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TEN hearts 2011

TEN stars gathered with Network Execs, media and sponsors last night at the final stop on the 2011 programming road tour.

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The stars from TEN mingled last night with Network Execs, media and sponsors at the final stop on the 2011 programming road tour at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne.

A three level neon-lit scaffolding stage dominated a huge auditorium of couches and coffee tables, but gave a sense of detachment to the formalities.

Charlie Pickering was host for the proceedings, working hard to entertain a vast space with a distant crowd. He introduced both CEO Grant Blackley and Programming Chief David Mott as they spruiked the network’s wares for 2011, most of which had been revealed earlier this week.

Amongst some of the additional details that were revealed:

– A new NRL show for ONE HD.
– A new AFL show for ONE HD.
– George Donikian to join Helen Kapalos for Melbourne’s TEN News at Five with Mal Walden to read 6:30pm local news.
– 6pm news-based bulletin will have 6 – 7 stories per night. Host yet to be announced.
– 3 Oprah Winfrey Aussie-made specials to air within hours of their broadcast in the US.
– New prison drama Inside Out will have multiple episodes and a major twist. To be produced by Freehand Australia.
– The Renovators will air on multiple nights across 13 weeks. 18 renovators will make-over 6 homes.

There was also footage shown from the Swedish version of Class Of, which looks like a sensitive and serious endeavour to better the lot of poorly educated students. The clip had a tone of To Sir With Love meets Choir of Hard Knocks. The Swedish series was nominated for a prestigious Rose D’or Award.

Other titles on TEN’s list, not previously announced, included LoneStar and The Circle. New episodes of Rush which won’t all make it to air this year will screen next year.

On Eleven, David Mott promised that “unlike other networks, shows which air on Eleven will stay on Eleven.” 80% of its primetime content will be first-run.

The success of MasterChef Australia has reinforced TEN’s belief that positive, aspirational viewing is working best. It is also underlining the network’s shift to warm, family viewing while Eleven will cater for younger viewers.

CEO Grant Blackley talked up the three-pronged approach to the network’s offerings and the additional News programmes. He made one speech slip, saying TEN News was “the only one hour commercial free bulletin” on offer, neglecting to say “the only one hour commercial free to air bulletin.”

Following the presentation a large group of dancers (all flown down from Sydney) gave the audience a taste of Don’t Stop Believing, with a dynamic performance of a pop-rock medley. Despite miming, they put on a sexy, entertaining show.

51 Responses

  2. @ raccoon, this is Rush’s third season on now, I think you meant fourth season. I think a lot of people switched to give Cops LAC a go because nine made out it was going to be the next big thing but slowly but surely people are making the switch back to Rush because it is a far superior show, Rush definately deserves a fourth season in my opinion and I hope Ten makes the confirmation announcement shortly.

  4. Drove past filming of Rush yesterday in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. 3 of the police cars were there and a lot of crew. I love this show. I dont understand why the ratings have gone south.

  5. Richard Clune is reporting in today’s Sydney telegraph that Rush has been renewed. However, he claims that this was announced in Ten’s roadshow, so perhaps he has mis-interpeted the information about some of season 3 being held over for next year?

  7. Cant wait for Ten’s all new important news, we will have Ten plugging all their so called Shows with plenty of celeb news events. There news curently is for 45minutes tops with ad breaks and is absolute rubbish. The 7pm Project can also help the school kids to get some more well informed news, likewise with the low IQ idiots of OZ. There will be plenty of Simpson repeats and plenty of “classic epies”, as this is the new buzz word for repeats for Modern Families. With a low share price I would be worried with such an extravanga with so called marketing costs. All they have is Master Chef which they’re now milking that with a junior version. Wow can’t wait for more O specials as well!

  8. How dare they take away George Donikian from Adelaide’s news broadcast … he’s only been doing it since 1991 – its not Ten news without him down here :/ :/

  9. 11 is for younger viewers which is great because GO! has been kicking Ten’s butt in that category. Now to Video Hits please Ten give the show which has served you and the country so well for 23 in this 24th year now and will be in its 25th year in 2011 give it more air time not just on the weekends. Untill the analogue signal is switched off in 2013 Keep VH on weekend morning on ten but for the new digital channel 11 allow Video Hits to be shown even if they are old episodes say from 20 years ago just edit the competition numbers thats all Video Hits will be a ratings winner it has proven to be the case for the past 23 years and still going strong. The show needs to be able to compete in prime time say at 6pm on11 against pay tv, give it a chance what have you got to loose nothing.

  11. Sooner or later SC 10 will have to cave into demands from us regional viewers & launch 11 at the same time as it’s metro counterpart.

    Cmon SC 10 don’t leave us behind like you did with One HD.

  14. TEN News at Five @ 5:00pm on TEN
    TEN News (Local) @ 6:00pm on TEN
    The Project @ 6:30pm on TEN
    Neighbours @ 7:00pm on TEN

    Forget the extra news-based show – simply overkill and is driving Neighbours out

    Neighbours should have been a part of the TEN revamp – it certainly wasn’t the problem – that was The Simpsons and the programming department for sitting on their a*ses for 15 years

  15. The NRL show was a long time coming… what were they thinking by alienating half the country for so long?

    The AFL show, they’ve already got the comedic stuff on Before the Game, they’ve already got the in-depth discussion on One Week, is there anything left to focus the new show on?

  16. What a well-organised network! Their strategic vision is professionally presented to advertisers and media well in advance of the 2011 season.

    More than I can say for seven and nine who throw a heap of shows against the wall and see what sticks. Their knee-jerk vision of programming is piss poor compared to that of Ten.

    Can’t wait for 2011 on Ten, One and Eleven. A broad suite of channels with loads of variety on offer. Well done to all concened at that network.

  17. Ten’s plans for 2011 are certainly ambitious and risky and I think they should be applauded for it. Completely agree with Rhys that Ten seem to have a longer term, stronger vision than both Nine and Seven and that’s a very positive thing. Even if only half of their new programs succeed in 2011 you’d have to think Ten would be happy with that. Very excited about 2011 on Ten and the competition it will bring to Nine and Seven.

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