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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.

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  3. I think Ten deserves full marks for sticking by ONE for the long haul. I’m not sure Nine or Seven would have remained as committed. Seems to me Ten has a strong, positive, and longer term vision across their network blueprint – a vision that appears to be less tainted by the ratings at all costs mentality of the other commercial networks. It’ll be good if they manage to realise that vision.

  8. 11’s Primtime= 80% First run + 20% Simpson repeats????
    haha, i love the Simpsons, so I wouldn’t mind. If they can stick with 80% first run content then they are good in my books.

  11. Ten has improved it’s position in the market place ever since dumping Big Brother. Now they have a much more sholesome program image.This is all good for the viewer.

  14. Sorry they’re moving Mal away from the 5pm News with Helen but we’ll now see a very Greek flavour to 5pm with George joining Helen.

    Perhaps on Greek national day we can get them to read a bulletin in Greek…only trouble is I don’t think Steve Quartermaine or Mike Larkin would do so well in that area!

  17. I think the 6.30pm local news won’t be the same as TEN News at Five, but will be much more serious and by the sounds of it, with more investigations. That is whey they’re putting their high-profile anchors to present these new bulletins.

    As with the slip “only commercial-free one hour bulletin” instead of “free-to-air” may not be a slip at all, instead, we could expect a commercial-free 1 hr bulletin next year…. with the other assertion of being the Only 1 hr FTA bulletin, well, Nine’s morning news is 1 hr long?

  20. The Renovators will air on multiple nights across 13 weeks. 18 renovators will make-over 6 homes

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    Oh dear sounds like the failed homeMade show that was on Ch 9 last year.

  21. God I hate that, split seasons with Australian drama. We are not America and our ratings seasons reflect that. We have ample time to air a full season like Rush, but Ten will just string it out as long as possible. No wonder the show and network is tanking.

    Why would One have yet more football related panels when they don’t rate and don’t even air one of the sport? Another year for Ten to trail third and probably miss most of their coveted demo. Same old really.

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