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Seven Upfronts set for the big one

Tokyo Olympics & Between Two Worlds will spearhead Seven's event -and expect a Big Brother confirmation.

Seven network will unveil is Upfronts tomorrow, the first under newly-installed CEO James Warburton.

After a challenging year Seven will be looking to convince clients the worst is behind them and that 2020 has renewed energy.

At the top of the list is Tokyo Olympics, to be held from July 24 – August 9. Screening with a favourable timezone, this is an event around which all other networks will be forced to schedule.

While Nine and 10 Upfronts have been dominated by renewals, expect Seven to unpack the biggest list of new shows so far. Advertisers will be looking for Seven to rebuild their 7:30 slot.

It is rumoured to be announcing a season of Big Brother, which has previously screened on 10 and Nine. What detail will we get around dates, host and venue? Seven is also planning The Farmer Wants a Wife from Fremantle and more of Little Big Shots.

There have been rumours Matt Preston & Gary Mehigan may front a new cooking show in the second half of 2020, while My Kitchen Rules is expected to confirm one or more series, amid rumours of contestants living under one roof. House Rules is similarly due for an overhaul following cast departures.

There’s much excitement around new Bevan Lee drama Between Two Worlds, starring Hermione Norris, Philip Quast, Sara Wiseman & Aaron Jeffery, tipped for early in the year.

TV Tonight hears whispers Seven will confirm suped-up mini golf contest Holey Moley from Eureka Productions -with Aussie contestants doing battle on the course constructed for the US ABC network.

Rebel Wilson will front Perfect Pooch and Wife Swap, due in 2019, is now set for 2020 and will Australia’s Got Talent return? Probably.

Another unnamed Seven show has been hunting for “real people with unreal personalities.”

Amongst international titles, hot tips include Around the World in 80 Days, BBC miniseries Gold Digger starring Julia Ormond (last seen in Aussie movie Ladies in Black), and Wild Bill starring Rob Lowe.

Draw a line through the latest failed dating shows The Super Switch, The Proposal, and also discontinued are Sunday Night and Interview with Andrew Denton. Unlikely to return would be Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, Instant Hotel,  -and will delayed drama Australian Gangster get the green light yet?

But the future looks bright for ratings successes Seven News, Sunrise, The Front Bar, The Morning Show, The Chase and potentially more Real Full Monty specials.

Seven’s event is held late afternoon at Darling Harbour.

TV Tonight will again be Live tweeting announcements.

8 Responses

  1. Big Brother is not going to be the answer to 7’s problems. The show belongs in the early 2000’s

    We’ve moved on from that one would’ve thought.

  2. I Wouldn’t be very optimistic about AGTs renewal. when Warburton was talking about the stale, ageing formats on the network my mind went straight to AGT.
    I think it will be axed for the 4th time in 7 years. Surely some kind of record.

  3. One would have to wonder about Bride & Prejudice as well. It is low rating though consistent, and is doing better than the buzzier Love Island albeit in an earlier slot.

  4. I enjoy The Case, but would like to see The Chase filmed in front of a studio audience like the Celebrity Chase was. The studio seems large enough for a daily audience to be included in recordings instead of using pre recorded clapping ect.

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