Ten News +

I commend 10 for trying something different but I don’t think this is the answer for the 6.30 timeslot. I really do feel like a game show format would better suited for this time-slot. And maybe attempted this type of investigation show at 7.00pm.

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Judging by the internal materials quoted in the TV Blackbox article, the format would work better as a weekly program. I don’t know how the program will have enough investigations/reports to fill 4 x 30 minute episodes week-after-week.

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One investigation over the week maybe? Each episode part of the case etc?

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I think they need to push this also via digital channels that are not tied to 10, ie YouTube.

The greater issue at play is trying to capture an audience that simply doesn’t watch 10.

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That’s way too generous. I say 3 months.

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Sounds similar to the failed 6:30 with George Negus and we all know how that went. Hopefully it goes better.

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So is this a 7.30 attempt on 10?

I feel like that category is well covered. ACA had the fluffy stuff and 7.30 is the more investigative stuff.

I don’t like this repeat/best of option on Friday. Perhaps a once a week weekend sports preview show could slot in on a Friday.

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At this stage, I’m trying to stay open to the idea but with the information provided so far I have concerns.

I’m also not sure marketing or selling to advertisers will work with this type of show at 6.30. I expect some interest in the first couple of shows but I can’t see this rising above the 200k mark.

You think it’ll do worse than The Project?

I’ll be surprised if it does any better than The Project, but if it rates similar and is a lot cheaper to produce, 10 will still consider that a win.

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Currently, if I were a betting man. I would say slightly higher numbers in the first week but will fall below The Project average viewership soon after.

I would say this show maybe cheaper to produce than The Project.

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I like the idea of prime time starting at 7pm - gives 10 the jump on the others, particularly if they have a big brother half an hour daily show as they used to but I’m not sure hard current affairs is the right lead in. Very different audiences.

Feels all very back to the future. I hope it all works but I’m not convinced.

I think so.

There’s scope for a weekly show, and that’s what I thought it was going to be. But a daily show? On 10? In this climate?

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This is not sustainable. Big brother will only last a couple of months. Then what do they do. Masterchef only strips 4 nights. Then their other programming isn’t really multi night. They just don’t have the programming to start at 7pm. They may get the jump on the others but no one will switch onto 10 at 7pm when they’re watching ACA and home and away in droves. It’s a ridiculous strategy and they deliberately devised the project to avoid this exact situation.

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They have this problem at the moment with the project though, but agree, big brother won’t fill enough of the schedule. Unless they just go cheap and strip more news at 7pm across the week.

Worked for a bit - seems too expensive to them now perhaps…

Perhaps this will play out like Home And Away in its first few years. I will give Sydney as example as it was initially on at different times around the country until 1992.

1988 6pm Weeknights
1989-1991 6:30pm Weeknights
1992 -2012 7pm Weeknights
2013 - 7pm Monday to Thursday

This year the new current affairs show could be at 6:30pm, but could move to 7pm next year with the possibility of a second evening game show or screening a 5pm news bulletin and a 6pm bulletin with a game show at 5:30pm. This is speculation but i believe is possible if Plan A fails

That’s a good point. It could result in fewer viewers for its (very few) tentpoles.

It would die faster up against ACA than news.

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By the sounds of what we have heard so far, it sounds like a hard hitting, investigative program, unlike 7.30 which also has interviews and the odd lighter story.

I feel the same. Whilst I feel the project’s time has come, i feel this is too heavy for 630 and 10 in general.

The format and tone does not feel right for Australia’s viewing preferences at 630, nor the 10 brand.

Spain (had) a format at 7pm called “Spain Direct” it was a 30 minute live eye format where reporters and live crosses were set up all over Spain - and hosted from a cool giant video wall (cbs news channel style) they basically crossed love all over Spain - for news, cultural events, sports, weather etc. a live look into Spain daily at 7pm

It was really fresh innovative content. It was a bit like sunrise - but less leave news. They’d cross to a music festival. A political scandal. A traffic snarl. A freak weather event. Maybe just a beach Cross to interview some people. It was really well produced.

I feel 10 needs a 5 minute news at 6 and 630. A fast news / weather summary. To give people a reason to turn to 10 at 6 and 630 - then game shows perhaps at 6.05 and 6.35. They could promote it as a reason to watch 10 - get the news - then something else.

I dunno. They need to innovate and do market research. Is the market calling out for a hard hitting investigative show at 630? I don’t think so…

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