How Nine Brisbane flies the flag for Kids TV

While some commercial networks have turned their back on producing Kid’s TV, Nine’s production unit at Mt. Coot-tha is going from strength to strength, churning out high volumes of content and training producers for tomorrow.

Game show Smashhdown has completed production of its third season of 250 episodes –  and there are two new projects in the pipeline.

“We’ve probably done probably 500 to 700 eps of that over the past four years. We also did another series called Brain Buzz which was about 225 eps,” says Head of Production and Programming for Queensland, Geoff Cooper.

The series originally featured kids in a sports game show but COVID meant the show had to pivot to a new format in order to keep its staff employed.

“We’d have 20 kids in the studio, at least as well as parents, caregivers. chaperones, the whole lot. When we decided to bring bring back Kids TV, after the hiatus because of COVID, we had to have a much more controlled environment.

“‘What if we had Obama versus the Queen?”

“We had to change the format and we decided to lean into a Horrible Histories-type thing and say, ‘What if we had Obama versus the Queen? What would happen if they were competing against each other?'”

An ensemble of 8 performers assume comedic characters … a Steve Jobs impersonator, a mad scientist and more… in a mix of challenges and lesson learning, but the key to it all is humour.

Around 75 -100 new episodes will screen in 2023 as the Kid’s production unit explores new concepts.

“We’re in the middle right now of creating two new formats, which we’ll announce probably in the new year. We’ve just got to go through all the ACMA applications. But we’re in the middle of creating a science-based factual show. And then we’ll have another Game Show series. It probably won’t be Smashdown, we’ll try to come up with a new concept,” he explains.

“Most of the other networks have gotten rid of kids”

“Because most of the other networks have gotten rid of Kids, we’re looking at just the data and the strategy over the next year.

“I feel strongly about something that gives variety to the creative team. We need we need to train, editors, cameras, writers and segment producers, which is kind of the unheralded part of Kids TV. If you look back at the two real schools of television production, Home & Away and Neighbours helped create the actors and writers in the drama sector and then Kids television, especially those magazine style shows, helped create some of the top producers in Australia.

“The great thing about Kids TV these days is you can cut your teeth there.”

Cooper began at Network 10, then ABC Kids before moving to Nine. He oversees two production units, one which delivers My Way, Riverfire, Carols and documentaries, and the Kid’s unit.

“I wanted to make the next Seinfeld.”

“I was one of the first film and television grads at QUT. I wanted to make the next Seinfeld. I think we all did in the mid 90s, but I had done a feature film with a mate and Channel 10 was looking for a producer. So I gave it a crack and what I found was just how creative you can be. It’s a safe space to really break the formulas and try different techniques out. Totally Wild and Scope provided a training in field production. I met Wes Denning after Big Brother when I was EP of Kids at 10.

“We were able to send him to Antarctica, and some amazing places, and provide real training for him. Now with Eureka, he’s one of the top execs.”

According to Cooper kids watch Smashhdown either through linear television or via 9Now.

“I think it’s changing a lot. When we first started it was on it was on 9GO! because we had Kids WB and there was a block of animation and things like that. I think more and more it’s a dual screening for us,” he explains.

The new concept, when it is unveiled in 2023, promises more field production.

“Comedy is kind of the area that we’re leaning into”

“More and more 9Now is where those kids go to watch content and comedy is kind of the area that we’re leaning into with  all of our stuff. But it’s going to be a format just a little bit more bite I guess and re-establish that training ground, with a production camera crew and editors cutting packages and people learning how to produce.

“We still need to develop talent and  I worry about where the industry is going .”

Smashhdown screens 8am weekdays on 9GO!