★★★★★ 0/5

Dear Lachlan, seriously…

Dear Lachlan, TEN has always been the underdog of the three commercials, but hey, that's exactly why we've liked it.

91
Leave a comment

Dear Lachlan

In just a few short months you’ve gone from being deputy chairman of Prime Media to acting CEO of Ten Network Holdings. What a ride. And to be fair, none of us saw that one coming.

With James Packer (the bloke you had One.Tel with) and the obvious support of the majority of the Board, we’re now awaiting your next move.

We know you’re the good-looking Murdoch, although the lovely Elisabeth nearly out-Shines you. You’re married to the equally lovely Sarah (and a tip to TEN production crews check your audio feed is working or risk losing your contract) and you love your NRL and IPL.

But what is it you have in mind for TEN now that Mr. Falloon and Mr. Blackley are both effectively out of the picture?

TEN has had so many wonderful shows over the years. We grew up with The Young Talent Time, Prisoner, Good Morning Australia (both of them), The Early Bird Show, Wonder World, Carson’s Law, Neighbours, Perfect Match, The Comedy Company, and The Simpsons.

Then there was Rove, Big Brother and Australian Idol when Sunday nights were must-see TV. Remember Merlin telling Gretel to “Free the Refugees?” Remember Guy Sebastian singing “Climb Every Mountain” or Anthony Callea singing “The Prayer?” Remember “What The?” and “My Charader?” Remember Melrose Place “Tuesday Night’s a Bitch?” Remember The Panel?

They were fun times, Lachlan, even if sometimes they were a little hokey. The fun was that you never quite knew what might happen next because TEN always took a risk. Let’s not forget they were the first to dump the Sunday night movie, the first to say “dammit we’re gonna strip a cooking show in primetime,” and the first to say “we’re sticking with The 7PM Project and bugger the lot of you.”

More recently they’ve taken some risks with a dedicted Sports channel. I’m not especially into Sport but Lachlan I’m confused… why is it playing shows about logging, trucking and mining? What’s The Manchurian Candidate got to do with Sport?

And then there is the News experiment.

Like 7PM, a move of this magnitude will probably take a year to bed in. Many people have said they admire that George Negus is not going down the road of Today Tonight and A Current Affair, but there is debate over the suitability of the content to the timeslot. Numbers would suggest you have bigger problems with the 6:30 News (and why did you take Sandra Sully away from the rest of the country -we grew up with Sandra too). And moving the weekend News from 5pm to 6pm? Why?

I have no idea how you will meet your drama quota with 13 episodes each of Rush and Offspring. I enjoy both shows, but really….. I know there is more in the pipeline (including Inside Out), but we’ll be in March soon. Are you buying more NZ shows, or picking up more Aussie movies? Please explain.

I’m quite partial to some of the shows on ELEVEN: Dexter (if only I hadn’t seen it on Pay TV already), Nurse Jackie, Californication and The Simpsons -but honestly Lachlan, I don’t think I’ve seen a new Simpsons episode since your launch week.

And why are we moving all these shows around lately? Please make up your mind where The Good Wife, House, Glee, Modern Family, NCIS: LA and Lie to Me belong. We have lives to organise y’know? Better yet, just take Lie to Me off altogether.

On a positive note The Circle can sometimes be a breath of fresh air. That Chrissie Swan cuts right through the TV screen. Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation is consistent fun (yes, give Micallef a chat show too), and The 7PM Project has settled into a nice groove. MasterChef remains addictive TV.

TEN has always been the underdog of the three commercials, but hey, that’s exactly why we’ve liked it.

The other two have always brawled over prestige and then along comes TEN with bold ideas and those crazy promos with celebrities sitting around in a rehab circle. It takes nerve to go out on a limb like that. I’m not really sure if 2.5 hours of News was nerve or which focus group said it was a good idea, but I sure hope the Board hasn’t lost it’s nerve too. I know yesterday was probably a bit of power play, but hey, these are my shows you’ll be playing with, Lachlan.

There’s a bunch of other things I could throw in but let me leave you with one more thought: please pick up the phone to Hamish and Andy before it’s too late.

Cheers.

KINDLY LEAVE YOUR OWN “DEAR LACHLAN NOTE BELOW.”

91 Responses

  1. Dear Lachlan,

    I concur with everything which Mr Knox has stated in his above letter. Since you and Mr Packer invested in Ten I have noticed numerous changes in programming which have differed significantly from the much publicised plans for the network which were lauded toward the end of last year. This year I have found myself turning off Ten due to disappointing and inconsistent programming. Please Please do not mess with the Ten which we all love. Please please leave ONE a sports channel, not a quasi-sports, quasi-adventure, quasi-movie channel.

    On a more positive note, Eleven is a great channel with great shows. However Eleven too has become very inconsistent in programming of late.

    Please listen to all the letters to you on this page. And I agree with many of the other letters here – please consider employing Mr David Knox as a consultant – he knows what he is talking about after years of experience.

    Sincerely,

    RedBullBoy.

  4. Eleven: I recommend putting old Australian programming on Eleven replacing some of the US stuff that is on there. Add some local versions of MTV style programming, such as a reality show, game shows, comedy shows. At 7pm weeknights Eleven should have a local game show. There should be an hour of new Australian programming between 6-midnight every day. Buy the rights to Secret Life Of Us and air it!

    One: it needs more Australian content also – bid for some lower tier Australian sports like soccer and state cricket. Add replay rights for AFL matches. Purchase the NRL rights and get replay rights to old matches. Add old WWE and TNA PPV’s or shows to the mix. Stop playing “sports related movies” on One, unless they are actual documentaries about a sport.

    Ten: With Ten, as much as I don’t like the comedy stylings of Hamish & Andy – the viewing public do and having them on the air will allow you to promote other shows.
    News:
    Ten needs to bring back the 5pm news on weekends, with a 5:30pm Sports Tonight.
    Reality:
    Ten needs to bring back Big Brother.
    Light Entertainment/Variety:
    At 10:30 weeknights should be an Australian late night talk show hosted by Shaun Micallef. A new version of It’s A Knockout should be produced and put on Friday nights. Purchase the rights to Hey Hey and bring it to Ten on Saturdays. It couldn’t be worse than the ratings that Ten currently gets. Bring back The Panel and put it on Tuesday night after NCIS, before Micallef Tonight.
    Comedy:
    With Hamish & Andy on board, they would be doing a one hour programme each week (on a Sunday). Make an Australian sitcom and build it up with an American sitcom as its lead in.
    Drama:
    Create a good Australian family drama. Create another Australian drama that is not cop/nurse/rescue squad/navy related.
    Game show:
    Providing Big Brother and Biggest Loser are running, along with a weeknightly game show on Eleven, have an hour long quiz/game show on Sundays when BB and BL aren’t running.

  5. Dear Lachlan,

    Despite taking over three “lower rating” networks, you have the ability to target 3 key audiences that are important to advertisers. The following letter will be split into 3 sections based on these networks.

    Channel 10– make it the “home” of event Television, the network people want to turn to when something big is happening and make your programming “must see TV” once again. Stick with the 2 1/2 hour news block, my only suggestion swapping George Negus & The Evening News, with the Evening news taking the 5pm “laid back” approach and cutting it in half. It may lose viewers in the short term, but you can never expect viewers to watch the entire 2 1/2 hours these days anyway.

    Continue to focus on “must see” TV during Prime Time, programs like the Oprah Specials, Glee, reality programs like The Biggest Loser & Masterchef. Do more Friday night premiere movies, but advertise them 2-3 weeks in advance, so that people can plan to watch them as an event. Look at more ‘feel good’ shows like Talking About Your Generation & Good News Week, maybe give Shaun Michalef or Paul McDermott a Sunday night variety show like Rove had back in the 2000’s. People like Hamish & Andy Should not be let go to Channel 10, they are perfect “event TV” creators, with them doing 10-15 specials a year on different wacky ideas they get.

    ONE HD is your High Definition Sporting network and should be looked at it like that. It’s never going to get huge ratings day in, day out but you have a direct audience with these sports to advertise to, use it as it’s strength.

    It is going to struggle in the short-term while broadcast rights for sports are in other negotions, try to get exclusive free-to-air sports– look at the A-League, NBL & T20 Big Bash Competitions in the Summer, AFL & Netball in the winter, while also building on the consistent airing of International sports like EPL Live, more NFL (Thursday/Monday night games), NBA, NHL, MLB, college football, college basketball, more IPL. Give each of these sports credibiity on the network and importance. Maybe even run “weekly recaps” for each of these shows during prime-time when audiences are at home and awake (unlike the live broadcast which is often at awkward times)

    Also look at more “sports star” progams, using them as advertising vechiles for both the product and for the stars themselves. Try and get the next season of “Rexona’s Greatest Athlete”, even doing a Women’s version. Maybe even try a “Shaq Vs” type show where an Australian sporting identity (maybe Billy Slater or Matthew Richardson) takes on sports stars in their own sports 1-on-1. Or how about a sports quiz show like on ABC using the basis of Your Gen as it’s mould?

    Possibly look into moving the WWE from Fox8 back to free-to-air television, I know it’s Sports entertainment but has a quality, regular supporter base and gives 5 hours of television a week (2 for Raw, 2 for Smackdown, 1 for Superstars) to use across Ten/One/Eleven in a regular spot.

    Whatever you do, Don’t scrap ONE HD. It will become an incredibly useful asset in the next 10 years, without a doubt.

    Now let’s look at Eleven– it’s been marketed as a youth network, targeting the 13-29 age group, unfortunately during the day/overnight some of the programs are as old if not Older then the demographic you are marketing at. Change up the daily line up, particularly on weekends (maybe do a 3 hour Simpsons Marathon on Sat/Sun mornings like Fox8 do) or re-air Neighbours as an omnibus one weekend afternoon, not just at 8:30am the following morning.

    The Theme nights are working well in many cases, I just think a couple of those nights need more direction. Why have an hour of animation to start “Comedy Tuesday’s” when animation night is on Wednesdays’? Work with these themes, find what works and stick with it.

    Move David Letterman to Eleven and put it on before Craig Ferguson at 10:30pm. Have Both Letterman & Ferguson air back-to-back like they do in the US at the same/similar time every weeknight. Letterman @ 10:30pm Ferguson @ 11:30pm.

    Remember Eleven is a Youth network, so keep looking for the newest edgy shows, particularly HBO/Showtime. You’ve got some of them already, keep looking for more.

    Best of Luck and if all goes well I will remain a loyal viewer. Geoff

  6. Awesome article Dave,
    Hopefully the board members could read this and the responses.
    There are some really good ideas in here.

    I like the idea of a shaun micaleff daily show and moving 5pm news to 5:30 and 6pm with negus to 6:30.
    I 110% agree with getting hamish and Andy to ten it would only work on ten not nine or seven.
    Big brother could work, but hey ten is known for taking risks right?? Using eleven for big brother is also a great idea for a new format
    Last but not least, one hd needs to improve but I’m not an expert in sports but I’m sure every1 has covered this topic

    I love ten..but the logo is old and it’s time to set an example for a brand new and revamped commercial station and change it soon

  7. Dear Lachlan

    I concur with the calls to call H&A, also give David Knox a consultants job. Maybe also give Working Dog a call and see what they are up to these days. Also Armchair’s Micallef idea is GOLD.

    Bringing back BB could be genius – but not if you are going to pitch it at the kiddies and pick tools like Rory – please look at UK version for tips.

    Please stop programming for people who may be ‘out for the night’ or on holidays. If they want to watch tv they can flipping well watch it and not complain about missing things all the time.

    Please keep sport on 10 to a minimum, otherwise what is the point of having a dedicated sports channel!?

    I like George but not your extra news service. Maybe you could move the news to 5.30 and George to 6.30.

    Last but not least – any chance you can get TMZ for ch 11? You could put it on instead of that garbage by the name of Raymond.

    Please, please, please do not turn 10 into Fox Lite, I am begging you!

  8. @David Knox, that is an incisive open letter. I can’t find anything that I really disagree with and that’s including programs that I don’t watch but know are popular (in the same spirit of you not being much into sport but recognising that filling gaps on OneHD with non-sports movies and “manly activity” shows is just a bad idea).

    There were a couple of things that I would liked to have added but they have also been admirably covered by a couple of commenters, Phoenix727 especially. I’m not really into scripted wrestling but I think it has a solid core of fans and would be a perfect fit for OneHD.

    English Premier League Football – it’s ‘king expensive and the recent changes to “World Football News” can’t be a good sign of your feelings on this, so perhaps it is just a pipe dream, but if ya don’t ask… I’d also like to see F1 practice on Fridays.

    And please, please, please take V8Supercars off Seven. They have shown absolutely no regard for the fans. I don’t expect the round races to be live (I’m in Perth) altho’ live and then replayed in the late morning/early arvo would be perfect. Don’t forget to bring Neil Crompton with it. He is essential. I’d be happy if Skaifey and Larko came too but don’t know if you could pry Larko from the clutches of Seven.

    Finally, give Micallef his own show again – I loved “Newstopia” and whatever was on Nine (Micallef Tonight?). Armchair Director’s suggestion is an excellent one as I really miss “The Daily Show”. He could do a grown-up version of “Newstopia”.

    David, again, an absolute top piece of writing – bang on the money (which might be the one thing preventing all of your suggestions from being acted upon). I might even forgive you for linking to Charlie Sheen’s 911 call!

  9. Hopefully the accc would stand in lachlan’s way of ditching one hd considering the interest he has in fox sports.
    Also just saw another ad about ten’s new news services.

  10. If any of them had brains they would read every comment on this site and listen to it’s viewers!!
    Probably the biggest problem this yr was the moving of everthing, shows keep moving!! last yr ncis la did well in its slot and so did bondi rescue! so why move them to days and slots that fail! also glee, goodwife and lie to me all did well last yr but this yr are doing crap in their new days!! I hope ten is learning that people have a schedule and keep to it. If a show is successful @ a time and day then Bloody leave it there!!!!!

  12. Dear Lachie… p’off 6PM with Negus… it was a bold move but the fact is it’s a business and you want a return for your investors…. Go with a half hour national news with Sandra Sully or Ron Wilson at 5… bring Neighbours back to Ten at 5.30 (repeat at 6.30 on 11) and move the hour long local bullie to 6 with lots of live crosses (much cheaper than packaged stories), use Negus to do a daily commentary for the news that way you won’t have to pay out his contract) Keep 7PM cause that seems to be working OK… ditch ONE and replace it with a cheaper retro channel to stitch up the oldies, there’s gotta be enough new or recent content for 11 … Finally change that hidious 10 logo… it’s run it’s course mate. Ten’s look and feel is like Nova – the attitude thing worked for a while but has worn thin. Ten wants to be all grown up but is stil dressing like a teenager. Have fun, don’t be affraid to take some risks. All the best!

  13. Trix says:
    February 24, 2011 at 11:41 am
    @Armchair director, that is inspired programming. I think Shaun Micallef in a ColbertDaily News style show would be a perfect fit.

    I second what Trix and Armchair said.

    Please move George Negus to 6.30 and get rid of 6.30 news.

    Please take some chances, I hear ch 11 has Sons of Anarchy, put it on now! We need more HBO type shows, and i don’t want them to be years behind the US, fast track them!

  14. Don’t forget Ten took a punt on Neighbours when Seven gave it the tax in 1986-87 and it also gave us the quirkly little favourite The X-Files.

    Sure the A Country Practice experiment didn’t work, but that wasn’t your fault.

    Bring back the charm!

  16. Dear Lachlan,
    Unlike some other people, I have no problem with the weekend news starting at 6:00pm. I think that is a good time for the news to start.
    Definately keep “The Biggest Loser”, “Masterchef”, “TAYG”, “NCIS:LA”, “Lie To Me”, “The 7pm Project”, “George Negus” (but can I suggest you put at 6:30pm and the Simpsons at 6:00) and try to bring back Hamish and Andy too.
    And please bring back “Rules of Engaement” too. That is a great show.

  17. Nice post David, I would have also included Seinfeld in the mix too. Ten showed it first in prime time, when nine only had the guts to show it late at night the year before.

  18. Please Lachlan, could we have more Aussie drama that appeals to a sophisticated audience? Not ditzy like Offspring or adrenaline fuelled like Rush, just something warm-hearted, smart and real. You just need one thing to re-galvanise your audience and everything will fall into place. Build it and they will come.

  20. I agree put the Hour News on at 5:30pm and then Negus at 6:30pm, as is now the 6:30pm News is rarely local anyway, the 7pm Project still has a place), it fits the quick News fix of a Twitter Generation (which wants more than TT and ACA
    give and will replace that audience one day).

    Keep ONEHD a Sport Channel, as we’re only 2 years away from Analogue turn-off and soon it can become something more, being Packer/Murdoch run FoxSports, would it not make sense to make ONEHD a sister channel. Think about it, you have the Foxtel Cup this Season, you could use ONEHD to show these Games after they’ve aired on FoxSports, which in turn could be an Advertisement for FoxSports (ie: see the next Game Live on FoxSports at …. or replayed on ONEHD at …). There are talks of the NAB Cup going to FoxSports, same arrangement could happen with that as well, On The Couch is another that could be replayed and a pluf of see it first on FoxSports put in, you sponsor other shows, why not cross-promote.

    11 is good as it is right now, though having David Letterman on as a double with Craig Ferguson at a regular time would make more sense and ABC2 have dumped Jon Stewart and Colbert, which I believe would fit with the 11 audience, look at getting it.

    Keep shows at regular times, and stop us getting frustrated trying to chase them around the schedule all the time.

  21. Lachlan, mate,

    You need to put some major cash into Australian television with at least an hour of Aussie drama each night (all seven of them), a big-budget science fiction drama and lots of sit coms.

    Cancel the 2.5 hour news block and just stick with the 5:00pm news.

    Get rid of Masterchef please. It may rate well but it is contemptibly poor programming. Shorten The Circle to an hour and make it an informercial free zone.

    Replace One HD with a general entertainment channel but program theme days and nights to give it some texture and point of difference.

    And please, whatever you do, please do not hire Hamish and Andy, They are old news and finished as Nine will soon discover.

  23. dear Lachlan

    1 bring back big brother but make it like the UK version the evictions and highkights shows on the main channel and all other BB shows on eleven

    2 move george negus to 6:30pm but dont make it blatant plugging or blatant advertising like ACA and TT are

    3 re show old classic tv shows such as carsons law the box prisoner neighbours from episode 1 late night instead of infomercials and religous crap that you are showing now

    4 hire David Knox as your programmer

    5 listen to what your viewers want

    6 keep the biggest looser and masterchef

  24. I like armchair directors comment alot…just do this …good idea

    see again (worth repeating)

    Dear Lachlan,

    The answer maybe this… 6pm Shaun Micallef with The Daily Show Australia (he would do a fantastic job), 6.30PM with George Negus (but don’t call it 6.30pm so it doesn’t look dumb in replay). A local Late News at 10pm or 10.30pm. I’d tune in to find out what’s happened in my community and you’d get the jump on your competitiors.

    TEN has always gone out on a limb, they’ve tried to match the others, that’s why the evening news is a failure. More troubling though is the fact that the quality of the news has gone down as well. The 5PM news was quite good, time to restore that and focus on another quality bulletin later on. It was a nice idea and that do it in America, but this is Australia.

Leave a Reply