Happens for a few weeks.
15 minutes worth of content.
In conclusion, no, not a good show.
But what about player profiles, controversies players are involved in, looking at highlights of classic games.
There also would be panel chats about issues in the game. There are opportunities here. The networks waste money extending football coverages and cricket coverages for an hour or more before play actually starts, so why not create something different for prime time. If it canât draw an audience on the main channel, then move it to 7Mate.
As for it not being a good show, look at all the garbage they already screen, at least it would focus on one of the Seven networks investments - AFL. At least they are the rights holders unlike Nine who has the AFL footy show but donât own the rights
Flashpoint - Seven Network
Weeknights, 7:00pm-7:30pm
Flashpoint would be Sevenâs flagship current affairs show, airing weekdays from 7pm-7:30pm, head to head against A Current Affair, ABC News and the second half of The Project. (Home and Away would be moved to a different timeslot).
To give a point of difference to A Current Affair, each market will receive their own local edition, instead of a national edition which ACA provide.
In a nutshell, the show focuses on the issues that are affecting each city, i.e. infrastructure, economy, crime etc.
The format would be:
- Monday: Sit down/panel Q&A/live debate version with key politicians and people of importance joining the presenter at the desk
- Tuesday to Friday: Presenter throws to each story, pretty much A Current Affair but Flashpoint would try to include more credible, less tabloid stories
The presenters for each market would be:
Sydney - Michael Usher (Angela Cox replaces him on Seven News Sydney on Fri & Sat nights)
Melbourne - Mike Amor (Blake Johnson replaces him on the weekend news in Melbourne)
Brisbane - Kendall Gilding
Adelaide - Rosanna Mangiarelli (Mike Smithson replaces her on the weekend news in Adelaide)
Perth - Tim McMillan (Angela Tsun will read the weekend news solo)
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The new show Flashpoint will be a good show for Channel 7 in other states. Having the state-wide Flashpoint bulletin at 7PM timeslot will compete with ACA and The Project. If Flashpoint state-wide editions launch at 7PM, what happens with the Home and Away? Will it have to be shifted to 7TWO or bumped during the afternoon perhaps?
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Ideally it would be at 5:30pm (but then The Chase would have to be moved), or perhaps putting it immediately after the reality program at 8:45pm/9:00pm.
Last resort would be putting it on 7TWO, because a) it wonât rate as well on a multi-channel, and b) 7TWO only has standard definition which will be a turn off for a lot of people.
I wonder if the producers of Home and Away has a clause in the contract that specifies what time and channel it appears on in Australia. I know I would have such a clause inserted so that Seven canât do to Home and Away what Ten did with Neighbours.
I am surprised Neighbours is still on after the channel switch 9 years ago. I think viewers forget that Seven once tried a soap called Neighbours at 5:30pm about 35 years ago before abandoning it. Ten picked it up the next year.
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Why would you move a show that is successful in its slot for something that might not rate in that slot?
Home and Away is something different to its competitors at 7pm and to just move it when it is performing well is insane.
This proposed program should start out at 6:30pm, like ACA did and try to build a following. Once it starts attracting viewers, is the time to consider moving it, but then only if it is not beating Nine News in the 6:30 slot.
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I really donât think a producer can make such a stipulation on timeslot.
Neighbours is produced by Fremantle (formerly Grundy) but the Seven Network produces H&A anyway. So Iâd say they can schedule it wherever they want. Some episodes are already only shown on 7two when it interferes with live footy.
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Personally I love Home and Away and wouldnât want to see it move, but the unfortunate reality is that the ratings are declining and it often finishes 3rd in itâs timeslot (ABC News or ACA are 1st and 2nd, H&A typically 3rd and The Project 4th).
The Project often beats Home and Away in Melbourne and Brisbane too, making H&A 4th in those two cities.
I agree, it is something different to its competitors in the 7pm slot, but as the ratings show, the majority of viewers are hungry for news and current affairs in the 6:00pm to 7:30pm window.
Surely itâd be better if both Usher & Amor were promoted to the position of their cityâs main Seven News 6pm presenter? I canât see Angela Cox or Blake Johnson being a major viewer puller against very strong competition on Nine.
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Good point. I guess it comes down to whether Flashpoint or weekend news is higher priority.
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Blake?
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Flashpoint
Channel 7, Thursdays 7:30pm-8:00pm
Previously Iâve said that Seven should put a local edition of Flashpoint in each market, weeknights at 7pm, but I reckon so that Home and Away can stay at 7pm, Seven should put Flashpoint once a week from 7:30pm to 8:00pm on Thursday nights.
Flashpoint will focus on the issues that matter to each city, with a different panel joining the presenter each week to give their take on the key issues. Issues for debate include transport and infrastructure, crime, economy, coronavirus, bushfires etc.
The presenters would be:
Sydney - Michael Usher (in addition to presenting The Latest a couple of hours later)
Melbourne - Peter Mitchell (in addition to his 7NEWS commitments that night)
Brisbane - Sharyn Ghidella (in addition to her 7NEWS commitments that night)
Adelaide - Rosanna Mangiarelli
Perth - Tim McMillan
Airing the show at 7:30pm on Thursdayâs will give it a one-hour headstart on the ABCâs Q&A which is taking an 8:30pm timeslot.
I think your idea for Flashpoint is a good idea. I dont think once a week on Thursday will work for a few reasons
- Nine currently screen NRL games at 7:30pm Thursdays;
- AFL has some Thursday night games which would conflict with scheduling a consistent show at 7:30pm Thursday;
- Seven have been airing catchup and Friday nights episodes of Home And Away in this timeslot
What I think Seven should do is either
- bite the bullet and screen Flashpoint weeknights at either 6:30pm or 7:00pm; or
- Screen Flashpoint between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday or Sunday
Other things Seven should consider
- Screening Home And Away in double episodes (across approximately 37 weeks) Monday to Wednesday from either 7pm or 7:30pm followed by reality programs
- Have 2 short breaks throughout the year (approximately 2 week break)
- At the conclusion of Home And Away for the year, Seven could screen The Voice or X Factor
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This Evening
Would air at 7:00pm on weeknights following Seven News (in the AFL states, it will air on 7mate on Thursdays/Fridays during the AFL season). To cater for this, Home and Away moves to 7TWO with an encore on Seven following The Latest.
Presenters: Matt Doran (Chris Reason replaces him on Weekend Sunrise) and Angela Cox. The show would utilize the old Daily Edition desk on the performance set used on Sunrise (to cater for this, weather on Seven News Sydney would return to being behind the green screen on the sport presenterâs left-hand side).
BLOCK ONE
- Recap of news headlines with a cross to reporters in each capital city. Each presenter alternates reading stories, and this is how it would go:
Matt: First, to the unfolding story in Brisbane where there is gridlock on the roads as residents make the Easter long weekend getaway. Live to Seven News reporter Joel Dry in Brisbane, Joel whatâs the latest?
Angela: To Sydney now, where the city has gone into lockdown after a major spike in COVID-19 cases across the city. Seven News reporter Cameron Price joins us live from the city, Cam itâs quite empty where you are?
Matt: In Melbourne, the search is on for a new premier following Daniel Andrewsâ sudden resignation. State political reporter Sharnelle Vella is in the thick of things, Sharnelle who are the main contenders to replace Andrews in the top job?
âŚand so on.
BLOCK TWO
- Entertainment segment with Sam Mac (whose weather presenting duties on Sunrise will be consumed by Eddy). This may also include interviews with personalities from Seven shows such as Holey Moley, Ultimate Tag etc.
- Live performance (post-COVID-19)
BLOCK THREE
- Finance segment with Gemma Acton
- Light-hearted stories
BLOCK FOUR
- The Latest preview with Michael Usher or Angela Cox (Mondays-Thursdays) OR the segment âThe Week That Wasâ that looks back at the major news stories of the week.
- National weather update with Jane Bunn (from Melbourne)
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Good idea.
I like how youâve tried to give it a point of difference to normal news bulletins by having a live performance. The only issue with that is would you be having live performances every night? Youâd probably run short of good musical talent after a while.
Also good choice of presenters as I think Matt and Angela work well together. I also think that Matt is quite under-utilised by only doing Weekend Sunrise, so itâs good that he will get five days of work.
I wonder how this show will rate up against The Project?
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Not every night. When there are no performances, they could have a feature with (say) a movie star, a comedian, etc. or they could have like a âflashbackâ segment (looking back at a past Seven show such as All Saints or Blue Heelers for example).
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- A reboot of Good News Week, but not necessarily with Paul, Mikey, Juile, Flacco, Sandman or Claire. Lord knows we need a show like this in these wacko days.
- A non-sport version of the Footy Show, weâll just call it Talking Shit, with elements of the AFL and NRL shows incorporated.
- A new version of Beauty and the Beast with someone like FriendlyJordies, someone both men and women can hate.
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Paul Murray from Sky News?
Sorry, couldnât resist! 
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Yes, actually, he would be a great choice. Fits the mould of a Stan Zemanek-type beast.
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