News

AFL Game Day returns for 2011 at 10am Sunday March 20 on Seven in AFL states and on 7mate at the same time in all markets. The 7mate airing of AFL Game Day will allow NSW and QLD AFL fans to see the show at the same time as those in the AFL states do.

In AFL states, the Amazing Race encore on Seven will move from 10am Sundays to 11am Sundays. Elsewhere, The Amazing Race encore remains at 10am Sundays with True Beauty from 11am.

On Sunday March 20 and 27, there is an extra two episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels on 7mate, with two labelled as “adults only” from 8.30pm, following the usual two from 7.30pm.

Thursday night documentaries now include Mighty Ships at 7.30pm, Man Made Marvels at 8.30 – featuring Taiwan’s Hsuehshan Tunnel for the first episode – and all new Super Factories at 9.30pm from March 17.

City Homicide will have its final episode at 9.30pm Wednesday March 30.

Ghosts: A dying man confesses to murder, but who were the victims of this long buried crime? Then, Attorney-General Lombardi orders the Homicide Squad be shut down, however Duncan and the team are determined to close one last case. Starring SHANE BOURNE, NONI HAZLEHURST, JOHN ADAM, NADINE GARNER, AARON PEDERSEN, DAMIEN RICHARDSON, NADIA TOWNSEND, DAVID FIELD and MARCUS GRAHAM.

At this stage the series has not been renewed, so this could be the final episode ever. Seven are yet to confirm the future of City Homicide.

New to 7TWO, at 9.40pm Monday March 21 is Mrs Bradley Mysteries.

A Speedy Death: Mrs Adela Bradley and her resourceful chauffeur are on the trail of a country-house murderer after a series of deaths at the engagement party of her god-daughter. With a house full of suspects, she charms and schemes until the mystery is solved. Starring DIANA RIGG and NEIL DUDGEON.

Grey’s Anatomy – that was playing at 1.30pm weekdays will finish up on Tue March 22. Great British Journeys will fill the timeslot. Desperate Housewives continues at or near 12.30pm weekdays until Friday March 25.

A new series for Sunday nights, with Rhodes Across India airing at 10.45pm Sundays from March 27. It replaces Restaurant in our Living Room, which finishes with a celebrity special Sunday March 20, 10.30pm.

Gary Rhodes and his team take a trip to India to find the best of authentic Indian cuisine, learn how to cook it, and then cater for a major banquet.

From Monday March 28, 7TWO revamps its afternoon line up.

Murphy Brown remains at 12.00 Midday while Hart to Hart has its first run on 7TWO from 12.30pm Monday March 28. It starts from the pilot. Great British Journeys remains at 1.30pm, Welcome back Kotter moves to 2.30pm, and new to 7TWO at 3.00pm is classic sitcom Perfect Strangers.

7TWO have moved their “arvo movies” back to between 3pm and 4pm – to now be called the “7TWO Late Arvo Movie” . Late Arvo movies will always finish at 6pm – and the varying starting time will result in Perfect Strangers not always being on at 3pm weekdays, and Growing Pains on only some weekdays at 3.30pm – you’ll need to check guides to keep up!

In the first week though, the Late Arvo Movies start at 4pm Tue, Wed, Thur March 29-31, 3.30pm Mon March 28 and 3pm Friday April 1.

Looks like My Kitchen Rules encores will remain, with TBAs on 7TWO 8.30am every Sunday morning. That is the usual timeslot for the MKR encores, which are usually confirmed Thursday each week.

With Daylight Saving ending at 3am Saturday night (Sunday morning) April 2, those states with Daylight Saving get an extra hours of programming somewhere between 3am DLST and 3am EST.

Seven’s NSW Election Coverage.

Next Monday, March 14, in NSW, will be a Seven News special called Lunch with the Leaders. Chris Bath will host a question and answer session with the NSW Premier and Opposition Leader. It airs at 2pm instead of Dr Oz.

In NSW, Seven will air a Seven News Election Special, after the 6pm news, at 6.30 on Saturday March 26, 2011. The special is scheduled to finish by 8.30pm – although I believe the result will be obvious by the end of the news at 6.30pm (am I allowed to say that?!).

Seven News brings you full coverage of the New South Wales election. Barry O’Farrell represents the Liberals and Labor is represented by Kristina Keneally.

picture: www.skynews.com.au

And now it is official.

Winners and Losers will indeed premiere at 8.30pm, Tuesday March 22 on Seven.

As predicted.

Details of the first episode:

Covert Aggression In Netball

Four old friends from high school have little in common, besides the fact that they were ‘the losers’ in high school who tried to avoid the attentions of the popular school bully, Tiffany Turner. Now twenty seven-years-old and content with their lives, the friends receive a surprise invite to their ten year reunion. Will facing Tiffany mean sweet revenge or a re-evaluation of their current lives? Guest starring Michala Banas. Also starring VIRGINIA GAY, DENISE SCOTT, ZOE TUCKWELL-SMITH, MELISSA BERGLAND, MELANIE VALLEJO, DAMIEN BODIE, FRANCIS GREENSLADE, BLAIR MCDONOUGH and TOM WREN.

And the second and third:

A double episode airing on March 29 – so another week without Prenthood at 9.30pm.

Those People In The Paper / Reality Bites

Bec pushes the others to share their winnings with Jenny, but when Jenny indulges in an over-the-top rant, it seems her fate is sealed. Then, while the women reassess their lives, their friendship endures the biggest challenge it has yet to face. Starring VIRGINIA GAY, DENISE SCOTT, ZOE TUCKWELL-SMITH, MELISSA BERGLAND, MELANIE VALLEJO, DAMIEN BODIE, FRANCIS GREENSLADE, BLAIR MCDONOUGH, TOM WREN, TODD MCKENNEY, LAWRENCE MOONEY and SALLY-ANNE UPTON.

Winners & Losers on Seven, 8.30pm Tuesdays from March 22.

Brendan Fevola’s interview last night on The Footy Show boosted the audience for Channel Nine in Melbourne, pulling in nearly half a million viewers.

The nearly two-hour episode, which marked the 2011 return of the show, peaked at 511,000 viewers with an average throughout of 414,000.

The show was the best performing one of the night in Melbourne across all major demographics.

In the paid interview, Fevola discussed his suicide attempt and his ongoing battles with depression, alcohol and gambling.

Source: HeraldSun

Thursday March 10, 2011

Helped by the Footy Shows, Nine wins its second only night of ratings since the official ratings survey began on Feb 6. It’s digitals also outperform Seven’s.

Shares:
1 Nine 23.4% (nw 30.8%)
2 Seven 21.6% (nw 28.5%)
3 Ten 15.3% (nw 20.0%)
4 ABC1 12.7% (nw 16.2%)
5 GO! 4.0%

6 7mate 3.8%
6 ELEVEN 3.8%
6 SBS ONE 3.8% (nw 4.5%)
9 GEM 3.3%
10 7TWO 3.2%

11 ABC2 2.3%
12 ONE HD 0.9%
13 SBS TWO 0.7%
14 ABC3 0.6%
14 ABC News 24 0.6%

Top shows for the day:
Ranking Ch: Program 5 City Metro Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 1,151,000 303,000 335,000 228,000 124,000 161,000
2 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 1,123,000 269,000 322,000 240,000 131,000 160,000
3 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 996,000 302,000 326,000 202,000 78,000 89,000
4 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 968,000 275,000 244,000 212,000 110,000 127,000
5 Ch: TEN THE BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – CONTEST 943,000 272,000 288,000 191,000 74,000 118,000
6 Ch: 9 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION 922,000 255,000 283,000 165,000 98,000 121,000
7 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 918,000 268,000 266,000 178,000 94,000 111,000
8 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER-EP.2 903,000 276,000 259,000 162,000 72,000 134,000
9 Ch: 9 GETAWAY 895,000 239,000 283,000 187,000 92,000 93,000
10 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 891,000 267,000 296,000 198,000 50,000 80,000
11 Ch: 9 RBT 850,000 231,000 258,000 190,000 78,000 93,000
12 Ch: 7 GREY’S ANATOMY 810,000 252,000 245,000 165,000 64,000 84,000
13 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 810,000 227,000 219,000 163,000 67,000 134,000
14 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW 806,000 160,000 414,000 73,000 89,000 69,000
15 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 741,000 175,000 272,000 133,000 62,000 99,000
16 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 664,000 172,000 214,000 85,000 69,000 124,000
17 Ch: ABC1 7.30-EV 661,000 194,000 194,000 121,000 64,000 88,000
18 Ch: 7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 656,000 212,000 196,000 105,000 70,000 72,000
19 Ch: ABC1 TURN BACK TIME: THE HIGH STREET-EV 632,000 184,000 211,000 109,000 64,000 64,000
20 Ch: TEN THE GOOD WIFE 610,000 197,000 171,000 117,000 58,000 67,000
21 Ch: ABC1 CATALYST-EV 574,000 163,000 172,000 104,000 61,000 74,000
22 Ch: TEN LAW AND ORDER: SVU 567,000 183,000 145,000 94,000 62,000 83,000
23 Ch: 9 HOT SEAT 551,000 172,000 152,000 144,000 42,000 42,000
24 Ch: ABC1 GRAND DESIGNS RPT 508,000 142,000 152,000 102,000 52,000 60,000
25 Ch: 9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT 500,000 172,000 207,000 0 44,000 77,000
26 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 496,000 136,000 159,000 90,000 53,000 57,000
27 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 399,000 123,000 120,000 65,000 32,000 60,000
28 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 387,000 107,000 104,000 77,000 44,000 55,000
29 Ch: 7 PRIVATE PRACTICE 357,000 132,000 107,000 45,000 33,000 39,000
30 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS 350,000 111,000 137,000 49,000 22,000 31,000
31 Ch: 9 TODAY 343,000 121,000 106,000 66,000 21,000 29,000
32 Ch: TEN TEN EVENING NEWS 323,000 92,000 122,000 43,000 24,000 42,000
33 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 313,000 114,000 82,000 49,000 29,000 39,000
34 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 297,000 67,000 135,000 46,000 22,000 26,000
35 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 267,000 50,000 105,000 53,000 31,000 29,000
36 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV TX1 258,000 60,000 73,000 50,000 39,000 35,000
37 Ch: ABC1 LATELINE-LE 251,000 97,000 58,000 45,000 24,000 27,000
38 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS AT 4.30 246,000 71,000 71,000 52,000 28,000 24,000
39 Ch: TEN JUDGE JUDY 240,000 81,000 44,000 31,000 34,000 50,000
40 Ch: 7mate MEGA ICEBREAKER 240,000 35,000 77,000 43,000 50,000 35,000
41 Ch: 9 NINE AFTERNOON NEWS 238,000 75,000 62,000 55,000 21,000 24,000
42 Ch: ABC1 DOG WHISPERER WITH CESAR MILLAN-EV 237,000 65,000 72,000 47,000 27,000 26,000
43 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS LATE RPT 219,000 70,000 56,000 26,000 34,000 33,000
44 Ch: Gem THE ZOO -EV 204,000 26,000 101,000 33,000 19,000 25,000
45 Ch: SBS ONE OZ AND JAMES DRINK TO BRITAIN RPT 203,000 43,000 69,000 51,000 9,000 32,000
46 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL 203,000 70,000 57,000 26,000 25,000 26,000
47 Ch: SBS ONE ZUMBO 200,000 48,000 71,000 37,000 13,000 31,000
48 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 198,000 45,000 68,000 41,000 15,000 30,000
49 Ch: 7 SUNRISE-EARLY 191,000 52,000 30,000 64,000 20,000 24,000
50 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS 189,000 18,000 82,000 41,000 25,000 23,000

Top shows in 16-39s:
Ranking Ch: Program 5 City Metro Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER-EP.2 453,000 151,000 127,000 70,000 36,000 69,000
2 Ch: 7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 383,000 121,000 103,000 68,000 27,000 64,000
3 Ch: TEN THE BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – CONTEST 370,000 117,000 123,000 59,000 24,000 46,000
4 Ch: 7 GREY’S ANATOMY 366,000 119,000 104,000 81,000 26,000 35,000
5 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW 269,000 59,000 143,000 28,000 22,000 18,000
6 Ch: 7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 261,000 80,000 69,000 48,000 34,000 31,000
7 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 256,000 76,000 69,000 45,000 23,000 44,000
8 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 251,000 55,000 103,000 51,000 12,000 30,000
9 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 194,000 63,000 64,000 34,000 13,000 21,000
10 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 184,000 41,000 52,000 46,000 17,000 28,000
11 Ch: 9 RBT 178,000 49,000 43,000 46,000 14,000 25,000
12 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 173,000 53,000 52,000 23,000 12,000 35,000
13 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 168,000 66,000 45,000 21,000 12,000 24,000
14 Ch: 9 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION 164,000 46,000 39,000 37,000 20,000 22,000
15 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 159,000 47,000 52,000 40,000 13,000 6,000
16 Ch: TEN THE GOOD WIFE 158,000 56,000 44,000 24,000 15,000 19,000
17 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 155,000 56,000 36,000 30,000 9,000 24,000
18 Ch: 9 GETAWAY 152,000 34,000 42,000 41,000 14,000 21,000
19 Ch: TEN LAW AND ORDER: SVU 148,000 50,000 30,000 28,000 14,000 27,000
20 Ch: 7 PRIVATE PRACTICE 144,000 62,000 35,000 16,000 12,000 18,000
21 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 141,000 26,000 73,000 22,000 8,000 12,000
22 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS 133,000 42,000 57,000 19,000 5,000 9,000
23 Ch: TEN TEN EVENING NEWS 126,000 35,000 57,000 20,000 3,000 11,000
24 Ch: 9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT 123,000 56,000 27,000 0 10,000 30,000
25 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV TX1 117,000 25,000 45,000 19,000 15,000 13,000
26 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 103,000 23,000 42,000 16,000 6,000 18,000
27 Ch: ABC1 GRAND DESIGNS RPT 102,000 22,000 43,000 18,000 6,000 14,000
28 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 98,000 30,000 34,000 18,000 8,000 7,000
29 Ch: ABC1 TURN BACK TIME: THE HIGH STREET-EV 91,000 27,000 43,000 12,000 5,000 4,000
30 Ch: 7mate MEGA ICEBREAKER 90,000 17,000 31,000 17,000 15,000 11,000
31 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 85,000 21,000 38,000 11,000 8,000 6,000
32 Ch: SBS ONE ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS 83,000 1,000 48,000 12,000 6,000 17,000
33 Ch: 9 TODAY 82,000 38,000 22,000 11,000 5,000 5,000
34 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 80,000 20,000 27,000 12,000 4,000 17,000
35 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 77,000 11,000 36,000 17,000 10,000 4,000
36 Ch: ABC1 7.30-EV 70,000 24,000 19,000 19,000 3,000 6,000
37 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 70,000 26,000 22,000 14,000 3,000 4,000
38 Ch: GO! EPIC MOVIE -EV 70,000 17,000 26,000 6,000 7,000 13,000
39 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 65,000 15,000 22,000 11,000 7,000 10,000
40 Ch: 9 HOT SEAT 65,000 27,000 20,000 12,000 2,000 4,000
41 Ch: SBS ONE OZ AND JAMES DRINK TO BRITAIN RPT 63,000 5,000 23,000 20,000 1,000 13,000
42 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 62,000 19,000 21,000 12,000 5,000 6,000
43 Ch: SBS ONE ZUMBO 62,000 6,000 24,000 14,000 2,000 16,000
44 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW LATE 60,000 9,000 36,000 9,000 1,000 5,000
45 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 60,000 4,000 33,000 12,000 4,000 6,000
46 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL 59,000 15,000 18,000 10,000 9,000 8,000
47 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 59,000 17,000 13,000 17,000 0 13,000
48 Ch: TEN THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW 59,000 26,000 7,000 11,000 7,000 9,000
49 Ch: 7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 57,000 18,000 14,000 13,000 5,000 7,000
50 Ch: 9 THE BIG BANG THEORY -RPT 55,000 0 0 55,000 0 0

Top shows on digital channels:
Ranking Ch: Program Average Peak
1 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 297,000 372,000
2 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 267,000 338,000
3 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV TX1 258,000 345,000
4 Ch: 7mate MEGA ICEBREAKER 240,000 319,000
5 Ch: Gem THE ZOO -EV 204,000 292,000
6 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 198,000 271,000
7 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS 189,000 273,000
8 Ch: ABC2 CHARLIE AND LOLA-PM 175,000 195,000
9 Ch: ABC2 OLIVIA-PM 170,000 184,000
10 Ch: ABC2 DIBO THE GIFT DRAGON-PM 162,000 184,000
11 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 161,000 224,000
12 Ch: Gem AS TIME GOES BY -EV 156,000 238,000
13 Ch: ABC2 PLAY SCHOOL-PM 151,000 185,000
14 Ch: ABC2 SPICKS AND SPECKS-EV 149,000 208,000
15 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 144,000 218,000
16 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 142,000 189,000
17 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 141,000 194,000
18 Ch: GO! THE MIDDLE -EV TX1 139,000 196,000
19 Ch: Gem EMBARRASSING BODIES -EV 137,000 194,000
20 Ch: GO! EPIC MOVIE -EV 134,000 267,000
21 Ch: 7TWO M-MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA 131,000 250,000
22 Ch: ABC2 THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW-LE 128,000 173,000
23 Ch: ABC2 DRIVER DAN’S STORY TRAIN-PM 128,000 152,000
24 Ch: ABC2 MR MOON-EV 124,000 141,000
25 Ch: ABC2 BALI-PM 124,000 135,000
26 Ch: 7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 123,000 182,000
27 Ch: ABC2 IN THE NIGHT GARDEN-EV 123,000 150,000
28 Ch: ABC2 PEPPA PIG-PM 122,000 179,000
29 Ch: ABC2 FIVE MINUTES MORE-PM 121,000 125,000
30 Ch: Gem FRIENDS -EV 120,000 179,000
31 Ch: ABC2 SAMSAM-PM 119,000 141,000
32 Ch: ELEVEN STAR TREK – NEXT GENERATION 118,000 185,000
33 Ch: ABC2 MISTER MAKER-PM 117,000 131,000
34 Ch: ABC2 FLORRIE’S DRAGONS-EV 115,000 129,000
35 Ch: ABC2 ANGELINA BALLERINA: THE NEXT STEPS-PM 114,000 130,000
36 Ch: Gem THE GOLDEN GIRLS -EV 107,000 152,000
37 Ch: 7TWO BARGAIN HUNT 104,000 201,000
38 Ch: GO! AUSTRALIA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS – DAILY EDITION -EV 100,000 154,000
39 Ch: ELEVEN SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH 100,000 152,000
40 Ch: Gem HOARDERS -EV 93,000 156,000
41 Ch: 7TWO M-THE ALAMO 93,000 163,000
42 Ch: ABC2 LAZYTOWN-PM 91,000 117,000
43 Ch: ABC2 BOB THE BUILDER: PROJECT BUILD IT-AM 91,000 102,000
44 Ch: ABC2 ADVENTURES OF BOTTLE TOP BILL AND HIS BEST FRIEND-AM 88,000 98,000
45 Ch: ABC2 DOROTHY THE DINOSAUR-AM 87,000 94,000
46 Ch: GO! BEWITCHED -PM 87,000 124,000
47 Ch: 7mate SCRUBS 84,000 122,000
48 Ch: ABC2 POSTMAN PAT-AM 81,000 90,000
49 Ch: ABC3 PRANK PATROL INTERNATIONAL-EV 80,000 109,000
50 Ch: ABC2 WAYBULOO-AM 80,000 88,000

OzTam Five city Live and As Live Preliminary Ratings Figures. Five Cities are Sydney (S), Brisbane (B), Melbourne (M), Adelaide (A) and Perth (P). Figures are shown in order Total, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth. Shows not aired in certain cities denoted by 0 or n/a (not aired).  Does not take into account overruns or extreme last minute programming changes. Shares are 6pm – Midnight unless otherwise stated. Network abreviated to “nw”.

Sheen files lawsuit against Lorre and Warner Bros

Charlie Sheen has filed his lawsuit against Warner Bros. and Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre where he is seeking up to $US100,000,000. It is believed that Sheen is also suing on behalf of the show’s crew as well. 

Abrams pilot picked up

J.J. Abrams new pilot Alcatraz has reportedly been picked up for a 12-episode run by Fox. The prison break series, which features Jorge Garcia, Sarah Jones, Sam Neil and Santiago Cabrera, is said to be filming in Vancouver next month.

Chiklis joins comedy pilot

No Ordinary Family actor Michael Chiklis has joined a new comedy pilot for American network CBS. The project will focus on his character who experiences a life-changing event and decides to take a more honest approach to life.

Lowe will not replace Sheen

Parks and Recreation creator Mike Schur has dismissed the talk of Rob Lowe appearing on Two and a Half Men as a replacement for Charlie Sheen. Lowe features on Schur’s comedy and the creator says he is a full-time cast member on the series “and that’s the end of the story.”

When Ten announced they’d poached Seven’s head of digital media and sales, James Warburton, for their new CEO, Seven’s CEO, David Leckie, whished him well in his new role. This week, however, it’s a very different story.

Seven have filed papers with the courts to enforce the post-employment restraint clause that ultimately would prevent Warburton from starting at Ten until October 14 instead of the July 14 date that Ten announced would be the date he took the helm.

In an interesting twist, The Australian have obtained an affidavit that provides an account of an offer from Kerry Stokes to be CEO of Seven Media Group.

According to Ms Liston, she was informed that Mr Warburton intended to resign at about 10.30 on Wednesday morning. That afternoon, according to her affidavit, she met with Mr Warburton in his office where he handed over his blackberry, security pass, secure ID token, company credit card and a key.

Ms Liston then claims the following conversation took place:

Liston: What is this?

Warburton: Well – I have been asked to leave immediately.

Liston: How long has this been going on? [By this I was referring to how long Mr Warburton had been in discussions with Ten]

Warburton: Since yesterday.

Liston: Come on James.

Warburton: Don’t give me that. [Mr Warburton appeared angry].

Liston: Look James I only said that because I know from my experience with these matters that it takes longer than a day for these type of decisions to be made. Let’s move on. We are preparing a letter setting out your ongoing legal obligations. Do you want to wait for it?

Warburton: Yes. What is in the letter?

Liston: The usual legal matter around your contract – confirmation your employment with Seven will continue during this period and that you will not be performing your usual duties. It will set out your obligations to Seven during this time, including the post employment restraint under the MEP (management equity plan).

Warburton: What post employment restraint? I don’t have one.

Liston: Yes – there is one under the MEP.

Warburton: I’m not under the MEP.

According to Ms Liston, the argument continues.

Warburton: If Seven is going to get nasty like this then I will just go now.

Liston: Seven is not getting nasty. We are simply setting out your legal obligations to Seven and what we expect from you regarding these obligations. This is no more than we would do for any employee going to work for a competitor – let along someone in your position.

Warburton: I think its best I leave.

Liston: James you don’t have to rush out. No one is asking you to rush out. Wait for the letter. [Mr Warburton had become clearly agitated. His demeanour changed after I mentioned the restraint period].

Warburton: The want me to leave immediately.

Liston: Who?

Warburton: (Seven executive chairman Kerry) Stokes and (SMG chief David) Leckie.

Liston: I don’t think they are expecting you to leave immediately.

Warburton: Leckie told me to leave.

Liston: Look – it isn’t that simple. There are thing that have to be worked out and we are still working through that. Wait for the letter and it will set out what is expected.

Warburton: It’s best that I leave. You can send the letter to my lawyer.

The conversation continues before the alleged job offer is raised.

Liston: Did Kerry Stokes meet with you on Saturday (February 27) and make you an offer to be CEO of SMG?

Warburton: Yes. He did.

Liston: Well why did you meet with Mr Stokes on Saturday and then accept an offer with Ten on Tuesday?

Warburton: I told Kerry that I needed to look David (Leckie) in the eye regarding the offer to make sure he backed it up. I met with David on Monday and Tuesday regarding the offer from Kerry.

Liston: And did you go back to Kerry after you discussion with Kerry and tell him what David said?

Warburton: No I didn’t.

Liston. Why not? [Mr Warburton shrugged]. James why would you do that?

Warburton: Look – you know as well as I do that they haven’t been able to deliver anything concrete, there are too many roadblocks.

Liston: But you offered the CEO role by Kerry on Saturday. [Mr Warburton shrugged and did not respond to me. He stood up to leave]. I would prefer you wait for the letter.

Warburton: It’s best that I go.

It’s going to be very interesting to see where this story goes!

7PM Project scores a winning Charlie Sheen exclusive!
 
In an Australian TV exclusive, tonight the 7PM Project will cross to Nova’s Scott ‘Dools’ Dooley in L.A. after his winning interview with the man of the moment, Charlie Sheen.
 
After a week of camping out with the world’s press and dodging machetes, Scott spoke to Sheen in his Sober Valley Lodge home just moments ago in an Australian Radio and television EXCLUSIVE.
 
Scott’s interview will air during Nova breakfast and drive shows nationally tomorrow and will be shown on the 7PM Project on Friday night.
 
Network Ten’s 7PM Project will be the ONLY Australian television program with the Charlie Sheen interview.