More time out for Wake Up producer Adam Boland
Wake Up executive producer Adam Boland is to take a second leave of absence from TEN's morning television schedule.
- Published by David Knox
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Wake Up executive producer Adam Boland is to take a second leave of absence from morning television, further adding to the show’s struggles to make impact.
The Daily Telegraph reports Boland is set to take a further month away from the network, with Studio 10 exec producer Rob McKnight to assume control of both programmes once again. It’s not known if the move is related to Boland’s bipolar disorder.
Boland took time out from Wake Up in early November, just days after the show’s launch, and returned last week, excited by the prospect of work.
A TEN spokesperson said, “Adam Boland is taking a short break from Wake Up and Studio 10. Rob McKnight will take over the running of both shows until Adam returns. We are pleased with the quality of both shows and their initial ratings, which have been in line with our expectations. We also recognise that it will take time to establish our presence in the highly competitive breakfast and morning television market, and that we need to continuously work on improving both shows.”
So far the ratings for both shows have trailed their competitors by a country mile, despite some good feedback for Studio 10. Yesterday Wake up was 34,000 against Boland’s former Sunrise on 337,000. Studio 10 rated 54,000 to The Morning Show‘s 125,000.
Wake Up has since lost co-presenter Natasha Exelby and wound back on its push for local news after viewer feedback. Early Wake Up, a half hour coded from 6:30-7am is also gone from Monday, now coded as a two-hour programme 6:30 – 8:30am.
TEN CEO Hamish McLennan recently confirmed a long term commitment to the show.
“It’s a 2 year deal for us. In no way did we think we would get anything more than the numbers that we got. It’s an important deal for us and you look to the success of Today and Sunrise,” he said.
It’s been a tumultuous week in Breakfast TV with Today show exec producer Neil Breen also walking from the show after recent reports about tension and tempers.
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- Tagged with Studio 10, Sunrise, The Morning Show, Today, Wake Up
31 Responses
Hate to say “I told you so” but predicted way back when there were only rumours of James Mathieson co-hosting that it would be a disaster. On this very forum. Everything he goes near ends up pear shaped. How Adam fell for it is beyond me.
But I’m with David. It is soothing to watch the waves through the window even if what’s going to air has you cringing with embarrassment.
Oh David do you think that Wake Up back drop is is representitive of a national show ? Fabulous if you live in Sydney but perhaps it reinforces the publics perception of a Sydney-centric show .
Dabooth: Yes I think a beach backdrop is universally Australian. Martin Place has never hurt Sunrise ratings.
Surf club becomes active!! That’s what the beach setting needs. A bit of life. But I do like the beach setting. Good point of difference. Breakfast tv is not a news show. It’s info entertainment.
I don’t watch much breakfast tv due to family commitments but have watched a some 30 odd minutes once a week. It is getting better. As the weather gets hotter the beach will get more activity. Dropping tash was a good move. Slow mo James should be next. If they seriously want the show to survive. But would be a touch embarrassing for Adam. But they were bad choices from the start. Andrew Rockford would be the best choice given the male competition.
Certainly seems to be plenty who prefer Matt Doran idea over James Mathison. I still like the backdrop.
Agree it needs to be on 7 days a week to be taken seriously. They could also experiment with weekend hosts who may be a better fit for the Mon – Fri slot. I don’t think they can do weekends though because the surf club actually becomes active.
The hosts may need to change, especially James and the beach setting is all wrong and doesn’t work.
Plus if Ten are serious about making a mark in the breakfast TV show business, you can’t be cheap about it and only have a breakfast show that’s only on 5 days a week.
You need a show that’s on 7 days a week, with 2 different weekend hosts, as is the case with the breakfast shows of 2, 7 and 9.
I’ve been watching it since it started, even though my flatmate has asked to switch back to Sunrise, but I’ve wanted to stick with it to watch it develop, similar to the way The Project did, which I think runs pretty damn well now. Its coming along nicely, getting rid of Tash was the right move, she was just to awkward.
I don’t dislike James at all, however I don’t think he is suited to this, I think he would have made a better roving reporting, I agree with most people that Matt Doran would be great, he and Natarsha have a great chemistry that really comes across the screen. I really cant gel with Sam Mac, that Anchorman interview was terrible, I think James Kerley would be a better replacement.
I tend to agree with most people about the ‘local’ news section, I’m not really a fan of the Melbourne backdrop for the news, nothing against Nula, but if its not going to be live…
I’ve said from the early blogs, this wasn’t the right choice of talent from
Adam. Yes, it’s different from 7 and 9 – but you need credible news people at the time of day not 3rd graders. Sandra Sully would of worked well with Tim Webster. Kerri Anne with her own show should follow.
Kerri Anne Kennerley is the answer . It’s simple. She’s the most professional personality benched at the moment. KAK is the answer to have her own show on Ten. Bring back Midday with Kerri Anne on Ten!!!
I’ve always thought the hosts should be Gorgi Coghlan and Andrew Rochford.
Gorgi was popular on The Circle and would help attract that audience over. Rochford is also popular and I think they need a strong male like him that females like. Many women can’t stand Kochie or Karl and would switch over for the right male host. Matthison is not that host.
But he could do sport. Reporting live from the beach. Doing odd interviews with sports people dropping by. He could also have a chat with people and muck around a bit on the beach (in place of the other dude they use now).
Natasha Belling should be on news. I don’t particularly dislike Nuala, but Belling is yards ahead in terms of professionalism. She could cross to Matt Doran in the newsroom for updates throughout the morning and chat with him a bit. They have good chemistry. Having proper newsreaders involved like this would give…
All the best on a speedy recovery for Adam.
Meantime, both shows are in great hands under Rob in the meantime, another true gentleman in the cut throat TV industry.
For the sake of the whole industry, hoping TEN gets some real traction going again soon. Am sure it will.
On paper this show looked liked a rating winner. In reality it is not. The sea view does not work on a news show. ok for a fitness/yoga show but a bit too nice for this.. Matho would be great in a supporting role but not the main act. Adam is a genius and hope he is ok but i have to wonder why he wanted to go up against the beast he created. They need to get Gretel now to save this show now.
Wish adam well the show is growing on me still changes need . Nula readng the news from melbourne just dosent work. News needs to be read live in the studio with say sandra sully . Nula can do the weather out and about she is not a newsreader. The set looks too small cameras need to show a bigger area .it looks tiny on screen . Still think kerri ann kenerley needs to be added to the show .she has personality . Is bubbly .breakfast tv is watched by middle age and older people kerri ann will resonate better . Young people dont watch breakky tv…they listen to kyle and jackie o . The show lacks personality kerrie ann would add that to the show… Natasha is good james not so good.it takes time hope ten has patience.
Viewer feedback has worked once with this show so here goes…
Replace “matto” with Matt Doran. He fits well with Natarsha Belling and has credibility and likeability
matt doran and natasha belling have proven chemistry together
They can’t axe the two shows – TEN’s stuck with ’em for the next 23 months.
And, no – I haven’t bothered to turn any of them on.
I prob could count myself in those 34,000 but I watch on Tenplay on morning commute. (Wonder what figures that brings?) I actually don’t think it’s that bad and agree with others it needs some summer tweaking. The only danger maybe with Tarsh and “Matto” would be there’d by too many in-jokes and point scoring to keep on topic. I also get the idea of using Ten ‘correspondents’ but it almost makes Nuala even more disconnected than already perceived. Over summer maybe “Matho” needs some ad lib training.
I wish Adam well. If he could be at work he would be.
He took a huge gamble with then unknowns Kochie and Mel and Sunrise became television history. Matho was a huge mistake though.
James Mathison is looking more & more like a deer in the headlights. He is just not credible & he doesn’t have a clue.
The new newsreader I saw (don’t know who she is) is infinitely better than Nuala Hafner but so much for ‘local’ news when there was a story on Melbourne radio hosts leaving their shows. I am in Brisbane so this is irrelevant to me.
Is the set really small for Wake Up or is it just the way it is filmed?
Studio 10 is not much better. Saw the opening few mins today with Jack Thompson talking about his Cleo centrefold. Then Sarah Harris says that they will have to find to pic so that we can all see it. Wouldn’t it have been sensible to have it already on hand to show?
Both shows look like Community TV.
@SAgreat Hamish MacDonakd? Ah no thanks. He was awful on Late News. Besides he’s left Ten. Sandra Sully will be on holidays as will Carrie Bickmore. Matt Doran should replace James immediately.
It was said when the show launched that the cast wouldn’t take a break over summer.
It’s great to see Wake Up taking viewer feedback and making adjustments. A lot of people say it won’t work without actually providing constructive feedback which ten seems to be listening to. I agree that they should trial a few different combinations over Summer – Gretel Kileen, Carrie Bickmore, Sandra Sully, Matt Doren, Hamish McDonald – a few names they should trial who I believe would work well in the slot. My ideal ten breakfast program would be Hamish and Carrie, with Natarsha doing news and Neula doing weather.
What was Mr Boland thinking when he hired “Tash” and “Matho” for this show? The one and only thing this turkey has going for it is the eloquent, Ms Belling. I hope the stink this show leaves behind once its axed doesn’t reflect on Natarsha. I think even “Matho” knows himself he is way out of his depth on this one, he always has that stupid deer in headlights look on his face. How some people score gigs on tele is beyond me, even more bizarre, how the “wonderkid” baked on James Mathison for success.
At 34,000 viewers this show is going nowhere unless they get everyone in the studio naked and start handing out $50 bills to everyone on the beach. The rhetoric from management is standard and expected, however if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then in two years time it will still be…
I believe Wake Up has the long term potential to convert viewers over from today and sunrise.
I would love to know if Matt Doran was tested as a potential co-host? I just can’t take James Mathison seriously, he would have been a better fit for Studio 10 instead.
The chemistry and banter between Tarsh and Matt would make engaging TV. Fingers crossed, Matt fills in when Matho is away! I can’t see Matho sticking with the show, I really get the sense he feels uncomfortable and out of his depth.
Sam Mac fits the role of roving reporter quite well but it is cringe worthy watching him do celebrity interviews. The interview with the cast of Anchorman, you could even see Will Ferrell judging him.
I think Wake Up needs to take advantage of it’s community location. Meeting the neighbours and milkbar owners in the first week was a nice touch. Surely they could have a weekly…
Shame to see this is happening again and obviously hope Adam is ok – perhaps the market is too crowded to build from scratch, seems the only way to fix this is to pull out the cheque book and poach one of the stars off the other big 2 shows? It’s too hard to try to build something with the competition so far ahead
Early Xnas/New Year break at the start of non ratings, then come back next year before ratings and look to grow the numbers?
It was a tough time to start the shows, but taking the longer view, they still have to bed in a bit more and then maybe make changes in mid to late Jan if required