Nightline

The Nine Network has axed its long-running late evening newscast, Nightline, citing concerns over a fluid schedule and a lack of viewers.

Presenter and network veteran, Kellie Connolly, has been offered a redundancy package as a result.

A Nine spokeswoman, Victoria Buchan, revealed the bulletin “hasn’t really worked” since the Nine Late News returned in May last year and the Nightline brand was reinstated in November.

Much fanfare surrounded the revival of the program in 2009, after the decision which was made by then newly appointed director of news and current affairs, Mark Calvert, and chief executive, David Gyngell.

The service has been on hiatus recently, due to the network’s sporting commitment to Wimbledon. However, Nine confirmed this morning that the service would not return after the tournament’s competition.

“It has moved around the schedule. It hasn’t found its place,” Buchan said.

In its place, the network will return shorter news updates throughout the evening, similar to what aired between July 2008 and May 2009. Nine confirmed extended coverage would be provided during the federal election.

The updates will be presented “by whoever is on the roster. It will be a reporter, who is working that night”.

Connolly has been with Nine for thirteen years and prior to her appointment to front Nightline, she presented the Today show, Nine News‘ morning and afternoon editions, as well as filling in on Sydney’s evening news service.

“Thanks for all your wonderful words of support. Yes — sad to be leaving my ‘home’ of 13 years, but tremendously excited about the future,” she confirmed on her Twitter feed this afternoon.

Australian News Channel‘s chief executive, Angelos Frangopoulos, has reportedly said he would be interested in signing Connolly to the subscription news channel, Sky News.

“We’re investing in news and current affairs, I thought Nine said they were, too. What happened to that commitment?” he said.

Source: TSR

Quick Points 3 – Thursday November 26 2009.

The Apprentice Australia – For those who did not know (or care) the winner of the first series of the Apprentice Australia was Morello. The series has rated well considering it was on at 9.30pm and is likely to return as part of Nine’s schedule in 2010.

Mildura Analogue Switch Off – Mildura will become the first area in Australia to go digital only in 2010 with the analogue free to air TV signals in the area being switched of on June 30, 2010. The analogue switch of will follow at varying times throughout the rest of Australia, with the last of the analogue TV signals to be switched of December 31, 2013.

Burn Notice – The USA network has renewed Burn Notice for a 4^th season of 16 episodes. Currently Ten are showing season 3 (although it will be off over summer) while Arena on cable are showing season 1 on Sundays at 8.30pm. Lie to Me – also seen on Ten has also been picked for a complete second season .

Nightline – Nine’s late night news usually seen around 11.30pm weeknights will return to being called Nightline again soon. Nine dumped the name 16 months ago and even went without late night news for a while as well.

A Current Affair – Local editions of ACA in Adelaide and Perth are to be replaced with the same ACA that the east coast sees. Until now, Perth and Adelaide have had their own state based editions of the public affairs show while the eastern states share the same edition. The move is described as a business decision which will allow better coverage for local news while providing a better ratings current affairs service.

Sources: Media Spy, TV Tonight.

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.

“There is no joy or feeling of professional achievement to end programs with such illustrious histories”, he said.

“During its 27 years on-air Sunday has been at the forefront of ground-breaking and award-winning television; much envied for its journalistic bravery and professional diligence.

“Its demise is very disappointing for all of us. But today’s realities impose much tougher cost and performance benchmarks across the media industry than those of the past, and sadly there is not sufficient economic appeal for a loss-leader like Sunday, as good as it has been for Nine and television journalism”, he said.

Mr Westacott said the new one-hour news program, Sunday Morning News, would be a high-quality, up-to-the-minute bulletin featuring the latest local and international stories, weekend sports results and and finance, together with Laurie Oakes’ weekly landmark political interviews.

Nine Network Chief Executive, Mr David Gyngell, said the Network was working to absorb the great majority of Sunday staff into senior roles in other news and current affairs programs. Likewise, the small Nightline unit would be appointed to key tasks in the new Sunday morning news service and other relevant positions.

“I am genuinely saddened by the decision we have had to make, a decision not taken lightly”, he said.

“This is all about concentrating and maximising our news resources to achieve the best possible results. I salute the Sunday program and its first-rate people, past and present, for the job they’ve done and the very significant mark they have made. And I look forward to many of them bringing that quality, passion and skill to other news programming.”