ELEVEN to launch in early 2011

TEN has confirmed it will launch its new digital multichannel, ELEVEN early next year.

The new SD channel promises ‘fun and bold programming with particular appeal to the distinctly youthful market.’

It will air all-new episodes of Futurama, The Cleveland Show, Supernatural, Stargate, Dexter, Smallville, The Office, Nurse Jackie, 90210 and more.

It will also be the free-to-air home of the iconic The Simpsons.

Neighbours will also move to ELEVEN leaving question marks about the Network’s plans for local content on TEN. It will remain at 6:30pm weeknights.

Chief programming officer David Mott said: “Neighbours is an important and cherished member of the Network Ten family.

“We believe Neighbours is perfectly suited to ELEVEN’s audience strategy and will find a successful and enduring home on ELEVEN. We will round out the first 25 years with a bang, and give Australia’s most successful drama a new home to keep it vibrant in the schedule for the next 25.”

FremantleMedia Australia CEO, Ian Hogg said: “Just as Neighbours forged new territory for TEN in 1986, so we will again for ELEVEN in 2011. We are very proud of the faith being placed in Neighbours and the key role we will be playing in ELEVEN’s launch and line-up. Our storyline plans for 2011 are both bold and dramatic. Neighbours fans have much to look forward to for many years to come.”

Shifting Neighbours and The Simpsons signals changes for TEN’s early evening line-up. Following from News at Five bulletins, TEN will introduce a new half-hour national news-based program at 6.00 pm weeknights targeting viewers seeking a smarter, more informed, considered and insightful approach to the stories, issues, events and news-makers of the day.

Then at 6.30pm weeknights and at 6.00pm weekends, TEN will present a half-hour locally-presented and produced news service in all markets, focussing on the key issues in each State.

ELEVEN will also draw upon more than 70,000 hours of content from CBS’s library, including Everybody Loves Raymond, Sex and the City, JAG, Frasier, Judging Amy, Happy Days and MacGyver, to name a few.

In addition, Network Ten Pty Limited and CBS Studios International announced the proposed formation of a joint venture, ElevenCo Pty Limited (ElevenCo), which will provide content to ELEVEN. Network Ten will hold 66 2/3 per cent equity in ElevenCo, with CBS Studios Inc. holding a 33 1/3 per cent share.

As part of the arrangement to form the proposed joint venture, CBS has agreed to extend its existing long-term output deal with Network TEN.

CEO Grant Blackley said: “CBS Studios is a leading producer of quality programming for the global marketplace. In addition to its successful pipeline of content to the CBS network, which has been the lead network in the US for the last 8 out of 10 years, CBS produces content for the youth-targeted network, the CW. Our established output deal with CBS has been long and fruitful, delivering hits such as NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Rules of Engagement, Medium, The Good Wife and the much-anticipated Hawaii Five-0 to Australian audiences.”

“Importantly, the joint venture will ensure long term continuity of this prolific US content pipeline, underpinning the sustainability of ELEVEN and also delivering continued supply of high quality international programming for TEN.

“ELEVEN will deliver a distinct destination for Australian consumers and advertisers. The channel’s ‘distinctly youthful’ focus will be well suited to fostering a strong level of online community and social media engagement, and the format will provide opportunities for a high level of sponsor integration – such as segment and program hostings – delivered in ways that will resonate with ELEVEN’s audience,” Mr Blackley said.

ELEVEN will replace ONE SD.

A week ago Seven announced its new digital channel 7mate would launch in late September.

ELEVEN (FIRST RUN CONTENT):
The Simpsons,
Neighbours,
Futurama,
The Cleveland Show,
Smallville,
The Office,
Stargate Universe,
Supernatural,
Dollhouse,
The Late Show with David Letterman,
Dexter,
One Tree Hill,
Top Model UK (2010),

CBS LIBRARY:
Family Ties,
The Brady Bunch,
Charmed,
The King of Queens,
Cheers,
Sabrina,
Get Smart,
Becker,
Hogan’s Heroes,
Macgyver,
Happy Days,
The 4400,
90210,
Melrose Place,
Frasier,
The Love Boat,
7th Heaven,
Sex and the City,
JAG,
Star Trek,
Star Trek: Voyager,
Judging Amy,
Diagnosis Murder,
Roseanne,
Walker Texas Ranger