Janet King

Television ABC
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###Janet King: Playing Advantage. Season 3

Marta Dusseldorp returns as Janet King in the third instalment of this critically acclaimed series. Janet confronts a hornet’s nest of illegal gambling, organised crime and money laundering while tracking the tragic death of a young sports star. What begins as a spot betting investigation soon unmasks elite professional sportsmen and women and their connection to the shadowy underbelly of performance enhancing drugs, match fixing, kickbacks and, ultimately, murder. Also starring Damian Walshe-Howling and Peter Kowitz.

Production credits: Produced by Screentime.

Runs for: Eight x 1 hour episodes, on ABC TV and iview

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Filming for season 3 starts next week. Don Hany has returned from his Los Angeles base to Sydney to join the drama in a new role, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

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###Janet King Series Three starts production

AACTA award-winner Marta Dusseldorp reprises her celebrated role as series three of Janet King goes into production this week.

Established cast members Damian Walshe-Howling, Peter Kowitz, Christopher Morris, Andrea Demetriades, Anita Hegh and AACTA award nominee Hamish Michael, will be joined by Don Hany, Robert Mammone, Susie Porter, Andrew Ryan, Huw Higginson, John Bach, Steve Le Marquand, Arka Das and Adam Demos.

In the third instalment of this critically acclaimed series, Janet confronts a hornet’s nest of illegal gambling, organised crime and money laundering, while investigating the tragic death of a young sports star. What begins as a spot betting investigation soon unmasks elite professional sportsmen and women’s connection to the shadowy underbelly of performance enhancing drugs, match fixing, kickbacks and ultimately … murder.

Produced by Screentime, a Banijay Group company, Janet King is series produced by Karl Zwicky, produced by Lisa Scott, with Hilary Bonney and Marta Dusseldorp as associate producers, with Greg Haddrick, ABC’s Sally Riley and Kym Goldsworthy as executive producers. Written by Greg Haddrick, Felicity Packard, Niki Aken with Alexa Wyatt as writer/script producer, season three of Janet King is being directed by Peter Andrikidis, Grant Brown and Catherine Millar.

Screentime’s Greg Haddrick said “Established as a drama that tackles political, legal and social relevancies head on, this series of Janet King will delve into the world of match fixing and sports science. Marta Dusseldorp’s carriage of this character is exemplary, and we are delighted that this series has attracted such a high calibre of cast to work alongside our already established characters.”

ABC TV’s Head of Scripted Production Sally Riley said, “Janet King’s steely determination to uncover the truth will plunge audiences into the dangerous world of corruption in sport for what promises to be a thrilling third series for this iconic heroine.”

Produced in association with Screen NSW, Janet King is a Screentime, a Banijay Group company, production for ABC.

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###Janet King - Series 3

Premieres Thursday 25 May at 8:30PM

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Selected to spearhead the National Crime Commission’s investigation into the role of organised crime in professional sport, Janet King uncovers a world of match fixing, performance-enhancing drugs, money laundering and murder. Aided by Federal Sergeant Bianca Grieve (Anita Hegh) and reporting to mentor Tony Gillies (Peter Kowitz), Janet has an otherwise new team at her disposal.

However, that is not all that has changed in her world - with her former righthand, Richard Stirling (Hamish Michael) now a top barrister for several of the athletes under suspicion, and the opportunistic Owen Mitchell (Damian Walshe-Howling) now the head of the DPP.

When a ghost of Janet’s past returns in the form of a suspect in the NCC investigation, Janet’s relationship with those closest to her is professionally and emotionally strained. As ethical and personal dilemmas collide, Janet witnesses the price that professional athletes are prepared to pay to compete at the highest level, whilst risking the life of one of those closest to her to bring down the kingpin of sporting crime.

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I don’t understand the thinking behind ABC continuing to program Australian drama on Thursdays. Are they avoiding commercial content Sunday-Wednesday? Obviously Monday and Wednesdays are taken but their Tuesday schedule have been very week recently. Sunday and Tuesday were ABC’s lowest rated nights last year at 16.6% and 16.1% respectively. This year Tuesday is by far the lowest averaging a 14.2% consolidated share.

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It’s because they tried scheduling them on Sunday nights and then the commercial networks tageted them and put Aussie dramas against them on that night. Also, all the reality shows have their big nights on Sunday and overrun into the 8.30 slot which leaves the ABC with a lot less viewers.

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Fair enough, but ABC News is averaging this ratings year so far 745,000 on a Sunday night. So an Australian drama at 7.40 on a Sunday would potentially have a very good lead in - much better than the 8pm offering on Thursdays is providing. Plus, the ABC News audience is not likely to switch over to a commercial channel to a program that started 40 minutes earlier.