Diary of a TV junkie: The year that was and the one ahead Felicity Shea
YOUknow, as I look back over the year of TV viewing, one immutable fact stands out—I watch a s*&^load of television.
But what a great year of television it’s been.
At the start of the year, could you really have imagined a landscape bereft of Sale of the Century? Even more surprising is the havoc its absence has wreaked on programmers’ lives.
It has disrupted the viewing patterns across all networks and been the cause of much churn.
Nine’s had a year of experimentation and has once more ended the year on top, while Seven and Ten have battled ferociously for second and third. It’s been a year of stunts and spoilers.
Nine really pushed the boat out in terms of trialling new programs and formats. Marry Me is being re-packaged and re-titled Loves me, loves me not and will be hosted by Sami Lukas, Body & Soul was cancelled, Single Girls was pulled off the air due to poor ratings, but a Nine spokesperson said this week that some ‘leftovers’ will be aired over the summer, Forgive Me, I’m Sorry was cancelled and Survivor IV:Marquesas was not broadcast due to a clash with the Australian Survivor, although it may be broadcast in 2003. Nine did what it does so well and spoiled Seven’s fun. When Seven looked like scoring a ratings winner with the Commonwealth Games, Nine scheduled its National IQTest, winning the highest-rating show of the year, raising the bar of integrated advertising opportunities.
Oh, the memories of a great year! The Secret Life of Us, The Panel, Alias, The West Wing, Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, Kath & Kim.
As we round the home stretch, we can see the end in sight. Only a few hurdles of crappy Christmas re-runs (how many times can we watch those appalling re-makes of Miracle on 34th Street?) and some really boring cricket to get through (don’t misunderstand me, I love cricket, but this display from England is not cricket).
I predict a boom in cinema ticket sales this summer.
My hit prediction for TV next year is that while Seven has felt the brunt of the ratings turmoil, signs are promising for the rainbow network. It will have several strong performers, including top-rating US-import Boomtown, starring Donnie Wahlberg.
Ten will be preparing itself for a battle to sustain the growth it achieved for large parts of this year. When some of your success is a surprise (The Guardian exceeded initial expectations considerably), you’re faced with the challenge of making lightning strike twice.
Ten will continue to flog the Big Brother horse, with a new format and a new goldfish bowl for attention-starved contestants.
Ten has some exciting local productions in the offing, including Crash Burn with Catherine McClements and a new sketch show from the Rove Live crew, Peter Hellier and Corinne Grant.
Nine, also has some interesting choices and will be playing the local card with its US import Without a Trace, starring Anthony La Paglia and Poppy Montgomery, both Aussie ex-pats. Local drama The Coast has filmed a pilot and will be looking for the green light early next year. Nine is also launching a new reality show, billed as a cross between Changing Rooms, Location, Location and Our House.
So as you endure the summer TV low-lights (as opposed to highlights), just remember, the new survey year is just around the corner. Only 58 more sleeps.
Diary of a TV Junkie is one viewer’s observations of the TV landscape. E: Felicity.Shea@Reedbusiness.com.au
