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Axed: 6:30 with George Negus

Network TEN has axed 6:30 with George Negus, to be replaced with an extended version of The 7PM Project.

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Network TEN has axed 6:30 with George Negus, to take effect from the end of next week.

It will be replaced with an extended version of The 7PM Project, to be re-titled as The Project.

Negus will remain with TEN in news and current affairs and return to a regular panel role on The Project.

The axing follows disappointing ratings for the show in the competitive 6:30pm timeslot, after it was moved from its original home of 6pm mid year. Last night it rated 340,000 viewers.

David Mott, Chief Programming Officer, said, “The move to expand The Project from a half hour format to the hour reflects our belief that this type of contemporary, informative, fast-paced, funny, yet relevant news offering is what best connects with our audience.”

“We’re incredibly proud of George and our 6.30 team, both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. 6.30 has been a high quality, credible, and thought provoking news program for the network. The decision to discontinue 6.30 was a commercial one and in no way reflects on the quality of George, the program or the team. We are grateful to George for establishing and steering this bold experiment over the last 10 months.”

George Negus says, “Working on 6.30 has been incredibly fulfilling. From reporters to production crew, we have worked together to bring viewers a high quality, soil-breaking program and some of the year’s biggest stories and interviews. We are immensely proud of all we have achieved. The truth is that unfortunately a program like 6.30 was ahead of its time, but who knows about the future?

“Though sadly 6.30 has come to an end, I’m looking forward to getting back with my mates at The Project. They’ve also broken new ground with their irreverent approach to what’s going on around us, it’s my kind of tongue-in-cheek program.”

At TEN’s 2012 Programming Launch the network had promised George Negus and the 6:30 team would return, but did not specifically name the show itself, fuelling rumours that Negus might take a different role on the show.

Negus left Dateline at SBS at the end of last year to take up the role as part of TEN’s news revamp.

The Project switches from Monday October 31st.

Charlie Pickering said, “TEN has given us more time and we’re not going to say no. Carrie, Hughesy and myself have always got something to say and whether or not the world needs to hear it we’re just glad to have the extra half hour to say it.”

105 Responses

  1. How about Bringing back the Cleveland Show from 11 and putting that on as a lead in to 7pm project.If Not enough episodes of that then some later Simpsons Episodes like the 2007 onwards seasons.Not all of us want to watch Current Affairs Shows or be bombarded with more news when we come from work.

    Neighbours coming home to it’s 1986 to 2010 home would be even better in the absence of those cartoons I have mentioned.The likes of Ramsay Street and the people living there was an escapism from ACA And TT.

  5. I hate Ten’s New Plan.The Simpsons and Neighbours were fine were they were and for a lot of us a really nice way to start the evening.7pm Project is there for us who can’t always be there for the earlier News Bulletins.I would not be surprised if this kills the Project and they have to start importing in American Sitcoms/Cartoons to fill the spot much like nine are doing with the 7pm offerings currently.

  7. I’m not surprised the programme failed, for I personally don’t want heavy media content when I’m digesting my dinner and trying to relax. I seek light entertainment in the form of Letters and Numbers, Neighbours, and Cops. Maybe later in the evening I’m in the mood for some programmes like Dateline, Four Corners, and Q&A, but certainly not at 6:30pm. Blame Ten management, not the ‘dumb people’.

  12. A real shame this has happened. Just goes to show how many dumb people in this country there are when TT and ACA win the 6.30 battle by such a huge margin. Really embarrassing for us as a notion!!! And we call ourselves the clever country. George Negus has been an excellent journo, But has never been a TV Host. He was ordinary at as co host on Today in the 90’s and is still no better….stiff and fumbling his way reading the autocue every night. He is better suited as a regular guest on 7pm where he has others on set to support him. And as for the “years ahead of its time”….wow what a strange line. 6.30 was more like ACA 20 years ago. I really wanted this show to work…given it was an alternative to the junk on the opposition. It needed to be quality journalism, but presented in a contemporary way. It needed a younger host, less emphasis on world stories. Most nights – by the third story – it was getting a bit boring. Hamish is such a quality talent. Let’s hope he is not lost to Aussie TV. But sadly due to the lack of demand for quality journos, he may be. Hopefully the Project can make good use of him. he deserves it. If the project can become a bit more creditable…but keep presented in a contemporary way – It will go well at 6.30. Just fear a 60 min show at this time slot will be a battle. Can see next year there being a 30min project at 6.30 and Simpsons back on Ten at 7pm.

  13. Yep doesn’t surprise me. TV presenters, well on Aust. TV anyway, have a use by date and Negus was well past his, especially on commercial TV.

  14. Not surprised. Once it dropped below 400K, I think the death warrant was signed. It simply never found its feet against the two other long-established current affairs shows it was up against.

  15. The way TEN’s going, they’ll eventually axe everything they’re currently screening and replace the lot with “an exciting, youth-oriented concept” called ‘The 24 Hour Project’ featuring non-stop Charlie Pickering and 6 guests on a rotating 12 hour shift…

  20. could always bring back Neighbours? I’m sure it would rate better than Negus has been and they could replace it on 11 with something that would do similarly OK over there. They have to sort out this mess, they have had not a lot of luck with programming this year.

  22. Bring back 6pm Simpsons!!!

    (well, if their lineup is going to bomb miserably, can’t it at least bomb miserably while airing stuff I like rather than stuff I don’t?)

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