Roving Enterprises had at least 3 shows on FTA and indeed all on Ten in 2009: “Rove”, “Before The Game” and “The 7pm Project”.
The former ended later that year, BTG (in a newer format - suffered after 2011 after losing AFL though was still very competitive in 2012 vs Seven’s new Saturday pre show) after 2013 and the latter ends in a couple of weeks.
Some 25+ years for Rove McManus’ formats, a great innings!
I’d put money on Big Brother starting at 7pm when it returns with Deal rested or moved elsewhere.
It’s returning to TVNZ next week across the ditch, so yes, it is a possibility.
It’s a shame to see The Project go, but it had a very good 16-year run.
I recall watching the first episode in July 2009 (when it was titled The 7PM Project) when they had Sienna Miller as one of the first ever guests. IIRC, there was also a whip-around of the five major capitals at the end of the week.
IMO it also made sense for the show to extend to one hour once 6:30 with George Negus was axed in October 2011, with the late Negus joining the show.
Its current iteration was totally diluted by the fallout of the Wilkinson case and toothless.
10 didn’t back Wilkinson, so I’d be worried about any genuine journalism attempted and backed by 10’s crack team of lawyers that greenlight a speech and then throw you to the wolves.
If I was Denham Hitchcock I’d be getting a second opinion before taking their legal advice.
Hiring Waleed Aly was the biggest double-down of established news over humour, and he immediately changed the tone of the show. Not because of the general Waleed hate you see, but because he was an ABC Radio host with a more news-opinion background and zero comedy chops. Sarah Harris was the nail in the coffin, with a similar established background in news and no comedy background.
Yes they can still laugh along with guests and they have personalities, but Charlie Pickering was lightning fast and funny. When Pickering fought with Steve Price it was funny. When Waleed clashed it felt like reading a column in The Age.
It didn’t feel like news delivered differently, by younger, different voices anymore. It felt like light news from established hosts with celebrity interviews thrown in.
Sarah did Studio 10. So she knows what happens on the desk
Yep - I have nothing against Waleed, but once he joined, the show moved away from what people loved about it.
I am very sad to see the end of The Project. It’s the only real prime time news that I flick on, perfect light viewing when I get home and am cooking dinner etc. I can’t see myself watching this current affairs show, it feels completely out of place on 10. Plus my TV usually goes on sometime between 7-7.30pm anyway and I wouldn’t bother with Deal (if it gets the 7pm slot). So the TV now will probably stay off at that time.
I really wish they tried a revamp or even launched a new version of a light entertainment evening show. A new similarish but fresh concept before going down what feels like is the cheap path. I also wonder if The Project could’ve worked twice a week or something at like 8.30pm (maybe a Wednesday night) with a bit more on the entertainment/pop culture side.
This was one of the reasons I thought she didn’t work like her predecessors. It almost seemed out of necessity, a safe and easy pick, due to her network contract and Studio 10 being axed. Most would’ve associated her with that morning show or even her Nine News days.
Have a look how original and left-of-field the original panel was, especially the core host Pickering and Bickmore, the latter known to some in the later years of Rove. Regardless, both weren’t straight news or TV presenters per sé.
And Dave Hughes and later Peter Helliar had significant profiles and had fans/followings, never felt this same with Tommy Little and the others that followed during the major changes and downfall years.
Deal could do ok at 7.00.
Yet he won a Gold Logie? 
Plus Carrie too
11 Logies in total (and a Walkley to boot)
My personal take on it is that while the click bait headline views about the talents political views and all the “go woke go broke” noise impacts some viewers on the FRINGES of viewership, the core issues seem two fold to me:
the show has not developed, grown or innovated. The format just feels… tired. The graphics, the look, the feel etc. there was no draw card to attract or retain audience. There was an opportunity when Carrie left that was not taken advantage of.
it’s on 10 - all FTA is struggling. 10 with shows that traditionally skew younger struggles more as that demographic has all abandoned FTA. Not the shows fault - it’s a symptom. Putting in a current affairs show seems an attempt to attract “non-traditional demographics” to the network.
Shame so many will loose their jobs - on and off screen.
The question will Lisa be back for the farewell episode. I’m expecting Charlie, Hughesy, Carrie and Tommy be in the farewell episode
Given The Daily Fail’s and News Corp reporting around The Project, i wouldnt even trust SMH reporting given its owned by direct rival Nine. I think we wait for an official announcement from 10 or the stars themselves.
On a side note, could 7 get scared with DOND at 7pm and move H&A jks 
No way Lisa would return for a farewell, not a chance in hell.
