What do programmers say about timeslot switcheroos?
"If something falls over in a particular timeslot you can't just leave it there, haemorrhaging."
- Published by David Knox
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Today’s edition of the Green Guide talks to three Melbourne programmers about the habit of changing timeslots and the frustration it gives viewers.
Seven programmer Graeme Hill says the network doesn’t make changes for the sake of it: ”We have to rate. If something falls over in a particular timeslot you can’t just leave it there, haemorrhaging. But thankfully, we haven’t had too many of those situations lately.”
Nine’s Melbourne program manager Len Downs says when it comes to rethinking a timeslot anybody can be wise after the event: ”You make a move based on what you believe is going to happen, you use the data you have and it might or might not work. But when it doesn’t work, you’ll have people coming out of the woodwork and saying, ‘We knew that would happen’.”
TEN’s Melbourne program manager, Peter Andrews, says. ”If something has a global buzz about it, you can’t wait too long to show it in Australia. That’s why we fast-track things like Glee and House; sometimes we show them less than 24 hours after they aired in the US. The landscape is evolving so fast that there’s no ‘easy’ timeslot for a show any more … sometimes the viewers might not get it but I guarantee you that if a show does move, there’s a very logical reason.”
All three work in tandem as part of a national Programming team that is Sydney-based.
If online forums are anything to go by everybody wants to play Programmer, but in all likelihood it’s a job you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Under daily pressure from sales, advertisers, audiences, shareholders, media commentators and even micro-managing bosses it ain’t no picnic….
You can read more at The Age.
35 Responses
Why is 11 so stable compared to GEM, GO! , and 7 MATE ?
I wish more multi channels were like 11 and they kept things in slots for ages and built the audiences up and respected the viewers.
Ten is doing a great job keeping 11 not only stable but putting lots of first run shows on as well.
I am in my 40’s and can afford Foxtel w/DVR; still many shows get missed due to bad info from network to Foxtel. None of my 20’s friends have Foxtel or rabbit ears– they watch everything online (and not from iview ifyouknowhatimean). These programmers are working themselves out of jobs IMO.
Yes commercial channels have to put on programs that rate, that’s how they make their money but they also have to treat the viewers with respect. Shafting programs to very late at night on the digital channels is not treating us with any respect. Now while it has improved in the last year of so with the added FTA channel there are still glaring problems like those posted here.
And they continue to wonder why Australia has one of the highest usage of illegal file sharing services or turn to Pay TV.
“All three work in tandem as part of a national Programming team that is Sydney-based.”
Mmmm. That’s why we get Aussie drama pitched against Aussie drama, and garbage against garbage.
I spend more time watching the PVR then finding out the show has started half an hour later so I’ve missed the end of the show.
Getting a bit weary. Think I’ll give up & stick to ABC.
Let me clarify.
All three work in tandem = All three Melb. programmers work in tandem with their own national programmers in Sydney. That is, major programming moves are made at a national level.
@ Denis and Cam Read –
Time-shifted viewers have been counted for well over a year. The data comes out 7 days later and is counted as a consolidated figure.
Your timeshifted viewing would count…if you had a ratings box.
@ adelaide john, i’m with you, I quite enjoy the event but struggle to keep up with when it’s on. It wasn’t on last Friday night as recorded in the TV guide and when I used the channel 7 online TV guide the next morning to see where and when it had been moved to the guide noted it was on at 1am on 30th April, which was now in the past. It seemed even the people who run the online guide couldn’t keep up with the change, so how are the general public supposed to??? The previous week, it suddenly had a double episode and on a different day! It’s just too confusing.
Episode 15 can be found on Plus 7.
Are the people at TEN trying to tell me there was a good reason for the ridiculous programing of the letest season of Outrageous Fortune? First it was on late Friday night, then it moved to late Monday night. The times it was shown on Monday and Friday frequently changed. To top it off, at one stage it was shown four nights a week for about two weeks only to go back to Friday nights. I feel sorry for the people who tried to keep up with this series, they must have missed countless episodes. But as long as TEN says there was a good reason for it… I’d love to hear what it was.
adelaide john – The Event E15 Face Off was aired last Friday night (early Sat morn). It was on after the Caprica double ep (not before it as previously scheduled). That was in Melbourne anyway.
What utter bolderdash. The Networks are making excuses typical. It is not hard to program shows at all, if it is remotly hard its because the networks let advertising dollars effect them, and the pressure to make more money. Even with those hurdles its not that hard. You just have to love working in Tv and clearly if it is so hard to programe shows then they are in the wrong business.
@Denis I do pretty much the same with a PVR (quad-tuner), though I do push series link and it records when the show is on (with a buffer of 5 minutes early/15 minutes after), regardless of day/time switches or if they are off a week, they still record.
So if I actually had a ratings box, very few of those would show up as being watched, though I will say the ABC 1 and 2 would likely get a bit of boost as that is what I watch (via the tv tuner) while the commercials and SBS record, due to ad free viewing.
I just want to say not everyone has recording devices in their homes so clashes can and do matter. Also some frequencies are more unreliable; for my area it’s Ch 31 and all the Ten Network channels especially digital ones. I really wish they’d play things twice just in case one day I can’t watch due to interference. Because not all of them have analogue back-up that might look terrible but has understandable sound and picture. Unlike digital that can’t be understood during a very bad time or can be black. I’ll admit I don’t envy them their jobs. Except it should pay well.
And have just seen that Detroit 187 is now moved to a later slot only to be replaced by repeats of Criminal Minds and Mike and Molly has gone instead more repeats of 2.5 Men. I give up. Honestly. And as for the Cape being on at 1am even the extra channels are now as trigger happy with schedules.
Networks need to start thinking about all their channels and not use them as dumping grounds or as a +1 to get more ratings. Whilst living in the UK I got used to Channel 4 E4 More4 and Film 4. The Good Wife, The Closer and Saving Grace and more mature shows were on More 4. Glee, Skins, Shameless and Misfits on E4 and general on Channel 4 with soaps, news ,Hotel Inspector and Desperate Housewives with Film 4 showing nothing but great films with theme nights. It all seems a little hit and miss here. Why not put shows like Body Of Proof or Off The Map straight onto 7 Two instead of old Doc Martin and the Bill.
“That’s why we fast-track things like Glee” – so how does that explain the Christmas episode of Glee being seen in February? Other than the outdated concept of non-ratiings period? Pur-lease….
Channel Ten, by the time you aired last night’s episode of Glee, 3 episodes had already aired in the US. Doesn’t affect me, but was ridiculous to change day and timeslots. I understand what they’re saying when things don’t rate, but when you have popular shows that rate well why change days and timeslots. Thsi actually hurts these programs.
City Homicide is the prefect example of this. Rated enormously well on Sundays and Mondays when it was first moved. But then they moved it again to Wednesday and the ratinfs dropped, and well now it’s been axed. Not because it’s not a great show, but because they killed it themselves with timeslot changes
Bruce – no, that means that the programming team for each network is located in Sydney. Not that they are working together.
Well TEN is the channel i watch the most and i would ask Peter Andrews what is logical about shows like Modern Family that are successful constantly moving timeslots?
At first it was on Tuesdays following MC, then it went to Sunday and then a few weeks later came to Wednesday. Wouldn’t it be more honest to admit that sometimes networks use a particular hit show to prop up a night where the networks ratings are weak, thus constantly changing time slots and nights? The same could be said Glee.
Unfortunately what they are saying doesn’t quite mesh up with the reality of the situation.
Even assuming it did, they seem to be forgetting that the group they have to hold on to the *most* is the viewers. if they lose them, no amount of advertisers and sponsors will save their precious channel. Continually shifting shows around has been clearly demonstrated on these very forums to be the primary annoyance for viewers.
As Denis said, show some bloody conviction in your own decisions, it will earn you more than you might think.
Well, Nine better move AFP and Sea Patrol to Thursday quick smart.
‘Rants’ is a good word for it Denis
The whole rating process needs an overhaul,data gathering methods relying on such a small percentage to judge a huge demographic are clandestine at the best.
Most astute TV viewers will watch good programming and will always give new heavily “Buzzed” shows a quick look.
Situations like on Tuesday night are akin to putting 8 of the worlds best racehorses in the same race and calling the last place horse a crock even if only beaten in a blanket finish.
Even the cheapest of the new Digital set top boxes are including USB recording facilities and at about 50 bucks these make a good cheap PVR,we have three of these and Timeshift/record on the Computer TV card means I can effectively watch 5(and do) of the shows all screened at the same time how the hell rating are goin to be accurate for that I would never know.
It’s about time the Networks bought good programmes(which they often do) but for Christ’s sake have the courage of their convictions to find a good timeslot and give it a go.
Good programmes are good,if they are not employ people that knows what is good don’t just rely on a completely outdated rating system that cannot match pace with technology.
The point here is that people want consistancy if they know that a pet programme is on a certain time they will find a way to watch or record it
Mcdonalds or Hungry Jacks/Burger King probably don’t make the best hamburger in the area but everyone knows what their favorite tastes like and when they can buy it.
This is not rocket science why the hell would 7 run a programme on it’s main channel at the same time 7mate screens something aimed at the same demographic,surely this would erode it own ratings
Employ a few of us viewers and save yourselfs a fortune on overpaid underperforming executives.
By the way David you do a fantastic job here and thanks for posting my rants.
If a show doesn’t rate, sure move slots. What gets my goat is shows that do rate well are given slot changes. Big Bang Theory and mike and Molly are two examples. Thus far, we’ve had new eps on Tuesdays, then Wednesdays and now Mondays. It has happened with the Simpsons as well (even in it’s prime). There is no need for it, so bloody stop it!
Thanks for that story David, I haven’t got to my trusty Green Guide yet 🙂
As a viewer, one reason I’m developing an increasing hate of commercial television is timeslot changes. Glee is one of the few shows I’ll watch on a commercial station now. I was watching Monday night TV guides for its return, and discovered accidentally via a Facebook comment that it was back last night, a Wednesday, and at a later time.
Wednesday night is pretty good on ABC1, so 10’s Peter Andrews has probably lost me now.
“All three work in tandem as part of a national Programming team that is Sydney-based.”
WTF? Are you implying that 7, 9 & 10 work together on programming????
With the move of The Event to Sun 1.00am on 7mate, it appears episode 15 was not shown and that the episode this coming Sunday will be episode 16. While Ch 7 has acknowledged this as a problem and the query has been put to the programmers (via Ch 7 reception whose job is to not let the public speak to the programming department like in the past) I am advised there currently is no resolution to the missed episode. I am also advised I will not be contacted when it is resolved.
I asked where to from here and there was no answer as the receptionist has done all he can by notifying programming. So short of ringing Ch 7 up every day (also advised not to do this) there is no way of finding out when episode 15 will be shown.
So much for the viewer