Throng

SBS has announced the appointment of a new managing director in Michael Ebeid.

Ebeid, currently Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Marketing at ABC, will take over from the departing Shaun Brown who has been in the role since 2006.

Before he joined ABC, Ebeid was Director of Commercial Operations for the Consumer Division at Optus Communications.

SBS Chairman, Mr Joe Skrzynski, said: “Mr Ebeid brings to SBS a special set of personal and professional skills, with the right blend of operational and strategic experience from his twenty-four years in the Media, Telecommunications and IT technology sectors which represent the three arms of the convergence changing the entertainment and information landscape in Australia.

“He is extremely well suited to lead SBS in its mission to promote social harmony by helping migrants to settle and participate fully in Australian society, and assisting all Australians to understand and appreciate the benefits of cultural diversity.

“As SBS moves into its fourth decade, its Charter is more vitally relevant than ever. Not only is our population manifestly more complex and diverse, but today there are three million Australians whose first language is not English and that is twice as many as when we were first formed.”

Source: TV Tonight

The premiere episode of KALGOORLIE COPS on Crime & Investigation Network last night was an enormous success, watched by a total of 303,000 FOXTEL viewers.

The series premiere was the number one program on the platform last night, the highest-rating documentary on STV since April 2007 and the third highest-rating programme in the history of Crime & Investigation Network.

The locally-produced series is the first observational documentary series for CI Network.

KALGOORLIE COPS is an 8 x 30 minute series airing on Thursdays at 7.30pm AEST, exclusive to CI Network.

An encore screening of last night’s episode will air this Sunday, April 17 at 8.00pm AEST.

Never before has an Australian audience been given such unprecedented access to the work of Australia’s national police force.

AFP will take viewers behind the scenes with the men and women of Australia’s peak law enforcement agency, the Australian Federal Police.

Produced over more than two years, and filmed in more than eight countries including Indonesia, Colombia and the Philippines, video journalists were embedded in major operations from people smuggling to counter terrorism; bomb disposal to international drug syndicates; child sex exploitation to disaster victim identification.

AFP captures these stories on the ground as they unfold, drawing on surveillance, warrant and arrest footage and other evidentiary material provided exclusively by the Australian Federal Police.

At the heart of the operations are the compelling, untold stories of the people working on the frontline of everything Australians fear. We will find out how these men and women, working in often extraordinary circumstances, deal with the stressful situations they face. This is Australian policing like you have never seen it before.

In the first episode, the AFP targets people smugglers who put the lives of asylum seekers in danger as they attempt to reach the shores of Australia. We also see the elite of the Australian Federal Police as they undergo advanced training which sees them at the frontline of crime, arresting the most dangerous of criminals.

The series has been produced by Andrew Denton’s Zapruder’s Other Films, with Anita Jacoby as its Executive Producer and Jennifer Byrne narrating.

AFP: PREMIERES TUESDAY, APRIL 26 AT 8.00PM ON CHANNEL NINE

Thursday April 14, 2011.

Shares (6pm – 10.30pm):
1 Seven 21.0% (nw 28.0%)
2 NIne 19.6% (nw 26.7%)
3 Ten 17.3% (nw 23.2%)
4 ABC1 13.1% (nw 16.7%)
5 SBS ONE 5.1% (nw 5.6%)

6 ELEVEN 4.8%
7 7mate 4.0%
8 GO! 3.8%
9 GEM 3.3%
10 7TWO 3.0%

11 ABC2 2.2%
12 ONE HD 1.1%
13 ABC3 0.9%
14 ABC News 24 0.5%
14 SBS TWO 0.5%

Top shows for the day:
Ranking Ch: Program 5 City Metro Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 1,173,000 276,000 346,000 211,000 155,000 185,000
2 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 1,091,000 259,000 325,000 211,000 127,000 168,000
3 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 977,000 274,000 327,000 208,000 100,000 67,000
4 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 976,000 253,000 331,000 155,000 96,000 142,000
5 Ch: TEN THE BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – SYDNEY TO HOBART CHALLENGE PART 2 967,000 264,000 292,000 198,000 86,000 127,000
6 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 957,000 243,000 280,000 182,000 124,000 127,000
7 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 881,000 260,000 273,000 194,000 81,000 72,000
8 Ch: 7 GREY’S ANATOMY 795,000 197,000 236,000 174,000 115,000 73,000
9 Ch: 9 RBT 777,000 233,000 261,000 114,000 83,000 85,000
10 Ch: 9 THE MILLION DOLLAR DROP 770,000 176,000 299,000 102,000 99,000 93,000
11 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 752,000 220,000 227,000 159,000 74,000 72,000
12 Ch: 9 GETAWAY 742,000 199,000 250,000 117,000 94,000 83,000
13 Ch: ABC1 7.30-EV 739,000 236,000 213,000 125,000 60,000 106,000
14 Ch: 7 HESTON’S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 730,000 156,000 242,000 136,000 94,000 102,000
15 Ch: TEN THE GOOD WIFE 702,000 217,000 216,000 122,000 77,000 70,000
16 Ch: ABC1 CATALYST-EV 690,000 196,000 214,000 125,000 57,000 98,000
17 Ch: TEN LAW AND ORDER: SVU 677,000 200,000 193,000 121,000 89,000 74,000
18 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW 672,000 98,000 355,000 56,000 86,000 77,000
19 Ch: 9 THE BIG BANG THEORY -RPT 626,000 183,000 194,000 157,000 42,000 50,000
20 Ch: 7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 621,000 201,000 160,000 113,000 92,000 54,000
21 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 608,000 171,000 219,000 82,000 53,000 83,000
22 Ch: ABC1 TURN BACK TIME: THE HIGH STREET-EV 573,000 166,000 164,000 89,000 63,000 91,000
23 Ch: 9 HOT SEAT 543,000 145,000 148,000 140,000 59,000 50,000
24 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 538,000 123,000 195,000 85,000 72,000 62,000
25 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 413,000 98,000 112,000 96,000 50,000 58,000
26 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 398,000 119,000 134,000 68,000 32,000 45,000
27 Ch: TEN 6.30 WITH GEORGE NEGUS 398,000 101,000 162,000 66,000 25,000 43,000
28 Ch: ABC1 MINUSCULE-EV 393,000 118,000 118,000 57,000 36,000 65,000
29 Ch: 7 PRIVATE PRACTICE 368,000 129,000 112,000 55,000 48,000 24,000
30 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 347,000 88,000 107,000 61,000 52,000 39,000
31 Ch: ABC1 WHITES-LE 334,000 119,000 101,000 47,000 28,000 39,000
32 Ch: 9 TODAY 332,000 118,000 103,000 60,000 22,000 29,000
33 Ch: SBS ONE HESTON’S FEASTS RPT 315,000 75,000 79,000 69,000 39,000 54,000
34 Ch: ABC1 GRAND DESIGNS REVISITED RPT 313,000 88,000 106,000 52,000 22,000 46,000
35 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 292,000 106,000 80,000 40,000 33,000 33,000
36 Ch: TEN JUDGE JUDY 277,000 85,000 68,000 47,000 34,000 44,000
37 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 276,000 94,000 80,000 54,000 31,000 18,000
38 Ch: SBS ONE ITALIAN FOOD SAFARI RPT 269,000 73,000 86,000 50,000 25,000 35,000
39 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 256,000 70,000 66,000 72,000 15,000 32,000
40 Ch: GO! TWO AND A HALF MEN -EV 242,000 76,000 65,000 58,000 24,000 21,000
41 Ch: ABC1 GETTING ON-LE 238,000 86,000 65,000 39,000 21,000 26,000
42 Ch: TEN 6.30 WITH GEORGE NEGUS LATE RPT 237,000 67,000 64,000 55,000 30,000 20,000
43 Ch: GO! THE MIDDLE -EV 234,000 59,000 77,000 47,000 20,000 31,000
44 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS AT 4.30 233,000 56,000 74,000 48,000 28,000 28,000
45 Ch: 7mate MAN MADE MARVELS 228,000 61,000 72,000 32,000 27,000 36,000
46 Ch: 9 NINE AFTERNOON NEWS 227,000 68,000 54,000 62,000 18,000 25,000
47 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL 208,000 75,000 59,000 23,000 26,000 25,000
48 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS (R) 205,000 39,000 56,000 44,000 30,000 35,000
49 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 199,000 58,000 67,000 31,000 25,000 18,000
50 Ch: 7 SUNRISE-EARLY 198,000 48,000 32,000 67,000 21,000 29,000

Top shows in 16-39s:
Ranking Ch: Program 5 City Metro Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 Ch: TEN THE BIGGEST LOSER FAMILIES – SYDNEY TO HOBART CHALLENGE PART 2 334,000 97,000 94,000 72,000 28,000 43,000
2 Ch: 7 GREY’S ANATOMY 327,000 87,000 76,000 74,000 58,000 32,000
3 Ch: 7 HESTON’S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 281,000 68,000 80,000 48,000 38,000 47,000
4 Ch: 7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 255,000 84,000 60,000 45,000 43,000 21,000
5 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 249,000 75,000 75,000 36,000 29,000 34,000
6 Ch: 9 THE FOOTY SHOW 239,000 38,000 139,000 16,000 20,000 26,000
7 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 215,000 47,000 71,000 62,000 21,000 14,000
8 Ch: 9 THE MILLION DOLLAR DROP 204,000 61,000 81,000 23,000 21,000 18,000
9 Ch: 9 THE BIG BANG THEORY -RPT 185,000 65,000 47,000 43,000 13,000 16,000
10 Ch: TEN LAW AND ORDER: SVU 174,000 62,000 43,000 40,000 15,000 14,000
11 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 173,000 39,000 39,000 36,000 34,000 24,000
12 Ch: TEN THE GOOD WIFE 170,000 62,000 55,000 31,000 9,000 13,000
13 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 169,000 44,000 59,000 26,000 25,000 15,000
14 Ch: 9 RBT 163,000 65,000 41,000 19,000 19,000 19,000
15 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 160,000 47,000 32,000 43,000 13,000 25,000
16 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 160,000 56,000 51,000 32,000 8,000 13,000
17 Ch: 7 PRIVATE PRACTICE 155,000 60,000 46,000 23,000 22,000 5,000
18 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 148,000 37,000 54,000 28,000 15,000 14,000
19 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 147,000 53,000 39,000 34,000 12,000 8,000
20 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 145,000 50,000 48,000 26,000 17,000 5,000
21 Ch: 9 GETAWAY 135,000 46,000 29,000 22,000 19,000 19,000
22 Ch: SBS ONE HESTON’S FEASTS RPT 129,000 24,000 33,000 31,000 18,000 24,000
23 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 122,000 43,000 32,000 25,000 9,000 13,000
24 Ch: TEN 6.30 WITH GEORGE NEGUS 121,000 19,000 48,000 33,000 10,000 10,000
25 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 113,000 31,000 43,000 20,000 14,000 5,000
26 Ch: 7 30 ROCK 108,000 39,000 40,000 19,000 9,000 1,000
27 Ch: ABC1 TURN BACK TIME: THE HIGH STREET-EV 101,000 34,000 27,000 12,000 12,000 17,000
28 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 100,000 25,000 31,000 24,000 9,000 12,000
29 Ch: GO! TWO AND A HALF MEN -EV 95,000 38,000 16,000 28,000 3,000 9,000
30 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 90,000 32,000 23,000 18,000 4,000 13,000
31 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 89,000 25,000 25,000 23,000 7,000 9,000
32 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 87,000 33,000 33,000 12,000 6,000 4,000
33 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 83,000 26,000 26,000 21,000 5,000 5,000
34 Ch: 9 TODAY 81,000 29,000 29,000 16,000 5,000 3,000
35 Ch: GO! THE MIDDLE -EV 80,000 23,000 25,000 18,000 3,000 12,000
36 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 78,000 25,000 21,000 24,000 1,000 7,000
37 Ch: ABC1 WHITES-LE 74,000 28,000 24,000 9,000 5,000 8,000
38 Ch: ABC1 CATALYST-EV 73,000 18,000 32,000 11,000 3,000 10,000
39 Ch: ABC1 7.30-EV 71,000 30,000 21,000 9,000 2,000 9,000
40 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 71,000 23,000 20,000 17,000 7,000 5,000
41 Ch: 7mate MAN MADE MARVELS 69,000 25,000 20,000 11,000 5,000 9,000
42 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 68,000 17,000 25,000 10,000 13,000 2,000
43 Ch: 7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 66,000 24,000 7,000 25,000 4,000 6,000
44 Ch: TEN 6.30 WITH GEORGE NEGUS LATE RPT 66,000 19,000 19,000 19,000 5,000 3,000
45 Ch: GO! FOOL’S GOLD -EV 65,000 13,000 15,000 22,000 8,000 6,000
46 Ch: Gem FRIENDS -EV TX1 63,000 20,000 9,000 12,000 16,000 6,000
47 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL 60,000 17,000 18,000 11,000 8,000 6,000
48 Ch: 7 THE MORNING SHOW 58,000 14,000 25,000 12,000 3,000 4,000
49 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS (R) 58,000 19,000 10,000 16,000 3,000 10,000
50 Ch: TEN TEN LATE NEWS WITH SPORTS TONIGHT 54,000 15,000 22,000 10,000 3,000 4,000

Top shows on digital channels:
Ranking Ch: Program Average Peak
1 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 347,000 422,000
2 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS THURS 276,000 337,000
3 Ch: GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -EV 256,000 346,000
4 Ch: GO! TWO AND A HALF MEN -EV 242,000 304,000
5 Ch: GO! THE MIDDLE -EV 234,000 332,000
6 Ch: 7mate MAN MADE MARVELS 228,000 292,000
7 Ch: 7mate MIGHTY SHIPS (R) 205,000 285,000
8 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 199,000 265,000
9 Ch: ELEVEN STARGATE UNIVERSE 194,000 251,000
10 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 188,000 235,000
11 Ch: Gem AS TIME GOES BY -EV 180,000 242,000
12 Ch: Gem THE ZOO -EV 177,000 266,000
13 Ch: ABC2 PLAY SCHOOL-PM 174,000 194,000
14 Ch: Gem THE GOLDEN GIRLS -EV 161,000 217,000
15 Ch: ABC2 SPICKS AND SPECKS-EV 157,000 209,000
16 Ch: GO! THE INBETWEENERS -EV 155,000 204,000
17 Ch: ABC2 ELMO’S WORLD-PM 153,000 180,000
18 Ch: Gem FRIENDS -EV TX1 151,000 217,000
19 Ch: ABC2 DIBO THE GIFT DRAGON-PM 148,000 166,000
20 Ch: ABC2 OLIVIA-PM 148,000 178,000
21 Ch: ABC2 FIVE MINUTES MORE-PM 146,000 162,000
22 Ch: ABC2 ANGELINA BALLERINA: THE NEXT STEPS-PM 142,000 161,000
23 Ch: GO! FOOL’S GOLD -EV 140,000 227,000
24 Ch: 7mate SUPER FACTORIES 135,000 240,000
25 Ch: 7TWO BARGAIN HUNT 133,000 233,000
26 Ch: ABC2 MISTER MAKER-PM 130,000 152,000
27 Ch: ABC2 THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW-LE 130,000 187,000
28 Ch: 7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 130,000 231,000
29 Ch: ABC3 STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS-PM 128,000 168,000
30 Ch: ABC2 MR MOON-EV 127,000 142,000
31 Ch: ABC2 SHAUN THE SHEEP-PM 126,000 152,000
32 Ch: ABC2 LITTLE CHARLEY BEAR-EV 126,000 144,000
33 Ch: 7TWO ON THE BUSES 126,000 185,000
34 Ch: Gem EMBARRASSING ILLNESSES -EV 125,000 194,000
35 Ch: 7TWO M-GARFIELD 124,000 209,000
36 Ch: ABC2 GRANDPA IN MY POCKET-PM 120,000 188,000
37 Ch: Gem CHILD GENIUS 2 + 3 -EV 116,000 203,000
38 Ch: ABC2 IN THE NIGHT GARDEN-EV 115,000 136,000
39 Ch: ELEVEN STAR TREK – NEXT GENERATION 112,000 171,000
40 Ch: ABC3 STOKED-AM 109,000 133,000
41 Ch: ABC2 PEPPA PIG-PM 108,000 160,000
42 Ch: ABC3 TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND-EV 107,000 127,000
43 Ch: 7TWO M-THE EIGER SANCTION 105,000 193,000
44 Ch: ABC2 DRIVER DAN’S STORY TRAIN-PM 104,000 144,000
45 Ch: ONE THE GAME PLAN 104,000 145,000
46 Ch: Gem WIFE SWAP USA -LE 103,000 144,000
47 Ch: ABC2 ARTHUR-PM 102,000 137,000
48 Ch: ELEVEN HAPPY DAYS 96,000 142,000
49 Ch: ABC2 WAYBULOO-AM 96,000 109,000
50 Ch: ABC3 BUGGED-PM 95,000 118,000

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”.

Next on Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight are comedian Merrick Watts, human rights activist Samah Hadid, Irish comedian and actor Ardal O’Hanlon, plus a special chat with The Rats of Tobruk. New-age country duo The Secret Sisters perform a Gordon St Classic, while Gurrumul and Blue King Brown collaborate to close the show.

Radio host Merrick Watts is best known as one half of Australia’s famous comedy duo Merrick & Rosso. After a successful radio and television career together, Merrick has branched out solo in recent years to demonstrate his acting skills in such shows as Underbelly, The Hollowmen and Thank God You’re Here.

Samah Hadid is a human rights advocate, author, and was Australia’s United Nations Youth Representative for 2010. Her work involves profiling the voices of indigenous and minority youth, and promoting the valuable role young people make to Australia. Her achievements were recognised as NSW finalist for the 2011 Young Australian of the Year award.

Ardal O’Hanlon is an Irish comedian and actor, best known for his roles in television sitcoms as Father Dougal McGuire in cult series Father Ted, and George Sunday in My Hero. He is a multi award-winning comedian, and one of the most acclaimed stand-up comedians to emerge from the comedy scene in recent years.

In 1941, a small force of Australian soldiers was called upon to help defend a port town called Tobruk on the coast of Libya. When German forces surrounded Tobruk, subjecting it to ground assaults, shelling and air raids, Australian soldiers took shelter underground. The Nazis labelled the Diggers as ‘rats’, but the Australian soldiers embraced the term as badge of honour. To mark ANZAC day, Adam chats with a group of the Rats of Tobruk.

Blind from birth, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is a powerhouse of musical creativity. A former member of Yothu Yindi, now with Saltwater Band, Gurrumul’s solo excursions highlight his amazing talent as a singer, songwriter and musician.

Blue King Brown is one of Australia’s premier urban roots bands, with hard hitting lyrics and groove. Lead by the multi-talented Natalie Pa’apa’a, the group has been rocking crowds from Tokyo to Texas and everywhere in between.

The Secret Sisters are a new-age traditional Country music duo, consisting of vocalists Laura and Lydia Rogers. Their 1950′s-inspired musical style has been described as “a guileless, rapturous mixture of rootsified pop”.

Screens Wednesday April 20 at 8.30pm on ABC1, and repeated Saturday April 23 at 7.30pm on ABC2.

ABC has picked up three new reality series that focus on some of the toughest jobs in the world.

The network is one of several international broadcasters to acquire Licence to Drill, a German series that centres on Artic oil exploration.

Repo-men series Repossessed has also been picked up alongside prison series Hard Times.

Source: c21media.net  

$2 million worth of documentaries has been announced by Screen Australia.

“I’m thrilled to announce such a diverse slate of quality domestic and international documentaries,” said Screen Australia Chief Executive Ruth Harley.

“Among the domestic projects, the critically acclaimed Anatomy series will continue to deliver visually inventive arts documentaries, while Running to America promises a feel-good story from the Top End. The seven international projects will further extend our uniquely Australian stories and voices on the world stage,” she said.

Details of the documentaries courtesy of Screen Australia:

Domestic

ANATOMY SERIES 3

Matchbox Pictures

After the success of the first and second series of Anatomy, Matchbox Pictures are currently developing a third series, which, following the form of the previous series, will consist of three documentaries that explore art, sex and the body.  The three films – Hair, Nerve and Tissue – will all touch upon a wide range of human experience and emotion well beyond the boundaries of traditional arts documentaries.  They will be unique with each story being realised in distinctive director driven visions.

RUNNING TO AMERICA – post production

Goodoil

This observational documentary follows four young Indigenous men from Outback Australia as they take on an opportunity to be the first Indigenous Australians to run in the worlds most famous race, the New York Marathon.

International

AUSSIEWOOD (working title)

Matchbox Pictures

Every year another Aussie actor makes it big on American screens. Who will be the next of our homegrown actors to become a Hollywood star?

DANCING DOWNUNDER

Wild Fury

This series is a journey through the colourful and competitive world of Irish dancing Down Under. It is the untold story of passion, music and rich Irish culture thriving in mainstream Australia. From the harsh outback to glitzy inner city dance schools, we follow the highs and lows of an amazing bunch of Aussie kids as they prepare to compete in the Australian ‘Nationals’ for a chance to represent their country in the World Irish dancing championships in Dublin.

DEVIL ISLAND

360 Degree Films

In a real life ‘Madagascar,’ 50 mollycoddled Tasmanian Devils are hauled from the 5-star luxury of Australian zoos and released into the wilds of a remote island to fend for themselves and, with a little luck, to save their species from extinction.

KOALAS: THE SECRET SOCIETY EXPOSED

Mindful Media & Wild Fury

A year in the personal lives of eight koalas, featuring previously unknown science, some surprising and fascinating natural behavior, and a dedicated scientist who wants to decipher the ‘koala code’.

JACK THE RIPPER: PRIME SUSPECT

Prospero Productions

The story of Jack The Ripper is one of the most gruesome and infamous crimes in history. A horrific killing spree, which exposed the darkest recesses of Victorian London, leaving a city gripped in terror. Today more than 120 years later, modern science may just hold the key to cracking the case.  There has been a major new development in the Ripper story.  In a laboratory on the other side of the world, lies what is believed to be the skull of Fredrick Bailey Deeming, infamous as Australia’s first serial killer. At the time of his execution in 1892, Deeming was a suspect in the Jack the Ripper case.  In a recent experiment in an Australian laboratory, DNA was extracted from the skull.  Now if DNA can be discovered that can be linked to the crimes, Deeming could finally be proved to be the world’s most notorious killer or once and for all eliminated from the enquiries. The hunt is now on.

SHARK CITY

Markland Communications

The idyllic Australian resort city just south of Brisbane known as The Gold Coast has the usual blend of urban challenges faced by any fast-growing metropolis. But the town council has an issue that few other cities have to contend with – sharks in the suburbs. The region is seeing an alarming rise in Bull Shark incidents in canals, rivers and the popular beaches. But can anything be done to protect local residents? And perhaps more importantly, can anything be done to protect this species of shark from wholesale slaughter in the face of increasing demands for public safety?  Local scientist Jonathan Werry believes the answer to both questions begins with a better understanding of the shark itself – and especially its attraction to these urban canals.  

WILD AUSTRALIA 

Wild Fury with Moers Media and NDR Naturfilm

Sumptuously shot in full HD over multiple episodes Wild Australia will showcase some of our most iconic and significant national parks and what makes each ecologically unique. Featuring ‘blue chip’ animal behaviour footage, the series will take Australians beyond National Parks as tourist attractions and into the heart of each of these living icons, revealing their history, character, biological significance, and what shapes and potentially threatens them in the current state of our planet. These are the jewels in the crown in our national heritage, islands of wilderness in a sea of environmental change, reminding us of our natural legacy past and future.

Sources: Screen Australia, TV Tonight

Wilfred pilot gets thumbs up

The new American version of Australian series Wilfred reportedly possesses the “funniest pilot since Modern Family” according to a writer for Entertainment Weekly. The comedy series, which features Elijah Wood, is expected to launch sometime in June in the US.

More criticism for Glee

Novelist Bret Easton Ellis has become the latest critic of TV series Glee, likening the show to “a puddle of HIV.” Ellis tweeted: “I like the idea of Glee but why is it that every time I watch an episode I feel like I’ve stepped into a puddle of HIV?”

Former Idol winner to perform

Former Amercan Idol winner David Cook will return to the Idol stage next week with his new track from his second album. The season seven winner will perform on the results show.

Nickelodeon renews iCarly

Nickelodeon has renewed teen series iCarly for a fifth season. The half-hour sitcom will begin production on the next run in 2012.

Melbourne ONLY.

Seven Melbourne is proud to telecast the 2011 ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL live from Etihad Stadium, with all funds raised going towards medical equipment for the hospital and research.
 
Founded in 1931, THE ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL is a Victorian icon – up there with the W-Class tram, MCG and the footy!
 
This iconic fundraising activity is exceptional as it brings together people from all parts of the community with the common goal of raising money for Victoria’s sick kids.
 
Throughout the day and night a host of Seven personalities will be joining the telecast including Good Friday Appeal ambassador JENNIFER KEYTE, PETER MITCHELL, REBECCA MADDERN, GRANT DENYER, SONIA KRUGER, LARRY EMDUR, HELEN RICHEY, RHYS UHLICH and Dr HARRY COOPER.    
The telecast will get underway at 9.30am with SANDY ROBERTS in the hosting seat. During the morning Sandy will cross to a plethora of fundraising events throughout Victoria, including The Werribee Mansion egg hunt and the Henley Homes/Villawood house auction.
 
Home and Away stars ESTHER ANDERSON, RHIANNON FISH, LUKE MITCHELL, REBECCA BREEDS, JAY LAGA’AIA, CHARLES COTTIER, DAVID JONES ROBERTS Packed To The Rafters favourites GEORGE HOUVARDAS, HUGH SHERIDAN and RYAN CORR and VIRGINIA GAY and BLAIR MCDONOUGH from the hit new drama Winners and Losers, will be popping in to the take calls in the phone room and joining in on the telecast panel fun.  
 
Veteran Good Friday Appeal supporter and Royal Children’s Hospital Ambassador DAN WEBB will be coming in for a chat and TONY PORTER will be reporting from inside the hospital, providing an insight in to the positive impact the appeal has.
 
The telecast will stop briefly at 6.00pm for Seven News, Today Tonight and Home & Away.
 
At 7.30pm, Australia’s Got Talent host GRANT DENYER will introduce the action packed night of entertainment.

The evening telecast will feature live performances from TODD MCKENNEY, JESSICA MAUBOY, JUSTICE CREW, MARK SEYMOUR, DARYL BRAITHWAITE, and STEPHEN ROSSITTO.  
 
BRUCE McAVANEY will lead an AFL football panel that includes; LEIGH MATTHEWS, MATTHEW RICHARDSON, TOM HARLEY and DENNIS COMETTI.

Special messages of support from international stars will also be received during the night. Over 600 volunteers manage the phone lines in the tally room and hundreds of other volunteers are involved in a variety of ways throughout the day.
 
The Good Friday Appeal has contributed more than $211 million to The Royal Children’s Hospital since its inception.  Victorians donated a remarkable record of $14,462,000 in 2010 and the Good Friday Appeal hopes to top this again in 2011. The brand new children’s hospital, being built next door to the current hospital, will open in November this year.
 
So tune in, donate and be apart of the gift that is the Good Friday Appeal.

The fifth and final series of Sea Patrol will premiere on Nine at 8.30pm Tuesday April 26. The series is called Damage Control, and follows the premiere of new series AFP at 8pm.

The move to premiere to new series during Easter non-ratings could be an attempt to get a head start on Seven and Ten, both of which are airing alternative or repeat programming on that night. Winners & Losers is not on Seven that Tuesday – it has a week off.

It also comes with yet another amendment which sees new CSI: NY drop off the schedule again having only been scheduled for 9.30 Tuesday for a few hours today. Been a huge day for programming changes.

Tuesday April 26 now looks like this:

8.00 AFP
8.30 Sea Patrol: Damage Control
9.30 Top Gear repeat S14E1
10.50 Kitchen Nightmares USA

AFP – Tuesdays from April 26, 8.00pm

For the first time ever, the Australian public is given exclusive behind the scenes access with the men and women of Australia’s national and international policing agency, the Australian Federal Police. Produced over two years and filmed in more than eight countries, find out how the AFP protect us and see the challenges they face in keeping Australia safe.

Sea Patrol: Damage Control – Tuesdays from April 26, 8.30pm

A suicide bomb attack in a nightclub has a shocking impact on the crew of HMAS Hammersley. Dutchy goes undercover with the SAS to capture a group of deadly extremists before they can attack Australian targets. 2Dads risks his life to save Hammersley from a bomb attack. Kate’s world is rocked when her former lover, SAS officer Jim Roth, returns to Hammersley. Mike risks his career by refusing to co-operate with a high ranking ASIO spy. Stars: Lisa McCune, Ian Stenlake, Conrad Coleby, Ditch Davey, Tammy McIntosh, John Batchelor.