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Race to 7mate

Seven Programmer Angus Ross says with no available slots on the main channel, 7mate is airing The Amazing Race so viewers don't have to wait.

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On Sunday night Seven fasttracks the newest series of The Amazing Race on 7mate.

As a show that had previously featured in a 7:30 primetime slot on its main channel, the shift to the digital channel makes it one of the most high profile first run shows on 7mate.

Programmer Angus Ross tells TV Tonight it was a case of not wanting to keep fans waiting.

“The schedule on our main channel was full and there were no slots opening up. With 7mate being on a bit of a charge, particularly with younger demographics that the US version of Amazing Race tends to attract, we thought it made sense in this instance,” he says.

“Viewers of Amazing Race don’t like to wait for this show and we know that. So this gets it on air in a timely manner.

“But the reality is these digital channels are growing. Why shouldn’t a show like Amazing Race be on 7mate?”

Since launching in September, 7mate has been puling significant figures for Seven. It also features new episodes of Family Guy and American Dad.

Placing The Amazing Race into a 6:30pm Sunday slot strategically gives the channel a shot in the arm on the first night of the ratings week.

“We like having a strong start to the week on all our channels whether it be 7TWO, 7mate or the main channel. Looking across all the Free to Air channels we felt that timeslot was wide open for this programme to go in there and it flows through nicely to the rest of the channel for the night,” says Ross.

The 18th season of the hit series returns a number of former racers including the Cowboys, Kynt & Vyxen and Kisha & Jen. As if part of an ideal season launch, the first episode even sees US contestants racing through Sydney.

Seven is also promoting the show so that viewers don’t confuse it as simply a repeat season.

“We have a strong promo push on 7mate but also on the main channel as well. We promote all our shows on all our channels depending on what we feel is the priority. There is a heavy promo campaign across 7mate and Seven because this is an important show for us, particularly as we head into a little show coming up in Amazing Race Australia.”

But not all viewers have access to digital channels, either for lack of upgrading their televisions and set top boxes, while 7mate is also not yet available to Foxtel satellite subscribers.

Ross says the show will be available via Plus7 and hints at a later rerun on the main channel.

“I reckon we will end up doing an Encore on the main channel somewhere but it won’t be in as timely a manner as 7mate. Maybe a weekend daytime a week or two later,” he says.

Meanwhile the network is excited about The Amazing Race Australia, hosted by Grant Bowler.

The Australian Race starts at the MCG with 11 teams of 2 and travels to 12 countries on 4 continents.

Ross remains coy on the finer detail of the show, including the prize money.

“That hasn’t been revealed, but it is going to be a substantial amount,” he says.

“I have seen the first episode and it’s pretty stunning. It’s done on a very big scale.”

The Amazing Race airs 6:30pm Sundays on 7mate.

28 Responses

  3. Who cares about people without 7mate? Put your hand in your pocket and get a STB or HDTV. If your a regoinal viewer watch on Plus7. So there are a number of platforms you can see it. So stop whinging.

    Finally a good move from 7.

  4. I’m glad this happened, to be honest, because it forced me to finally get an HD set-top-box.

    As someone who has Foxtel Satellite I have been dragging my feet over buying one just to get the handful of free-to-air channels not currently available to me. I just got a $50 one and it works perfectly. (It’s cool to have Conan back!)

  5. So is it safe to say when Seven launch The Amazing Race Australia, it will be shown on the main channel first?, given that it’s the first Aussie edition of the popular show & so everybody no matter what part of Australia they live in can see the show. As for the latest US version of the show, if Seven were to repeat it later on the main channel why not show it on a Saturday Afternoon? It’s not like there is anything interesting on TV on a Saturday afternoon, well apart from Footy.

  7. “The schedule on our main channel was full”…..it’s gotta be, when you’re showing My Kitchen Rules 3 nights a week, plus Bones two nights a week, not to mention double eps of How I Met Your Mother…

  10. @Dave: Yes, this is the first season to be shot in HD Widescreen. I’ve seen the first ep of the new season, and so far it’s as brilliant as always, if not even more brilliant because of the widescreen HD.

  15. The time has come for networks to put first run shows on to digital people have had alot of time and gov assistance to switch over. Hopefully nine follows their lead with survivor

  16. @ josh… its not a question of ppl not having a receiver.. its a question of ppl who live in an area where 7mates is not being broadcast. and yes there are some places that dont get it! ( as well they dont get GO! or GEM or 11). its all well and good that we live in the city, but spare a thought for thoses who dont and only have the main channels..

    so as i said, This is not a good move for 7!

  18. I’ll have to tape it, but I just hope that whatever figures it does get, it stays there. I still think they could have aired this on the main channel and then TAR AUS since it looks like they wont be airing the Australian one for ages, but I do have a PVR (actually 2, but the HD one is just my backup one) so more annoyign to switch over to the other PVR, but at least I’ll see it. But yes, if they do put a repeat on the main channel that would be good in case the PVR stuffs up.

  23. Thought it was fairly obvious that they were just trying to avoid a scheduling conflict with their “premium product”, TAR Australia. They will want to show TAR Australia soon, probably starting after Easter, and don’t wish to cause confusion by having 2 versions of TAR on the main channel at the same time.

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