Nine Network’s parlous finances and the plight of Ten were the brunt of several jokes from Seven West Media’s (SWM) sales team as they looked to push their new TV offerings for next year.
Seven CEO Tim Worner and his sales team addressed a gathering of media agency bosses, media analysts and a smattering of the network’s on-air talent with an integrated sales pitch pushing the strength of the group’s assets.
Worner told the group Seven was not “reliant on one or two shows to give us eight to ten weeks of outperformance”, a clear dig at Nine’s ratings phenomenon The Voice.
Introducing himself as “the mystery man of media” SWM CEO Don Voelte pushed the group’s financial and ratings strength, quipping “We’re not directed or managed by New York hedge funds”, a clear dig at Nine, and pledging not to put on a show with drag queens in the desert, a slight at Ten’s failing I Will Survive.
Among the revelations was the rebranding of the sales arm SMG Red to become Red, and the launch of a data-insights arm Red Fusion to pull together the data from across the group, as well as an exclusive deal with Neuro Insights to conduct research.
New shows which will be coming to our screens next year include Dutch hit Celebrity Splash, which sees personalities attempting to high dive, House Rules, a renovation show which will see contestants making each other’s homes over, and Mrs Biggs, a drama collaboration for Seven and the UK’s ITV about the great train robber Ronnie Biggs.
As well as this there will be a return for The Mole, and new US shows will include Red Widow, Zero Hour and Last Resort.
But the big hope for the year is new local drama A Place to Call Home, which featured heavily in several promo-reels.
Worner also said the group would be pushing the second screen experience in 2013 and added: “We’re going to have a battle on our hands with fragmentation. But, the more channels fragment the stronger TV will become as the last place which can deliver mass eyeballs.”
Fango will have more functionality with audio syncing matching ads on it to what is being watched on TV.
Digital channels 7Mate and 7Two will feature more sports content, an increase in brand funded content and more Australian programming, while the catch-up Plus Seven platform will also be extended to be supported by tablets and mobiles.