Channel Nine's blog

Official timeshift figures released today show the premiere episode of Underbelly: Razor had an additional 279,515 viewers, bringing the premiere episode total to 2.794 million viewers.

This phenomenal result makes Underbelly: Razor the highest ever drama to have screened since the creation of OzTAM in 2001, eclipsing the old record set by the Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities premiere at 2.582 million viewers.

The National Result (5 City Metro and Regional) for Underbelly: Razor now stands at a dominant 3.826 million viewers.

The increase in viewers has moved Underbelly: Razor (Episode one) up to the number three show of 2011 for Total People across the survey year.

The increase has also shifted Underbelly: Razor (Episode one) into the number two position (behind The Block-Winner Announced at number one) in all key advertiser demos.

Underbelly: Razor is a Screentime production for Channel 9 starring Danielle Cormack as Kate Leigh and Chelsie Preston Crayford as Tilly Devine.

Wasted!

Tiny dresses, towering heels and way too much to drink. That’s what passes as a girls’ night out these days but it’s an evening that too often lands them in a police cell or even hospital. According to the latest research, when it comes to binge drinking, young women are now doing their best to match the blokes. What was once considered embarrassing and outrageous behaviour is now celebrated as the norm. So why do they do it? Well, their simple explanation is, they just want to have fun.

Reporter: Tara Brown
 

The Retail Revolution

Before this story, we had no idea how big internet shopping was. Charles Wooley spent the last week talking to ‘e-tailers’, as they’re known, whose businesses even in these difficult times are doubling in size every year. Meanwhile, traditional retailers are facing their biggest crisis since the Great Depression. So why are more and more people choosing the online option? Well, there are some compelling reasons. There’s a bigger range of goods out there in cyber space. It’s open 24/7. There’s no waiting in queues. And, although sometimes it’s cheaper, it seems that what the customer is really going for is the ease and convenience. No matter where in the world you order from, within 48 hours you get the thrill and excitement of opening a present from yourself.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Party Politics

It’s one of the world’s biggest economies, and it’s fast going down the gurgler. Italy is in dire straits and it’s threatening to take the rest of Europe down with it, but the man who should be steering the country through the crisis has his hands everywhere but on the wheel. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi lurches from one scandal to the next; corruption, fraud, wild sex parties and now he’s accused of sex with an underage prostitute. It’s enough to rival the worst of ancient Rome with an emperor fiddling while his city burns.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Same Name, an engaging new series about trading places where celebrities swap lives with ordinary people who have the same name, premieres Wednesday, August 31, at 7.30pm on Channel Nine.

Each week a different celebrity will fly to the home of their namesake, who shows the celebrity around before handing over the house keys. The celebrity will move into their namesake’s place, take care of their kids, work their job, meet their friends, take on all the family responsibilities – and even sleep next to the wife or husband.

From working on a high-voltage transformer to changing nappies at 3.00am, each celebrity will get a first-hand look at what life is like as a regular Joe or Josephine who just happens to have the same name.

In the premiere episode Baywatch’s David Hasselhoff exchanges his glamorous Los Angeles lifestyle with 27-year-old David Haselhoff from Texas. Other celebrities include comedienne Kathy Griffin, American footballer Reggie Bush, and Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight boxing champion.

Meanwhile the namesake trades places with the celebrity and heads off to Hollywood to indulge in the lifestyle of the rich and famous – from mansions and parties to VIP seats and pampering wherever they go. But sometimes life in the fast lane has its own problems. Dealing with agents and pushy reporters and enduring gruelling workouts to keep fit shows the glamour life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

After living the heady Hollywood life our everyday namesakes come home to reunite with the family, trade stories and find out how their celebrity counterparts are handling being a plain working guy or gal. But before the celebrities return to their high-profile lives they will reveal a surprise that might just help their namesakes achieve a goal or a dream of their own.

For the celebrities, it’s a chance to escape their fishbowl existence and walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Stripped of the credit cards and fancy cars, do they find the grass any greener in ordinary everyday land? And for their unsung counterparts, it’s a rare opportunity to cash in on the benefits of sharing a famous name that can become an annoying burden throughout life.

How will the stars and the stand-ins handle the swap? Find out each week when a new celebrity comes face to face with a person who has the Same Name.

Same Name: Wednesday, August 31 at 7.30pm on Nine

Wednesday, August 24, at 8.30pm on Nine

Nine’s award-winning medical program, RPA, continues next Wednesday at 8.30pm with more captivating stories of courageous patients being treated by the dedicated staff at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

In part two of proud grandfather Harvey’s story, surgery to remove cancer at the base of his brain proves to be much more challenging than expected. We also meet three new patients who share their life-changing medical stories.

Harvey

Harvey, 73, was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2006 and it has spread. Scans have revealed the cancer is now at the base of his brain. In part two of his incredible story the surgery to remove it is proving much more difficult than anticipated.

Tori

Tori, 17, plays representative touch football but an injury to her knee is threatening to keep her on the sidelines for some time. A visit to an orthopaedic surgeon confirms her fears: she needs major surgery to repair the damage.

Kevin

Increasing breathlessness has led 50-year-old Irishman Kevin to visit a cardiologist. Four years ago he had his mitral valve replaced and now it needs repairing. Doctors hope to do it with a minimally invasive technique. 

Bao

An ulcer on Bao’s tongue turns out to be a squamous cell cancer and the table tennis enthusiast faces major surgery to remove it. Her case is unusual because she doesn’t drink or smoke – two of the biggest causes of this kind of cancer.

The RPA series is narrated by Australian actor and artist, Max Cullen.

The Castrol Edge Tri Nations series will come to a thrilling end when the Wallabies host the All Blacks in the series-deciding Bledisloe Cup clash this Saturday, live from Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium at 7.30pm on Channel Nine.

The Wallabies and All Blacks are on equal points at the top of the 2011 Castrol Edge Tri Nations series ladder, ahead of South Africa. The victors on Saturday night will not only claim the series and the silverware, but also hold bragging rights going into Rugby World Cup 2011 in September.

At Eden Park in New Zealand on August 6, the Wallabies went down to the All Blacks 30-14 in the first Bledisloe clash. With a home turf advantage now, the Wallabies desperately want a win on Saturday night.

With both the Wallabies and All Blacks squads for Rugby World Cup 2011 announced, it’s pure pride at stake and sporting rivalry at its best in Saturday night’s engrossing Bledisloe Cup rematch.

The Nine Network will broadcast the game live from 7.30pm.

Wide World of Sports’ Ken Sutcliffe will host Nine’s broadcast. Joining him on the expert panel are former Wallabies captains George Gregan and Andrew Slack and injured Wallabies prop Benn Robinson, while Nine’s Tim Sheridan will be pitch-side at Suncorp Stadium.

Top Gear Australia is returning for its second series on the Nine Network, leaving passports at home, hitting the roads and off-roads of Australia, and bringing new car reviews, motoring challenges and stunts to Tuesday nights.

In this series starting Tuesday, August 30, at 8.30pm, Ewen, Shane and Steve won’t just spar with each other – they’ll also take on Australian lawmakers, questioning the lack of common sense and safety in road rules passed by State and Federal governments.

Plus there are new Aussie stars on the Top Gear racetrack.

In the premiere episode the boys add some spice to rally driving by introducing a novel twist: blindfolding the driver. Will the new sport catch on? Watch and find out.

In this week’s car review Ewen declares his long-held dirty secret: he loves Volvos. The question is, will he like the sexy new S60-R? Or has Volvo lost its geek appeal by going to cool school?

Toyota has relaunched its retro-style FJ Cruiser and when Ewen and Shane head out to review it, Shane comes up with a unique test that doubles as a world record attempt. Will the trio get their names in the history books?

One half of comedy duo Hamish and Andy, Andy Lee, might be a national radio and television star, but how will he take to our Top Gear track?

In a controversial new segment Ewen will debate why he believes freeway speed limits should be increased, while in another new segment,V8 to the Rescue, the boys rev up a V8-powered fast-bowling machine that will no doubt help Australia win back the Ashes against England.

 The grand finale of The Block and the premiere of Underbelly: Razor have combined to secure the biggest night of ratings on Australian television for 2011. Together, these led the Nine Network to the highest winning shares of 2011, with a clean sweep of all demos across the 5 City Metro.

The Nine Network dominated the night’s viewing, securing the Top 6 shows across the 5 City Metro in all demos.  With Total People, the Nine Network had a dominant winning share of 46.9% of the free-to-air audience (Total People, 5 City Metro). With People 25-54, the Nine Network secured a massive share of 51.9%. With People 18-49, the Nine Network delivered a 52.9% share. With People 16-39, the Nine Network achieved a 54.8% share. The Nine Network’s share of People 25-54 (51.9%) was the highest nightly share of any free-to-air network in Nine’s target demo since the introduction of OzTam in 2001 (excluding sporting events).

The emotion-charged finale of The Block – Winner Announced in which underdog couple Polly and Waz won Australia’s most popular renovation competition becomes the highest rating program of 2011. The Block – Winner Announced secured a massive average Total People audience of 4.380 million, with a peak of 4.875 million (5 City Metro & Regional combined). Across the 5 City Metro, The Block – Winner Announced achieved an average audience of 3.089 million, with a mammoth peak of 3.428 million.

The premiere of Underbelly: Razor was the most successful program launch for 2011, recording the highest ratings for the launch of any new show for the year-to-date. It catapulted itself into the record books as the  second highest rating drama episode (behind Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities) since official OzTam figures began.

Underbelly: Razor (Episode One) attracted a peak Total People audience of 4.045 million, with an average of 3.482 million (5 City Metro & Regional combined). Across the 5 City Metro, it achieved a peak audience of 2.867 million viewers and an average of 2.510 million.

Nine Network Managing Director Jeffrey Browne said: “We’re thrilled that Australians embraced the journey of our four couples on The Block throughout their rollercoaster ride over the past two months. The figures across the entire series have been phenomenal and prove that free-to-air television is stronger than ever and clearly the No. 1 medium for entertainment.

“The launch of Underbelly: Razor shows that Australians love nothing more than to see historic tales from their own backyard come to life on the small screen. We know this is a great product and trust that viewers will continue to enjoy the drama unfold over the coming months.”

With only 48 hours to The Block 2011 Grand Finale Auction, it is time for Australia’s favourite renovators: Josh and Jenna, Polly and Waz, Katrina and Amie and Rod and Tania to have their say.

In THE BLOCK UNLOCKED: YOUR SAY, our four couples will bare their souls and tell Australia why they believe THEIR house will win THE biggest TV reality competition of the year at Sunday night’s auction.

They will also reflect on their incredible renovation achievements – the highs and the lows – as they battled it out over the past eight weeks with their own distinctive style.

And, in a Block first, fans of the show will get the chance to have their say as well, with their Tweets and Facebook posts screened on air during the show.

This year The Block has been a feast for Facebook with more than 100,000 dedicated fans following, so in a show of thanks, all four couples will be online to respond to the messages of support – live.

THE BLOCK UNLOCKED: YOUR SAY will also reveal the latest results in the NineMSN poll: Just who will win on Sunday night’s two-hour auction special.

As the countdown to The Block’s Grand Finale hits fever pitch, join Channel Nine for a unique and interactive television event.

Facebook: To join in the conversation, simply like facebook.com/theblock.

Twitter: Conversation will also occur on twitter using #theblock.

Also go to The Block’s website, ninemsn.com.au/theblock  which will also feature a *live* poll.

THE BLOCK UNLOCKED: YOUR SAY - HOSTED BY SHELLEY CRAFT: FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, AT 7PM ON CHANNEL NINE

Wednesday, August 17, at 8.30pm on Nine

Nine’s award-winning medical program, RPA, continues this Wednesday at 8.30pm with more captivating stories of courageous patients being treated by the dedicated staff at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

In this episode proud grandfather Harvey discovers thyroid cancer has spread to the base of his brain and he is faced with challenging surgery to remove it. We also meet three new patients who share their life-changing medical stories.

Harvey

Harvey, 73, has 19 grandchildren and wants to be around to see them grow up. But his thyroid cancer, first diagnosed in 2006, has spread. Scans reveal the cancer is now at the base of his brain. In part one of an incredible story he is told the biggest challenge will be how to operate because of the difficulty with access.

Kimberley

Journalist Kimberley first noticed a lump in her neck about four years ago. Now it has grown to the size of an orange. Scans have revealed a cyst that must be removed.

Jodie

Jodie is about to endure her 22nd operation for arthritis and she’s only 38. This hairdresser and mother of two lives in constant pain and is hoping this next round of surgery will give her some relief. The plan is to fuse her ankle, and if time allows during the operation, her toes will be fused as well.

Monique

Eight-year-old Monique arrives in Emergency with a suspected broken ankle. After a series of X-rays the full extent of the damage is revealed.

The RPA series is narrated by Australian actor and artist, Max Cullen.

Wednesday, August 17, at 7.30pm on Channel Nine

This week on Top Design…. The Final Five have been rocked by last week’s walkout of a fellow contestant.

For Lisa, it’s a second chance but that soon turns to tears.

Which contestant scores immunity? Who can dazzle the judges by creating something out of nothing? And is someone cheating or just bending the rules?

First, contestants visit The Bower, a charity that collects people’s junk and sells it on, rather than letting it end up in landfill.

Contestants must think laterally.

For example, putting together an old bike and a glass top and turning it into a dining room table, or slicing a bathtub in half and converting it into a sofa.

Innovation and creative flair are the buzzwords for this challenge.

Top Design: See how Aussies from all walks of life transform everyday living spaces with an elimination every episode.

With $100,000 and the title of Top Design at stake, this series celebrates the most daring and dazzling ideas.