Oh dear, I’m not liking the sound of this…
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He’s the king of fucked decisions
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In the article, he states:
“Almost nobody watches children’s content on commercial television,” Mr Fletcher said. “Secondly, the drama sector is facing growing competition from the streamers. We are shifting the policy weight … away from such a heavy reliance on the sub-quotas because we think that tool is not fit for purpose anymore.”
This is sure to benefit the streaming services if things are to go like this.
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RIP FTA television
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His next quote will be: “Almost nobody watches FTA commercial television,” Mr Fletcher said.
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Exactly. Doesn’t Paul Fletcher realise that allowing the commercial networks to abandon children’s programming is going to make the next generation of viewers primarily ABC/SBS viewers (which I’m pretty sure is not in the interests of the current government) if they watch any terrestrial television at all?
“Almost nobody watches children’s content on commercial television” because the shows are treated like absolute garbage by Seven, Nine & Ten. In the past, they were forced to air them in accessible timeslots for the target demographic on the main channels. Now, top quality kids shows are buried on third or fourth rate multichannels - typically in morning timeslots where the target demographic is unlikely to be able to watch the show in full.
While I obviously hope this does not happen, I suspect it’s only a matter of time before Network Ten decommissions what remains of their children’s TV department. This would be a devastating blow for TVQ (literally leaving nothing left, aside from the shell of a once great Brisbane newsroom) after presentation of local weekday 5pm news up there was recently moved/centralised to Sydney + the axing of Toasted TV.
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Is everything about Toasted TV here?
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Yes I suspect Totally Wild, Scope and whatever in house Children’s content at TVQ will be given the axe.
Perhaps there’s a possibility Ten could produce it for ABC Kids/Me. Pretty unusual here but not that uncommon in the States.
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That is a straight out lie.
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Well, let’s hold our horses for second.
Fletch has introduced a points system, a drama episode is worth 6 points, while kids episodes are 1.5. But what about the economics? TVQ’S content is very cheap to make, meaning better bang for bucks.
His decision today means the government will not be held accountable, however, for the axing of local kids shows if any come about.
Seven (and Prime7 and SCA7) has already effectively axed their children’s programs, and WIN are not currently broadcasting children’s programs and now have no obligation to bring them back.
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Exactly… and none of it was the government’s fault you see.
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Shows like Totally Wild and Scope might be produced for a small fraction of the budget typically awarded to a primetime drama, but after the cutbacks made recently (affecting local 5pm bulletins which presumably, have more viewers in one market than Totally Wild or Scope get nationally) I certainly wouldn’t put it past Ten to axe the remaining kids shows.
Yeah, it’s probably safe to presume that Get Arty, Get Clever, ZooMoo Lost and Toybox won’t be coming back!
Which is a pity, because I was looking forward to seeing how WIN would have to meet P/C classification quotas with their main network affiliate having moved those shows to a new multichannel not carried by WIN.
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Poor old Bluey and mates.
Bluey sometimes makes the top 20 in the ratings… and 75% of the top 20 in the multi-channels are kids programs from ABC Kids. And he thinks noone watches children’s content?
Even the thought of losing quota will mean that the FTA channels will almost give up on airing children’s programs. I understand that they are all on the multi-channels, but they shouldnt give up entirely.
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On several days back in March this year, Bluey actually received more viewers in the 28 day consolidated ratings than the 6pm bulletins and Married At First Sight!
No doubt it’s a real nice money spinner for ABC Commercial (or whoever actually owns the trademarks) in merchandising and the like, so it really makes you wonder why instead of whining about having to produce children’s shows, the commercial networks actually attempt to come up with their own equivalents to Bluey!
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Again, economics. Considering news has at least a $5 million budget (infrastructure, crew, equipment etc) and the kids team have 20 staff, two camera crews and five editors … you’re talking apples and oranges here.
That’s way too much in overheads. NITV air 6 hours of kids content a day on the cost of an oily rag.
The crew are overworked as it is, I think the economics are fine.
But they could always keep the shows but outsource their production to a third party who could lease back the studios. Similar to 7 and the Great South East.
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She didn’t go anywhere… morons.
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