Hellcats

UPDATED: Gossip Girl S3 premieres on GO Sept 13, 10.30pm. The final of the Bachelorette is at 7.30pm Tuesday Sept 14, and again 1pm Thur Sept 16, followed by After the Rose at 2pm.

Original post, written before confirmation of air dates, and now out of date, follows.

GO – Australia’s leading channel for programming changes and random inconsistencies – have bumped back the season 3 premiere of Gossip Girl again.

Originally set to air Monday August 30, then put back to the following Monday September 6, Gossip Girl has now been pushed out altogether, with no word as to when it will now air.

September 13 is also the date that the second season of The Vampire Diaries premieres on GO, as well as possibly Hellcats. Having new Gossip Girl that night – as mentioned here on Throng before – would actually make new sense, giving GO a completely new look Monday night which should do pretty well for them. Nothing has been confirmed for that date yet.

Also suffering the same treatment, is the finale of The Bachelorette. Originally set to air Tuesday August 31, at 7.30pm, it was moved to the following Tuesday, now will not be seen until Tuesday September 14.

On Monday September 6, GO will play two movies (just like they are on August 30) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at 7.30 and Underworld at 9.30. On Tuesday September 7, the movies are The Wedding Singer at 7.30, followed by Man About the House at 9.30pm.

The sudden move to put movies doubles on Monday and Tuesday nights could be an attempt by the Nine/GO network to gain some extra ratings against Seven’s The X Factor launching August 30.

Another possibility is that shows are now starting to be held back for Nine’s third channel. With Seven announcing 7mate last week, and Ten announcing Eleven today, Nine are the only network not to confirm their plans for their third channel, even though the speculation is out there that they will launch it first – before 7mate, which launches on September 25.

Both Gossip Girl and the Bachelorette are female skewing shows. If the rumour is true that Nine will launch a channel targeted more towards a female audience, then it makes some sens that Gossip Girl is held off until then. As for the Bachelorette – they should just show it on GO as it is the final episode of the series.

With September 25 just under a month away, Nine should announce their new channel any day now – if they truly plan to get it on air before 7mate is on air.

GO are at it again.

Just as you thought that Gossip Girl Season 3 was about to premiere on GO on Monday August 30, GO push back the date to Monday September 6.

Instead, at 7.30pm will be the movie Hair Spray, followed by Almost Famous at 9.30. Wonder if the fact that The X Factor launching on Seven that night has anything to do with the programming changes.

Now – here’s a thought – why not just save Gossip Girl season 3 premiere for the same Monday night that Vampire Diaries returns and Hellcats premieres – both most likely to be September 13 – and make a night of it?

We have already seen GO rejuvenate Wednesday nights with new Wipeout, Human Target and Spartacus – which saw the channel achieve a share of 4.4% for the night – way ahead of all other digital channels, and even ahead of SBS ONE – so a makeover of Monday night with 3 hours of new shows should deliver similar results.

Gossip Girl – Season 3 – Mondays 10.30pm from September 6. Unless changed again…

Programming info:TV Tonight

Here’s how the Nine network have talked up the success of GO’s first year. Hot off the press.

GO! CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY AS AUSTRALIA’S NO 1 MULTI-CHANNEL

The fresh-faced GO! channel blows out its first birthday candle today and celebrates 52 weeks on top in the multi-channel market.

Over the past 12 months GO! has topped its key demographic of viewers aged 16-39 as well as the 18-49s, 25-54s and Total People (Note - here they are talking about in terms of multi channels – not overall).

On the eve of its first birthday GO! recorded its highest ever ratings across the 5 City Metro market in the prime 16-39 demographic with a 12.9 per cent share and secured an 11.0 per cent share of the 18-49s.

The Big Bang Theory, the GO! channel’s nerdalicious comedy, holds the No 1 position across all free to air multi-channels in the 16-39 and Total People categories.

GO! also has more top-rating programs than any other digital channel, claiming the top 15 in its key 16-39 demographic.

Les Sampson, Director of Acquisitions and HD Channel, said: “GO! has had an amazing first 12 months on air and has well and truly grabbed the attention of the 14-to-39 demographic.

“One year on, the success of GO!’s complementary programming strategy is set to continue, offering viewers more first-run and unique content in prime time than any other multi-channel.”

As GO! turns two, viewers can look forward to more great programs premiering, with outstanding dramas and comedies such as Hellcats, Nikita, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Human Target and the return of cult favourites such as The Vampire Diaries, Fringe and Community.

Happy first birthday GO!