MasterChef

Network Ten Announces Expanded Line-up of Seriously Good TV For 2012

Network Ten announces its strongest program line-up in recent years, with a big new
entertainment format, an exciting slate of Australian drama, seven new
international series and plans to strengthen its dominance in daytime.

Network Ten chief programming officer, David Mott said: “2012 is shaping up as one
of our most entertaining years ever. We are firmly focused on dominating in 18-49.”
New to TEN in 2011, come two new US dramas:

TERRA NOVA - In this highly anticipated series, filmed in the rainforests of Queensland, Steven Spielberg’s ambitious drama is an epic adventure that’s set to turn the sci-fi genre on its head. Think Jurassic Park meets Lost!

HOMELAND – a gritty psychological drama starring Claire Danes and Mandy
Patinkin. The series centres on the homecoming of a US Marine and the CIA agent
who suspects him of plotting a terrorist attack on US soil.

NEW TO TEN IN 2012

BREAKFAST – TEN is shaking up early mornings with BREAKFAST. Featuring a
comination of news and entertainment, BREAKFAST will be the perfect start to the
day. Speaking at Wednesday night’s launch event, the first of BREAKFAST’s co-hosts
Andrew Rochford said: “Breakfast radio has taught me a great deal about how
people want to start their day. They want the facts, but they want them in a light
and entertaining way.”

YOUNG TALENT TIME – the show that launched the careers of Dannii Minogue, Tina
Arena and Debbie Byrne returns home to TEN. Hosted by ex Australian Idol, Rob Mills and coproduced
by the show’s original creator, Mr Johnny Young, YOUNG TALENT TIME
2012 will be a contemporary take on the original format – just right for the GLEE
generation.

NEW AUSTRALIAN DRAMA IN 2012
BIKIE WARS – BROTHERS IN ARMS – From Screentime, the makers of Underbelly, and
based on the best-selling book by Sandra Harvey, new series BIKIE WARS – BROTHERS
IN ARMS is a compelling story of the Comancheros and the Bandidos – and their
murderous showdown at Milperra.

UNDERGROUND – THE JULIAN ASSANGE STORY – set in Melbourne in the 1990s, this
real-life drama follows the activities of the accused underground hacker as he
cracks the codes to the CIA’s computer systems. It’s the true story of Julian Assange.

PUBERTY BLUES – the TV adaption of Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey’s groundbreaking
coming-of-age story, this series is a rites of passage tale about two
teenage girls. It’s a frank and fearless look at teens in the 1970s.

REEF DOCTORS – Lisa McCune joins TEN as co-producer and star of a fast-paced
action-adventure series called REEF DOCTORS. Due to start production later this
year, the series will be filmed in and around the stunning Great Barrier Reef and the
Daintree Rainforest of Northern Queensland.

NEW INTERNATIONAL CONTENT IN 2012

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW – in 2012, TEN is giving viewers a whole new reason to
stay in on Saturday nights with the show that’s a must for A-list celebrities. This is one of the funniest programs on British television – it’s fast, it’s fun and it’s wickedly cheeky.

TEN’s long running partnerships with Twentieth Century Fox and CBS will continue to
deliver in 2012 with:

NEW GIRL – a witty new half-hour comedy starring Zooey Deschanel as an adorable
20-something trying to get over a bad break-up. In 20′s REALLY!

THE FINDER – from the creator of Bones, comes a new one-hour spin-off procedural,
starring Geoff Stults as the man who can find anything and anyone.

THE 2-2– a fast-paced series produced by Academy Award winner, Robert De Niro
and featuring an ensemble cast that includes Leelee Sobieski, THE 2-2 revolves
around six rookie cops learning to balance their personal lives with the demands of
the job.

THE GIFTED MAN – New from CBS, THE GIFTED MAN stars Patrick Wilson as an ultra
competitive surgeon whose life is changed when his ex-wife dies.

HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN – inspired by the book of the same name, this is a
comedy about unlikely friendships. Starring Reece Darby (Flight of the Conchords)
and Kevin Dillon (Entourage), HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN adds another comedy to
TEN’s line-up.

RETURNING IN 2012

In addition to the all new YOUNG TALENT TIME, all TEN’s marquee franchises are set
to return in 2012.

Get ready for some romance with THE BIGGEST LOSER – SINGLES. Settle in for
another delicious season of MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA. And then get ready for a
whole new RENOVATORS experience.

Speaking about the return of THE RENOVATORS, Mr Mott said: “So far the format has
underperformed. But, it’s a brand we believe in so we are working directly with
Shine to renovate THE RENOVATORS for 2011 and beyond.”

Also back for another year, hit US comedy MODERN FAMILY, and returning for
season three, the little music show that could, GLEE. Fans can look forward to the
next installment of MERLIN. There’s also more of the LAW & ORDER franchise, another
season of THE GOOD WIFE, and plenty more NCIS and NCIS: LOS ANGELES.
TEN’s line-up of returning US hits is underpinned by a raft of locally produced light
entertainment formats including more BONDI RESCUE and another season of BONDI
VET.

In daytime, there will be more hilarity with the girls from THE CIRCLE, as well as all
your favourite day-time hits. George and the 6.30 team will be back in 2012
followed by another ripper year of Dave Hughes, Charlie Pickering and Carrie
Bickmore as they bring you their take on the stories of the day in THE 7PM PROJECT.
Also returning in 2012, fans of the Proudman family can look forward to the next
installment of OFFSPRING.

ONE IN 2012

With ONE now firmly established as a premium entertainment channel for 25-54s,
with a distinct appeal for men, 2012 will be another big year for the channel.

Leading the charge is the next season of US drama SONS OF ANARCHY and more of
the British travel series AN IDIOT ABROAD… THE BUCKET LIST. Also making ONE the
destination for entertainment is PRISON BREAK, and every episodes of the show that
changed it all – 24.

All this mixed with groundbreaking adventure series, COPS, TWISTER SISTERS and FEAR
FACTOR and you have a compelling line-up for adrenaline junkies. And don’t forget
all the action of the MOTOGP and every round of the FORMULA ONE live and
exclusive to ONE.

ELEVEN IN 2012

The star performer of Australia’s digital multi-channels this year, ELEVEN has
cemented its place as the cheeky and irreverent destination for the youth market.

In 2012, ELEVEN will again be the home to US series WILFRED, the Australian dog
done good, supernatural drama BEING HUMAN and US talent competition THE GLEE
PROJECT. There’ll be more NEIGHBOURS, THE SIMPSONS, FUTURAMA, DEXTER and
SUPERNATURAL as well as plenty more from the CBS library with EVERYBODY LOVES
RAYMOND, FRASIER, HAPPY DAYS and SEX AND THE CITY.

STILL TO COME ON TEN IN 2011

Still to come in 2011, JUNIOR MASTERCHEF is back for a second season, showcasing
the talents of Australia’s best young amateur cooks. Guided by Gary Mehigan,
George Calombaris, Matt Moran and Anna Gare, these tiny cooks face mighty
challenges with youthful enthusiasm, bringing the joy back to cooking.
The biggest sports showdown of the year, the AFL GRAND FINAL will air on TEN on
October 1.

And from the makers of GOOD NEWS WEEK, there’s the all-new GOOD NEWS WORLD,
as well as more CAN OF WORMS, new TALKIN’ ‘BOUT YOUR GENERATION, the seires
of RUSH and RECRUITS: PARAMEDICS.

Rounding out the year, is a bold and powerful new series, CLASS OF 2011. It follows
a group of students as they attempt to get their academic careers back on track.
It’s not about a quick fix, nor is it about improving exam results. It’s about changing
lives and setting kids on the right course for life. Uplifting, touching and optimistic,
CLASS OF 2011 will leave you energised about what’s possible when the education
system gets it right.

DIGITAL MEDIA

In 2012, Network Ten will continue to expand its suite of digital media assets,
ensuring audiences can watch all our shows, any time, and place with a range of
devices.

With dedicated websites, catch-up TV, as well as iPhone and iPad sites across each
of our channels, TEN will launch Android, internet-connected TV and gaming
platform services over the next twelve months, giving Network Ten the deepest
connectivity of any commercial network.

And with 3 million unique visitors to our sites each month, more than 60 million video
views so far this year and dwell times in excess of 20 minutes, Network Ten also
boasts some of the highest online engagement levels of any commercial network.

Network Ten is among the leading networks for catch-up TV, with the rights to
stream over 60 programs. In 2012 we will continue to expand our catch-up TV
service, watchtv, giving fans even more opportunity to watch episodes they’ve
missed or re-watch their favourite TV moments.

And just as we did this year for the MotoGP and Formula One, in 2012, BREAKFAST
and YOUNG TALENT TIME will be streamed live online and via smart phone
applications.

It is clear that The Renovators is not doing as well as it should, but what should Ten do?

In 2009, MasterChef’s first season started with figures below a million in overall viewers. Many dubbed the show MasterFlop at the time. The difference between now and then, is that now there are more than double the number of free to air channels resulting in a more fragmented audience.

There is no doubt that Ten should have held off on the launch of the series until Masterchef concluded but there is nothing to say the show would have been doing any better if they did.

Ten are now faced with the problem of an under-performing program that dominates early prime time six days a week. Low figures for The Renovators will continue to drag down the overall performance of the network.

Ten have to be praised for their persistence with new and emerging shows. If knee-jerk ratings reactionary re-programming was applied to Masterchef, it would not have made it to where it is today. Ten persisted with The 7PM Project and, as a result, the show now often wins its time slot in that shows’ target demographics.

Perhaps The Renovators will pick up once The Block concludes on Nine next weekend but the damage could well be done. Ten over promoting the show doesn’t help either – over promotion results in viewers having enough of a show before they bother watching it and giving it a go. Having now been on air for three weeks, anyone who was going to give it a go, would have by now.

Here are a few options that might be on Ten’s cards at the moment.

1. Do nothing. Leave the show as is, over 6 nights a week. Let the numbers build. Afterall, that worked for Masterchef. In doing so, though, Ten risk losing significantly in ratings and therefore advertising revenue. Already there are suggestions in the media that Ten are offering free advertising to principle sponsors of The Renovators to make up for lower than expected ratings.

2. Condense to four nights a week. Six is overkill for most. This strategy seems to have worked for the Biggest Loser this year – numbers were up on the previous year. Air the show on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday nights. Edit down to four nights instead of six, and drop the How To episodes altogether – engrossing How To’s as short segments of tips throughout the rest of the week.

In reducing to four nights, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation could return to the timeslot it has performed best in – 7.30pm Tuesday nights, and Junior Masterchef could air 7.30pm Wednesdays. Or 7.30 Wednesdays could be new Modern Family in the meantime.

By not having the show on every night, it opens opportunities for Ten on the nights it does not air.

3. Drop the encores. OK for first week, second as well – it gives viewers more chance to try out a new show, but why keep them going? The encores are attracting 250,000 to 300,000 viewers – while not bad day time figures they represent almost half what the show reaches in the evenings. Yes, this adds to the overall viewership of each episode, but does so to the detriment of the evening. As day time ratings do not count towards the ratings war, those extra viewers are not contributing to the performance of the network in prime time where it is most important. Removing the encores may bring some of them back into prime time.

4. Other options include moving the show to a later timeslot or condensing into a single two or three hour instalments on one night per week. Either of these options would be the kiss of death for the future of the show but will have the effect of keeping a low ratings show on the one night. Question is, what content do Ten have to fill all those empty timeslots with? According to David Mott, Ten’s chief programmer, there is no “plan B” as they expected the show to perform a lot better than it is now.

As we know, figures are way down on those expected. Ten will most likely stick it out as is, at least for the next few weeks to see what happens to the figures once The Block is no longer on Nine. If numbers keep falling, they will have to act and reschedule the show. That will leave a lot of high profile sponsors short changed and a possible advertising revenue hole for Ten as they dish out free spots to make up for the shortfall in viewers.

Next time: What else Ten can do to improve ratings?

So just what is wrong with The Renovators? Why is Ten’s latest big budget reality competition series not capturing the audience the network would have hoped for?

In the first week the show aired without Masterchef as a lead in, numbers have dived. Down from a series high of nearly 1.3 million last Sunday, the night of Masterchef’s finale for the year, to a scary 661,000 on Thursday night and a low on Friday’s How To episode – The Renovators’ version of Masterchef’s MasterClass – of just 405,000.

The fact Ten premiered The Renovators during Masterchef’s final two weeks did more harm than good overloading viewers with more reality than they can digest. With The Block on Nine doing so well, another renovation based program – described by Ten as “The Block on steroids” in promos prior to launch – simply became too much.

Then, there is the point, made by many who have given the show a chance, that The Renovators have contestants and judges that people just don’t connect with. Challenges are difficult, unrealistic and generally not able to be related to by the average viewer.

Unlike Masterchef where most people can relate to the idea of cooking and preparing recipes, renovations do not have the same broad appeal. The Block on Nine succeeds because the renovation side of the show does not dominate the series. We see the couples live and breathe their home make overs and all the drama that goes with it.

The Renovators just seems to be challenge after challenge with little chance to connect with those involved in the show. The show, like has been the case with Masterchef’s third season, appears to be going far too much for the WOW factor, at the expense of keeping the show watchable and appealing to the masses.

The figures say it all. While Ten continue to say they are happy with the demographics and will give the show a chance to build, overall prime time ratings below 700,000 on weeknights, and close to 400,000 on a Friday night are not sustainable, and bring down the network as whole.

Ten have had one of their worst weeks of the year in ratings shares – in a week where they should have been bolstered by the Masterchef Finale last Sunday. The situation is not helped by an extreme last minute programming change which saw Tuesday and Thursday night’s episodes of The Renovators switched with Modern Family from 7.30pm to 8.00pm.

It is clear that The Renovators is not doing as well as it should, but what should Ten do?

To be continued.

Tonight was the second last elimination, before Sunday night’s grand final, that saw Dani eliminated. Here’s how the show went.

We got the recap of last night’s disastrous terrine challenge set by Maggie Beer, which saw all four up for tonight’s elimination. Tonight is “Your Food Autobiography”. It’s too including childhood memories, your formative years and now and the contestants have an open pantry. They will have 3 hours to make a 3 course dish.

Michael goes initially for a spin on fish and chips for entrée – which brings back memories of his Dad who passed in 2004, which they used to have on Friday nights. He goes with duck next – with a slow poached egg and with coleslaw. The final dish is Roast Pork that he cooked to get into the competition.

For Alana’s entrée, she is making a yabby and fennel salad – inspired by her childhood in Mildura. Her main course is to be smoked lamb racks with Middle Eastern flavours and dessert is to be inspired by the dish that got her into the top 24 – the soft hearted choc-pudding.

Kate’s entrée is smoked trout salad with apple and a verjuice jelly inspired by her childhood. Main is a pasta dish of spiced pumpkin tortellini with prawns and a sauce of brown butter and sage. Kate is doing a dessert inspired by her challenge against Chef Darren Purchase – a caramelised white chocolate ice cream sandwich – but MasterCheffy!

Dani’s entrée is inspired by her favourite dish as a child – chicken and sweet corn soup. She will attempt a sweet corn veloute with crab dumplings. Main course will be pork belly in a master stock and Vietnamese scallop salad. Banana fritters are for dessert, that she used to also have in her childhood from suburban Chinese restaurants.

Michaels in trouble with 2 different types of pork and the judges want him to use the baby pork he grabbed. They are also worried Alana has done her dishes before, while Kate’s initial attempt at the jelly has gone rock hard. Dani seems to have bitten of more than she can chew (pun intended). Michael has only got 2 of 3 little pigs for his dish to serve and Dani’s dessert is a travesty.

Alana is up first and her yabby dish looks great – but Matt thinks it’s too busy, but it’s generally liked. The main of lamb is a massive hit and is cooked to perfection. The chocolate pudding is “absolutely perfect” according to Matt Moran and Alana’s looking well and truly safe.

Next we have Michael who’s fish and chips look great, mentions his fathers inspiration. His pig is a success even without the rack, but the duck seems mediocre to the judges. The fish and chips sauce is a disaster and has ruined the dish, even though the rest of it was brilliant. Oh oh!

Kate is up with the smoked trout salad and is well recieved – especially the verjuice jelly. The prawn pasta is a “cracking dish” according to Preston and looks yummy. The sandwich is a knockout and yet another seems safe.

Dani is up with her Asian inspired dishes that are unfinished. The sweet corn veloute was cooked to long and is starchy, the dumpling wrapper is pasty too. The pork is cooked well and is liked while the dessert of fritters is dissapointing with the lacklustre icecream served in a bucket.

It’s Michael and Dani up for elimination after Alana and Kate are declared safe. Dani is out – we look back at her journey and we see that Dani has launched her own website www.danivenn.com.au

In our Masterchef poll on who will win season 3 – Dani was least favourite on 15%. Favourit to win are Michael and Kate on 30% with Alana on a close 24%. The final 3 poll is up now so have a vote!

Talent Vs. MasterChef Night

Australia’s Got Talent, Seven, 7.30pm
Australia has voted and now it’s time to join judges Dannii Minogue, Kyle Sandilands and Brian McFadden to find out who will be crowned the winner. This show includes guest performances, a special group performance featuring the grand finalists and the big decision as to who will be leaving $250,000 richer.

MasterChef Australia, Ten, 7.30pm
Looking back at their own personal experiences, all four of the contestants are challenged to create a food autobiography of their lives with food tonight. They must create a 3 course meal representing their childhood, formative years and where they are now. One will be sent packing leaving us with the top three.

Wilfred, Eleven, 9.30pm
When Wilfred decides to get rid of Jenna’s boyfriend, he convinces Ryan to help him.

Dating In The Dark USA, Fox 8, 7.35pm
In the series final, a set of twins moves into the house and the six singles bring an ice cream sundae bar into the darkroom.

The Motorcycle Diaries, SBS TWO, 9.30pm
Based on the journals of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara as he journeys, as a young man, by motorcycle through South America with his best friend.

The Renovators definitely lives up to being the Block on Steroids – if this 48 hour challenge was done the way Nine do the Block, it would have gone all week, filled with countless rehash scenes and interupted with pointless challenges and appearences from people who have nothing to do with the current show…

It was fast paced, the hour went so quickly, and the judges decision was also quick. Unlike Top Design – also on Nine – where it is almost painful watching the end decisions as who wins and who loses for the episode.

Unlike the Block, the brand placement does not dominate and the Renovators simply leaves the Block for dead.

One issue with the first episode and the 48 hour challenge was that day 1 finished with 40 hours to go, while day 3 started with 6 hours to go. That means day 2 covered 34 hours? Only 24 hours in a day – go figure!!!

The music was done by the same who do Masterchef – and definitely had a Masterchef feel to it.

Not sure though that having it overlap for five nights a week with the final two weeks of Masterchef will help or hinder the ultimate success of the show. I am hoping that they will save the start of the real competition – when the final teams are decided that renovate each of the six proerties – will be start after Masterchef finishes in two weeks time.

Ten may have another hit on their hands, if the momentum keeps up and it does not start dragging out the way Nine have done with the Block.

Seeing The Renovators is produced by Shine Australia, success should almost be guaranteed.

Will be very interesting to see the shift in ratings over the next few weeks with all these shows.

Will the Block drop with the Renovators now on? As for Top Design – a 30+% drop in ratings from episode one to two – will the figures settle or slide to the point of oblivion? Will reality fatigue set in?

Time will tell.

Look forward to watching more of the Renovators – for me – the best of the renovation based shows to date.

Your thoughts???

If you missed the first episode, Ten are replaying it Monday (July 25) at around 3.30pm. Should also be online Monday some time as well.

Off The Map, Seven, 10.40pm
An idealistic young Dr and two colleagues arrive in the city of stars, a tiny town in the South American jungle which has one understaffed, under-stocked medical clinic. While all of these young doctors are running away from personal demons, they aren’t the only ones with emotional baggage.

Junior Doctors:Your Life In Their Hands, ABC, 9.30pm
Packed with real-life medical and personal dramas and cliffhanger moments, this fly-on-the-wall series puts the lives of six newly qualified hospital doctors under the microscope.

Crownies, ABC, 8.30pm
In this addictive series, tonight sees Ben struggles to cope with the unexpected death of his grandfather, while Richard is intent on getting the assailant charged with murder, even though the evidence doesn’t seem to add up.

Law and Order: Los Angeles, Seven, 8.40pm
When two innocent children are killed in meth lab explosion, detectives Winters and Jaruszalski track down the dealer’s family. But the investigation takes a sharp turn when they discover those involved in the explosion are planning something more destructive. Then, when a group of theives target the homes of young Hollywood stars, the detectives suspect a young Hollywood starlett is the culprit. But a vicious mother/daughter murder causes the mysterious case to take an unexpected turn.

MasterChef, Ten, 7.30pm
Tonight is elimination night again,  Hayden, Michael and Kate must cook a dish of their choice, using new techniques and ideas that they have learnt since being on the show.

Well the readers of Throng were right. In our poll of Who Do You Think will Be The Next MasterChef? there was a clear winner and loser. With only one vote out of the 95 votes – Sun has now been evicted from MasterChef! The voters also decided that Hayden was the clear favourite to take out the title.

Here are the results;

Hayden    42%
Michael     13%
Billy    12%
Alana      9%
Ellie     9%
Dani      7%
Kate      6%
Sun      1%

So with Hayden performing so poorly this week, will the result be reflected in this weeks poll? Michael, Kate and Alana seem to be quiet achievers, Billy is making the most of his comeback, Ellie has immunity, while Dani and Hayden are just scraping through.

Who will you vote for this week?

Crownies, ABC, 8.30pm
This new 22 part – 1hr drama follows five young solicitors as they face the pressures and madness of single life – in a fast paced workplace that highlights the moral dilemmas and big issues facing an apparently civilized society. Stars Todd Lasance.

Breakout Kings, One, 9.30pm
A squad of U.S. marshals team up with ex-cons to work together on tracking down prison escapees.Tonight when convicted murderer August Tillman escapes from prison, Veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie DuChamp and Ray Zancanelli decide to take an unorthodox approach to fugitive apprehension by forming a special task force comprised of the three most elusive fugitives they have ever captured. Convicts Lloyd Lowery, Philomena Rotchcliffer and Shea Daniels agree to assist in the case in exchange for time off their sentences.

Desperate Housewives, Seven, 8.40pm
In tonight’s not-to-miss season finale, the ladies welcome Susan back to Wisteria Lane with a progressive dinner party that leads to a shocking murder! Meanwhile, Renee is devastated when she learns that her ex-husband is getting re -married.

Hex, Sci Fi, 7.30pm
Cassie is a shy college girl who wants to be accepted by others, but is only truly loved by her best friend Thelma. Cassie later discovers that she possesses dangerous powers, and is being drawn into a world thats far beyond her control. And the man that she should fear the most manages to find a way into her heart.

Masterchef, Ten, 7.30pm
Who will be eliminated tonight – Second chancer Billy, Sun or last nights losing team in the “Ultimate Dinner Party” – the orange team ;  Hayden or Dani (again).

In Their Footsteps, Nine, 6.30pm
In tonight’s final we join Steve as he discovers the deeply personal story about life’s lingering scars as he follows in the footsteps of his late father, Private Stanley Johns.

Dancing With the Stars Final, Seven, 6.30pm
In the grand final, the Manu Feildel, Damien Leith and Haley Bracken remaining celebrity contestants battle it out for the coveted mirror ball trophy. Joining the finalists will be the entire series 11 cast.

Compass – Marriage Right vs Rite, ABC,10.10pm
Part two and the final for this series, sees Geraldine Doogue invites six people to dinner to explore arguments for and against same-sex marriage in Australia.

Masterchef, Ten, 7.30pm
The lucky top 8 off to New York. See Billy, Sun, Hayden, Michael, Kate, Dani, Alana and Ellie enjot the food and sights of the city that never sleeps.

Black Eyed Peas: Live from Sydney to Vegas, ABC2, 11.39pm
Live concert footage taken from two spectacular shows in Sydney and Las Vegas on the Monkey Business tour.