News

The Nine Network today announced the closure of the Sunday program from Sunday, August 3, to be replaced by a weekly one-hour News bulletin on Sundays at 8.00am.

Nine's nightly late night news program, Nightline, will also wind up tonight, with the Network scheduling more newsbreaks through the evening to provide viewers with regular news updates.

The Network's Director of News and Current Affairs, John Westacott, said the decision to close Sunday was difficult but inevitable.

ABC TV has begun the next phase of television broadcasting in Australia with the launch of its free internet tv service, ABC iView.

ABC iView is a new way to watch tv. No longer tied to the television set, Australians now have access to a quality, high-resolution, full-screen viewing experience on their computer. At the click of a mouse, viewers can choose what to watch, when to watch, and where to watch ABC content from five channels.

Channel Nine's popular and controversial drama Underbelly has been renewed for a second season. The season will be a prequel and will focus on Alphonse Gangitano's life.

Australia’s free-to-air commercial television networks together with the nation’s public broadcasters today formally announced the establishment of Freeview.

The consortium has been formed to help drive take-up of the free-to-air digital television platform in Australia.

Freeview shareholders include the ABC, SBS, the Seven Network, the Nine Network, Network Ten, Prime, WIN and Southern Cross. The ABC’s Director of Television, Kim Dalton, will Chair the not-for-profit organisation.

Despite suggestions yesterday that her career was in tatters, Jodhi Meares will be hosting Australia's Next Top Model in 2009 according to Foxtel's Brian Walsh.

Walsh has slammed reports claiming executives on the model contest were "furious" after Meares pulled out of the live decider over stage fright and told Confidential Nothing could be further from the truth.

"I rang Jodhi on Friday and reiterated the fact she has our full support and apologised for the media circus it's become,"

"We won't be discussing contracts (for next year) until next month, but I told her to go have a holiday and forget about it."

After eight successful seasons and 1316 episodes, TEN today announced that Big Brother will not be returning in 2009.

The 2008 season finale will air on Monday 21 July.

TEN's chief programming officer, David Mott, said: "Big Brother is the undisputed grand-daddy of modern, commercial reality television in Australia. Today's reality dramas have all, on some level, been inspired by Big Brother.

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In a one-off television event, celebrities from around the world will unite to celebrate the surprise 70th birthday of Bert Newton, one of the biggest names in Australian entertainment.

In a special birthday edition of This Is Your Life, superstars of stage and screen will turn up to throw Bert a surprise party he’ll never forget in a special event screening at 7.30pm on Channel Nine the day “Moonface” turns 70 – Wednesday, July 23.

Premieres 8.30pm Thursday, July 10 on Channel Nine

With a flick and a high kick, the new series Celebrity Singing Bee premieres Thursday, July 10 at 8.30pm on the Nine Network.

Host Tim Campbell is in his element as the consummate entertainer, taking celebrity guests through the lyrics of our favourite hits. The key element is fun, and with an audience ready to clap, cheer and dance in the aisles, each episode is a rollicking hour of family entertainment.

The rules of the game are simple: “You don’t have to sing it well, you just have to sing it right.”

Hi-5 will have kids singing and dancing in their lounge rooms when it returns to Channel Nine with its tenth series on Monday, July 7 at 3.30pm.

The new series will introduce a brand new Hi-5 face, Stevie Nicholson. Stevie will join Hi-5 favourites Nathan Foley, Kellie Crawford (formerly Kellie Hoggart), Sun Park and Charli Delaney.

Hi-5 encourages children to develop their own potential and take a joyous and active part in life. Each week Hi-5 explores a contemporary theme, examining issues relevant to children aged from two to six and the world around them. Series 10 specifically explores such concepts as different family structures; planet earth at a local and world level; the future – growing up and what’s new; and technology, while also covering topics like sharing, sport, confidence, story telling and play time.

After huge public outcry over her bullying tactics during the latest series of Australia's Next Top Model, Demelza Reveley has beaten Alexandra Girdwood for the coveted crown.

After the judges vote was tied at three a piece, many would have expected the public backlash over her treatment of fellow contestant Alamela Rowan to sway in favour of Alex. This wasn't to be the case as by some small miracle, the public seem to have forgiven and provided the votes to secure her the win.

iTunes has finally added TV shows to the Australian Store.

A selection of shows from ABC Studios, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Disney, Nine and MTV are now available.

Shows include: Summer Heights High,
We Can Be Heroes, Sleek Geeks, Foreign Correspondent Postcards, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Hannah Montana, The Suite Live of Zack & Cody, Sea Patrol, Canal Road, McLeod's Daughters and South Park.

Elliot is a mysterious character who has links to Roman's SAS past. He quickly forms a relationship with Nicole.

Paul Pantano has had an impressive TV and movie career and has recently been in shows such as Dangerous (playing Joe), All Saints, Grass Roots (playing Ned Schumaker), Neighbours, Water Rats, Breakers, Blue Heelers.

His birthdate is 23 February 1982.

He loves playing touch footy and squash. Hid favourite movie is "The Shawshank Redemption". He is a Christian.

Rebecca Breeds joins the cast of Home and Away to play Ruby Buckton.

Ruby is Charlie's sister and Ross's daughter. She makes a big impact when she turns up in the Bay.

You may recognise Rebecca Breeds from Blue Water High - she plays Cassie.

She's 20 years old, but plays a 15 year old on Home and Away.

The One: The Search for Australia's Most Gifted Psychic, hosted by Andrew Daddo, will feature seven of Australia's top psychics in a quest to determine who is 'The One' and challenge the way we think about psychic phenomena.

Coming soon to Seven!

Each week The One's psychics will showcase their abilities in a series of studio and location challenges, such as finding a lost child in the bush or getting inside the minds of well-known celebrities.

Charlie is Ross Buckton's daughter.
She's Summer Bay's newest police woman and Jack Holden's partner.
Charlie is very driven, ambitious, strong willed and likes to play it by the book.
Charlie has a younger sister and is still grieving her mother's death.
She's naive with relationships but quickly has a love interest (Roman?).

Age: 29
Birthday: 13 June
Previous jobs: Modelling in Australia and Japan, presenting Postcards
Home town: Geelong
Height: 170cm
Eye color: Blue/Green
Shoe size: 7
Pets: A dog called Jackson

• Modelling photos