before and to be honest, it’s usually aimed at working mothers…
I am a fan of the 7PM project, though I don’t watch it as often as I want to. I know what people are saying when they say it goes too quick etc. But that’s just the style of the show. It’s fast moving and it covers a range of stories. But bigger stories do have a bit more time than others. I also like it because it reviews that news of that day, while having special featured stories, and has interviews, funny clips etc.
I’ve always been a fan of the 7PM concept but I find their news coverage shallow and lazy, and often actually misleading. Maybe if you don’t follow the news at all it might have some value, but if you glance at a news website or a paper occasionally then the show is more likely to frustrate you than inform you.
An example is the ‘internet kill switch’ story they had a few days ago, which they teased at the beginning as ‘Obama wants a kill switch for the internet!’. They did nothing in the actual story to correct the impression that this was something Obama had requested or a bill he had introduced, when in fact the bill in question has been introduced independently by a few senators and is not sponsored by the White House. This indicates that whoever put the story together either has no idea about how American politics works or just doesn’t care that much about creating an informative and accurate story. This sort of stuff – basic inaccuracies and journalistic laziness – completely pervades 7PM. Not that it’s anywhere near the level of stupidity of ACA and TT, of course, but it could do better.
Definitely 7PM Project. It’s news to start with but delivered both seriously, and with humour, and quite often in depth. TT & ACA are simply tabloid trash. And from a journalists perspective, they’re not news, and border on unethical some of the time.
I’m fine with 7PM Project at 7, but hate that there’s nothing to watch at 6.30. And Ten really needs to lift 6-7 slot. Neighbours at 6, and Project moved to 6.30 may work. See how it actually goes up against TT & ACA. Neighbours demo mainly aren’t news watchers right, but probably like H&A as well so switch to that. They might be more inclined to keep watching Project afterwards though if it was on 6.30
Honestly what is so good about these red neck tv shows, I can’t understand how they rate so well. They are the lowest common denominator in Australian television. They have no morals and no point watching useless facts and topics “Woman arrested after complaint to McDonalds / Are Big Macs getting smaller?” enough said.
today tonight wants too be like tmz of current affairs progaming. but they produce some rubbish
I think Williams is right that you can’t compare TT & ACA to 7PM, but I think you can compare 7PM to 7:30.
But what a great analysis of commercial current affairs, David. It certainly makes 7PM look more up-market than it’s 6:30 rivals.
I think the best story from 7PM last week was the Pups in Prisons programme. Unfortunately the response from Steve Price was rather cruel.
It’s all in the title – “taste test”. I don’t like nor watch any of them.
That is a brilliant article David. Note to Roving Enterprises: It’s just a matter of time before the 7PM project starts breaking stories – that will come with the right producer on the team. ACA and TT lost the plot years ago so good on Ten for supporting this concept through its lowest figures. Something has happened at my place this year – the only commercial television we are watching is 10.
I hope 7PM Project doesn’t ever become more like the tabloid current affair shows. It should take pride in its individuality. They have had the occasional story that smacks of scandal-mongering or was otherwise questionable in its intent, but I hope those were anomalies and not a sign of things to come.
ACA and TT, on the other hand, are sad reflections of our culture, and are not worth my time.
Great summary David. I don’t tend to watch a lot of the TT/ACA combination these days but when I do see them I find that TT actually goes out and does some research and does some stories with some substance while all I seem to find on ACA is slapped together clips from any source on subjects often of drivel. I’ve sometimes seen both shows do exactly the same story at exactly the same time and shake my head at how unimaginative these two shows can be. Doesn’t this tactic reduce the ‘brand’ of each show and turn them both into a bland commodity?
On the subject of the 7PM project, it’s not a bad show but I am often left feeling a little unsatisfied and as if i’m being treated as teenager with ADHD who con’t be made to sit through a subject any longer than 3 minutes. They often show a short package and follow-up with a live guest outside of the studio and ask them 2 or 3 questions before quickly moving on. That must make some guests feel like a 60 second interview is a waste of their time considering al the time and effort they would have to allow making themselves available.
The 1 hour Project over summer was good in that it allowed longer periods to cover subjects but it obviously doesn’t work for busy people with short attention spans.
Does 7PM’s bidding bucket load on Rudd cement how far up the Labor party TEN are?
David you should be given an award or medical assistance for watching a whole week of TT and ACA.
Good report. I still am waiting for the day that someone takes Nine to task for false advertising – A Current Affair. There is nothing current in that show!
Very interesting report, thanks for writing it up. It’s fair to say that although 7PM is different from the other two, all three are “Current Affairs” shows, so it is possible to compare them with each other.
I never really considered the effect that having ACA & TT running straight after the news would have, I’d love to know how many people watching 7PM have even watched the news (on TV, as opposed to other sources).
I think Grant Williams has a point to some extent, its a bit difficult to compare TT and ACA to 7pm Project, although I really believe 7pm project should move to 6.30pm and neighbours to 6pm to allow for the 7pm project to cover more items in depth.
Oh and please remove Dave Hughes and he silly segways, every time one comes on its like “was that really needed?”
Great article though.
7pm is actually funny with investigative packages that aren’t just shameless ads
The 7pm is my choice, not that I watch it every night, but 7 and 9 with the food shrinking, speed camera loop holes and supermarket rip off stories are just too repetitive. Also the cross promotion on Ten is seemless with the Barefoot Invester doing a spot, unlike 7 who just ask a judge “what can we look out for tonight” or Tracey G standing outside the Hey Hey studios, poor!
Definitely 7PM is the pick out of these shows, however I wish they would look at stories a bit more and have longer interviews with guests. It seems like they are always cutting people off.
the 7pm is more topical, aca & tt seem to have their stories planned mostly on consumer items & they seem to air their stories at the same time, seems to be lack of coincidence