Throng

In light of Mediaworks’ announcement that they are changing the audience targets for their channels, this raises some interesting questions as to what shows will go where and how these changes might affect existing shows.

With TV3 targeting a slightly older demographic – the same 25-54 target demo as TV One – this would suggest that the early evening line up is about to receive a major overhaul. 

Home and Away would arguably be better suited to an early evening line up on FOUR.  If these changes are as bold as they appear on paper, then the 7pm slot would be perfect for the soap.

TVNZ have had great trouble with their lead ins to ONE News over the years but Masterchef appears to have been their 5:30pm silver bullet.  What a new look TV3 would put in its place is anybody’s guess.  Whatever it is, it would need to be good.

Will these changes see 3 News be cut to a 30 minute bulletin?  It’s been regularly discussed and these changes could easily be the catalyst that sees them implemented.  

With the slightly older audience target, does this also mean that we’d see less of an entertainment focus on 3 News?

The same question probably applies to Campbell Live too.  Do these changes indicate a tolling bell for the show or would it simply mean a major overhaul? In any case, again this would seem like the perfect opportunity to mix things up.

Mediaworks have said that any changes will be subtle and over time but really they need to bold in order to increase their channel share.

In any case, it sounds as though Jason Paris has been hard at work coming up with a new strategy that will turn the network around.  The real question is whether they actually have the ability to successfully implement it.  Is this merely just another splash of paint or are the rusty girders that have been buckling under enormous weight for some time now about to be replaced?  Time will tell…

Kiwi-born Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, has joined the campaign to save a Coromandel beach from development.

Keoghan will hold an event for New Chums Beach in January next year where he hopes to get several thousand people to form a human message on nearby Matarangi Beach.

The host is one of the many kiwis who is against the plan to add 20 houses to the area with a boatshed and ramp also planned for the beach’s northern end.

Claiming it as one of the most “breathtakingly stunning places in the world”, Keoghan says the reason the beach is so beautiful is the difficulty of reaching it, as you have to endure a half-hour trek over boulders and mud as well as negotiating a tidal river.

“There’s something quite magical about coming over the top of that hill, walking through the trees, and seeing the beach that opens up out of nowhere.” Keoghan says.

He aims to get the power of Prime Minister John Key behind the cause as well by inviting him to take part in the event on January 3. 

Keoghan says: “Sometimes you feel like with everything going on in the world you can’t take on every battle and fight for everything you feel strongly about … But in this case I don’t feel like that … This is just too important.

“We’re not talking about some beach that’s just run-of-the-mill, that there are millions of in the world. We’re talking about a beach that’s one of the best – if not the best – in the world.”

A record number of submissions in protest to the development have been received, with oral submissions being heard in November.

Source: Herald

So Mediaworks are rebranding their channels but are the new names going to confuse people?

With C4 becoming Four, where does that leave C42?  And as for TV3+1?  Will people assume that 3+1 = Four as well?  An HD channel perhaps?  Who knows…

MediaWorks TV channel C4 is to be re-launched as a mainstream entertainment channel known as FOUR.

The channel is to adjust its target audience to 18-49 year olds (currently 15-39) and become broader in its appeal, with programming which attracts a wider, and more mature audience.

TV3, which has a current target audience of 18-49, will evolve its target to the 25-54 year old audience.  While the FOUR change will be immediate, commencing early in 2011, the TV3 adjustment will take place over time, as it is a more subtle adjustment.

“This is a decision about where the biggest audience opportunity exists,” said MediaWorks TV CEO, Jason Paris.

“FOUR will be a channel which appeals to anyone looking for great entertainment.  Everything the channel does will be entertainment.  No news, sport or information, just pure escapism.

“Our research indicates there is a massive appeal for this broad, entertaining content, especially at a time when there are economic challenges which mean the easy escapism of television is even more compelling for people.”

Viewers can look forward to some exciting product on FOUR as announced at this morning’s Wellington new season launch announcement.
 
Shows including Joel McHale’s new comedy, Community, the highly-anticipated drama The Gates, which is set in a neighbourhood with a dark and delicious secret, and Top Chef: Just Desserts, a spin-off of the Emmy-winning Top Chef series are all new to FOUR.
 
As well as new shows, popular shows such as America’s Next Top Model and The Simpsons will move to FOUR.
 
Coming to 3 in 2011 viewers will also be treated to some hot new shows including Hawaii Five-0, the long-awaited remake of the popular cult-classic and The Defenders, a comedic-drama about two colourful Las Vegas defense attorneys, starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell,  The Graham Norton Show starring the  popular and outrageous comedian, Graham Norton and a new series with James May – James May’s Man Lab which sees James on a mission to save modern man!
 
Great new local content to TV3 will include The Almighty Johnsons, starring Tim Balme, and created by the award-winning team behind the hit Outrageous Fortune.
 
Jason Paris adds: “We have done some careful analysis of how our combined two channels can attract the strongest audiences, and it has become clear that these two target audiences are where the biggest potential lies.
 
“It’s no surprise this is also where the largest revenue opportunities lie for us as a business.  Advertisers want to be where the most appealing audiences are.  We intend to deliver those audiences in strong numbers to our clients, across both channels.”

Most watched

1. One News: 634,840 (TV ONE, 6:00pm – 7:00pm)
2. Shortland Street: 580,920 (TV2, 7:00pm – 7:35pm)
3. Coronation Street: 537,060 (TV ONE, 7:30pm – 8:30pm)
4. Close Up: 507,210 (TV ONE, 7:00pm – 7:30pm)
5. Target: 485,010 (TV3, 7:30pm – 8:00pm)

Most watched evening (7.30pm – 11pm)

1. Coronation Street: 537,060 (TV ONE, 7:30pm – 8:30pm)
2. Target: 485,010 (TV3, 7:30pm – 8:00pm)
3. Outrageous Fortune: 478,570 (TV3, 8:30pm – 9:30pm)
4. Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution: 413,660 (TV ONE, 8:30pm – 9:30pm)
5. My Kitchen Rules: 385,420 (TV2, 7:35pm – 8:35pm)

Most watched daytime (9am – 5pm)

1. ONE News Midday: 154,200 (TV ONE, 12:00pm – 12:30pm)
2. Emmerdale: 114,950 (TV ONE, 12:30pm – 1:30pm)
3. Entertainment Tonight: 91,770 (TV3, 4:30pm – 5:00pm)
4. ONE News 4:30: 87,710 (TV ONE, 4:30pm – 4:55pm)
5. Spongebob Squarepants: 80,200 (TV2, 4:00pm – 4:30pm)

Most watched on TV ONE

1. One News: 634,840 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
2. Coronation Street: 537,060 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
3. Close Up: 507,210 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
4. Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution: 413,660 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
5. Real Crime: 334,550 (9:30pm – 10:30pm)

Most watched on TV2

1. Shortland Street: 580,920 (7:00pm – 7:35pm)
2. My Kitchen Rules: 385,420 (7:35pm – 8:35pm)
3. The Waterboy: 337,140 (8:35pm – 10:25pm)
4. 8 Simple Rules: 206,760 (6:30pm – 7:00pm)
5. Neighbours: 146,090 (6:00pm – 6:30pm)

Most watched on TV3

1. Target: 485,010 (7:30pm – 8:00pm)
2. Outrageous Fortune: 478,570 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
3. 3 News: 385,690 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
4. The Secret Lives of Dancers: 291,990 (8:00pm – 8:30pm)
5. The Big C: 291,760 (9:30pm – 10:05pm)

Most watched on C4

1. Family Guy: 95,570 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
2. How I Met Your Mother: 73,820 (8:00pm – 8:30pm)
3. 30 Rock: 60,190 (7:30pm – 8:00pm)
4. Accidentally On Purpose: 55,370 (8:30pm – 9:00pm)
5. The Office: 44,880 (9:00pm – 9:30pm)

Most watched on PRIME

1. The Best of Top Gear: 162,810 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
2. Prime News: 107,550 (5:30pm – 6:00pm)
3. Deal Or No Deal: 73,440 (5:00pm – 5:30pm)
4. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: 60,480 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
5. Ultimate Force: 52,480 (8:35pm – 10:05pm)

Most watched on the BOX

1. C.S.I: 33,820 (9:30pm – 10:30pm)
2. Burn Notice: 26,010 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)

Most watched on SKY Sport 1

1. Reunion: 26,540 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)

Most watched on SKY Movies 1

1. Role Models: 26,430 (8:35pm – 10:10pm)

Biggest increases (previous week)

1. Target: TV3 485010 – up from 334840 (7:30pm – 8:00pm)
2. Close Up: TV ONE 507210 – up from 391360 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
3. Coronation Street: TV ONE 537060 – up from 442710 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
4. Campbell Live: TV3 279970 – up from 193660 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
5. 3 News: TV3 385690 – up from 309370 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)

Biggest decreases (previous week)

1. Shaun the Sheep: TV2 43470 – down from 91920 (3:25pm – 3:35pm)
2. The Penguins of Madagascar: TV2 63010 – down from 102310 (3:35pm – 4:00pm)
3. Amazing Extraordinary Friends: TV2 67640 – down from 106590 (4:30pm – 5:00pm)
4. Spongebob Squarepants: TV2 80200 – down from 116880 (4:00pm – 4:30pm)
5. Good Morning: TV ONE 57080 – down from 88290 (9:00am – 12:00pm)

New

1. The Best of Top Gear: PRIME (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
2. Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution: TV ONE (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
3. The Waterboy: TV2 (8:35pm – 10:25pm)
4. Ultimate Force: PRIME (8:35pm – 10:05pm)
5. The Office: C4 (9:00pm – 9:30pm)
6. The Crowd Goes Wild: PRIME (10:05pm – 10:40pm)

Channel Share (All Day)

• TV ONE: 29.1%
• SKY Network: 21.7%
• TV2: 19.1%
• TV3: 18.6%
• C4: 3.9%
• PRIME: 3.9%
• Other TV Channels: 2.7%
• Maori TV: 0.3%

Source: Nielsen Television Audience Measurement, All 5+

Vatican claims Simpsons are good Catholic family

The Vatican has announced via its newspaper that it regards Homer and the Simpson family as Catholics, despite all the questionable antics they get up to in the cartoon. According to the semi-official Vatican paper L’Osservatore Romano The Simpsons are very much a Catholic family, with the article stating: ”The Simpsons are one of the few TV programs for children left in which Christian faith, religion and questions about God are recurring themes”.

X Factor contestant goes AWOL

The X Factor Australia contestant Altiyan Childs reportedly disappeared from the show on Monday this week, forcing his mentor Ronan Keating to hit up Twitter in a bid to find him. Childs eventually turned up at 5pm on the day of the live Verdict show with a producer saying the singer had “taken some time out to be by himself and slept in a cave on Sydney’s northern beaches overnight”.

Elton John attacks reality TV talent shows

Sir Elton John has launched an attack on reality TV talent shows, claiming they produce artists who are ill-equipped to sustain careers in the music industry. John called shows like The X Factor “brain-crippling” and said he turned down the judging role on American Idol because he wouldn’t be able to “slag anyone off”.

Secor joins Private Practice

Former Party of Five and Veronica Mars actor Kyle Secor has landed a role in the next season of Private Practice. Secor will play the brother of Pete (Tim Daly) on the medical drama.

Last night, 3 News ran a story in their top 5 on the crisis in Niger.  Tonight, they had another story on Niger and a promo for his story on 60 Minutes. The story had been filmed in late September and Mike McRobers tweeted that the stories were always planned to run after the Commonwealth Games.  We asked if Mike McRoberts was paid to do the story and World Vision (@worldvisionnz) responded via Twitter with the following:

“Mike was already in Dubai in transit for Commonwealth Games. He had asked to see our work in the field.  He’d identified it as a valid news story, but we covered Mike’s Dubai-Niger leg + accommodation but TV3 paid for the cameraman’s cost. We’re grateful for @3News partnership as Niger hasn’t featured much on media in NZ”

We appreciate World Vision’s transparency on this particular set of stories – but wonder if that same transparency should have been seen on 3 News with some sort of disclosure statement? 

In August last year, 3 News‘ Carly Flynn did a story on the work UNICEF are doing in the Solomon Islands and, when asked, TV3 told us they were invited by UNICEF and that TV3 shared the costs with them.

Aside from the newsworthiness, value and quality of the story, the issue of disclosure is a serious and important one as a means to protect and inform the public.

Federal law in the US requires TV stations to disclose “any matter for which money, service or other valuable
consideration is either directly or indirectly paid” and can be fined up to $37,500 for not disclosing these.  This LA Times piece criticises news networks for not fulfilling their legal obligations. 

What are the legal obligations here in New Zealand?

Do you think news bulletins should disclose when stories are paid for in part by third parties?  

ONE News:

1. Earthquake aftershock (Live cross, Lisa Davies)
2. Earthquake rebuilding
3. Earthquake repairs (Vicki Wilkinson-Baker)
4. School strikes (Catherine Wedd)
5. “Keeping Children Safe” concerns (Megan Martin)

3 News:

1. Earthquake aftershock (Live cross, Juanita Copeland)
2. Suspected lab in West Auckland (Melissa Davies)
3. Two fires
4. Alleged surrogacy scam (Jane Luscombe)
5. School strikes (Charlotte Tonkin)

Commentary:

Lisa Davies was excellent during the extremely long live shot of her when her story didn’t start playing.  Her story was played later in the segment. 

The “Keeping Children Safe” story was interesting but it would have been also good to know how many others had pulled their kids out of the classes and more than one person’s concerns about the programme. 

Verdict:

Tie

Most watched

1. One News: 688,380 (TV ONE, 6:00pm – 7:00pm)
2. Border Security: 685,020 (TV ONE, 7:30pm – 8:00pm)
3. Shortland Street: 652,380 (TV2, 7:00pm – 7:30pm)
4. The Force: 603,560 (TV ONE, 8:00pm – 8:30pm)
5. Close Up: 579,300 (TV ONE, 7:00pm – 7:30pm)

Most watched evening (7.30pm – 11pm)

1. Border Security: 685,020 (TV ONE, 7:30pm – 8:00pm)
2. The Force: 603,560 (TV ONE, 8:00pm – 8:30pm)
3. The Mentalist: 564,370 (TV2, 8:30pm – 9:30pm)
4. Extreme Makeover-The Home Edit: 424,430 (TV2, 7:30pm – 8:30pm)
5. Road Cops: 392,280 (TV3, 7:30pm – 8:00pm)

Most watched daytime (9am – 5pm)

1. Emmerdale: 119,730 (TV ONE, 12:30pm – 1:30pm)
2. ONE News Midday: 105,740 (TV ONE, 12:00pm – 12:30pm)
3. House Guest: 99,880 (TV ONE, 1:30pm – 2:00pm)
4. Spongebob Squarepants: 86,490 (TV2, 4:05pm – 4:30pm)
5. Good Morning: 82,220 (TV ONE, 9:00am – 12:00pm)

Most watched on TV ONE

1. One News: 688,380 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
2. Border Security: 685,020 (7:30pm – 8:00pm)
3. The Force: 603,560 (8:00pm – 8:30pm)
4. Close Up: 579,300 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
5. Line of Fire: 344,350 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)

Most watched on TV2

1. Shortland Street: 652,380 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
2. The Mentalist: 564,370 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
3. Extreme Makeover-The Home Edit: 424,430 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
4. Ghost Whisperer: 272,910 (9:30pm – 10:35pm)
5. 8 Simple Rules: 254,200 (6:30pm – 7:00pm)

Most watched on TV3

1. Road Cops: 392,280 (7:30pm – 8:00pm)
2. 3 News: 378,480 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
3. Your Worst Animal Nightmares: 297,600 (8:00pm – 8:30pm)
4. Home and Away: 252,610 (5:30pm – 6:00pm)
5. Campbell Live: 234,660 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)

Most watched on C4

1. Everybody Hates Chris: 78,620 (6:30pm – 7:00pm)
2. Family Guy: 67,970 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
3. Malcolm in the Middle: 67,440 (6:00pm – 6:30pm)
4. Heroes: 40,300 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
5. My Name is Earl: 35,940 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)

Most watched on PRIME

1. Sea Patrol: 122,610 (9:30pm – 10:30pm)
2. Prime News: 112,830 (5:30pm – 6:00pm)
3. MasterChef: 89,240 (8:35pm – 9:30pm)
4. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: 87,420 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
5. Stephen Fry in America: 67,000 (7:30pm – 8:30pm)

Most watched on Maori TV

(Nothing else)

Most watched on the BOX

1. CSI Miami: 40,840 (9:30pm – 10:30pm)
2. Criminal Minds: 28,770 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
3. The Simpsons: 27,320 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)

Most watched on SKY Movies 1

1. Transporter 3: 23,620 (8:35pm – 10:15pm)

Most watched on SKY Movies Great

1. LOTR:The Return of the King: 30,730 (8:35pm – 11:45pm)

Biggest increases (previous week)

1. Border Security: TV ONE 685020 – up from 598060 (7:30pm – 8:00pm)
2. The Mentalist: TV2 564370 – up from 495820 (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
3. 8 Simple Rules: TV2 254200 – up from 191250 (6:30pm – 7:00pm)
4. Close Up: TV ONE 579300 – up from 519970 (7:00pm – 7:30pm)
5. Tonight: TV ONE 167630 – up from 110120 (10:30pm – 11:00pm)

Biggest decreases (previous week)

1. ONE News Midday: TV ONE 105740 – down from 179210 (12:00pm – 12:30pm)
2. One News: TV ONE 688380 – down from 756250 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
3. Breakfast: TV ONE 150100 – down from 208100 (8:00am – 9:00am)
4. Shortland Street: TV2 19500 – down from 65820 (12:00pm – 12:30pm)
5. Ellen: TV ONE 37100 – down from 74360 (3:00pm – 4:00pm)

New

1. Stephen Fry in America: PRIME (7:30pm – 8:30pm)
2. Line of Fire: TV ONE (8:30pm – 9:30pm)
3. 28 Weeks Later: TV3 (8:30pm – 10:35pm)
4. MasterChef: PRIME (8:35pm – 9:30pm)
5. Ghost Whisperer: TV2 (9:30pm – 10:35pm)
6. Dollhouse: C4 (9:30pm – 10:35pm)
7. Sea Patrol: PRIME (9:30pm – 10:30pm)
8. The Crowd Goes Wild: PRIME (10:30pm – 11:00pm)
9. Nightline: TV3 (10:35pm – 11:05pm)

Channel Share (All Day)

• TV ONE: 29.6%
• SKY Network: 22.6%
• TV2: 21.8%
• TV3: 15.3%
• PRIME: 4.5%
• C4: 3.5%
• Other TV Channels: 1.9%
• Maori TV: 0.2%

Source: Nielsen Television Audience Measurement, All 5+

Obama to feature on Mythbusters

US president Barack Obama will film a guest appearance on science show Mythbusters where he will ask the hosts whether they can disprove the myth that the Ancient Greeks fought off a fleet of invading Romans by using mirrors to reflect the sun’s rays.

Cole completes show despite father’s death

Kiwi dance professional Brendan Cole took to the Strictly Come Dancing floor just hours after he learned of the death of his father on the weekend. Cole, who judges on Dancing with the Stars in NZ but competes as a professional on the UK version, showed his professionalism by completing his routine with partner Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child on the BBC show before flying back to NZ to be with his family.

Norton develops drama series

Actor Edward Norton is currently developing a new historical drama for HBO which is based on the book Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. “We’re trying to assemble [the series], and it’s very big,” he said. “It’s so out of scale with anything my partners and I have produced. It’s a very interesting set of equations to get something like that made. We’re pretty thick in that right now.”

Veteran actor to guest on Modern Family

95-year-old actor Norman Lloyd will make a guest appearance on Modern Family in the show’s second season. Lloyd has previously had roles in Dead Poets Society and in the TV series The Practice.

Supernatural actor joins Doctor Who

Supernatural actor Mark Sheppard has landed a role on the next season of Doctor Who. The actor has begun shooting on the BBC series which kicks off with a stint in the US.