The Biggest Loser Familes

Now that Ten have confirmed more of their regular timeslots, and Nine their regular Sunday night schedule after the cricket, we get a better picture of what shows will be competing against what for viewers and ratings. All three commercial main channels will be now be offering almost exclusively new content in prime time, while some of the digitals will only add to the number of first run choices viewers will have in coming weeks.

The following programming summary uses week 9 (Feb 13-19) as an example and illustrates the battle royale between the networks for the viewer’s attention as the 2011 ratings war starts to hot up.

The following is a list of new content on commercial channels only, that has not ever been on a free to air channel in Australia before, listed by the timeslot and channel. New content on ABC or SBS not listed here at this stage.

Some of the digital channels have shows that are new to the channel, but they have aired before on other channels – examples include Law & Order and As Time Goes By on GEM. Some 7mate programming has been seen on Pay TV before, but not free to air. Stargate Universe on ELEVEN is another example.

Busiest time slots for new content is 7.30 Sunday, Monday 8.30, Wednesday 8.30 and Thursday 8.30 & 9.30. 7.30 Sunday has 7 new shows on at once, the others 6.

On top of that, there are further timeslots where there are 5 new shows on at once. 

Shows marked with * have an encore at a later time, either on the same channel or another within the network (example – first on Nine, encored on GO!). Note that The Biggest Loser encores on Ten will not be ongoing, so therefore have not marked with the *.

Imagine how many more of these shows we could chose to watch if the networks would offer more encores and alternative viewing times. Maybe time to design a 5 tuner PVR…

Main prime time hours of 6.30-10.30pm Sunday, 7.30-10.30pm Monday-Friday.

Sundays
6.30pm
Ten – The Biggest Loser Families
Seven – Sunday Night
Nine – Customs / Send in the Dogs Australia
GEM – Antiques Roadshow

7.30pm
Ten – Modern Family / Bondi Rescue
Nine – 60 Minutes
Seven – Border Security / The Force
ELEVEN – New Zealand’s Next Top Model
GO! – The Middle (at 8pm, although this keeps changing times)
7TWO – Bargain Hunt
7mate – Gene Simmons Family Jewels

8.30pm
Ten – Hawaii Five-O
Nine – The Mentalist
Seven – Bones
ELEVEN – Smallville
7TWO – Escape to the Country

9.30pm
Ten – NCIS: LA
Nine – CSI: Miami
Seven – Castle
ELEVEN – Smallville
7TWO – Live the Dream: As seen on screen

Mondays
7.30pm
Ten – Glee
Nine – Two and a Half Men * / $#*! My Dad Says *
Seven – My Kitchen Rules
GEM – The Zoo *

8.30pm
Ten – NCIS
Nine – Underbelly Files
Seven – Bones
ELEVEN – Supernatural
7mate – Family Guy / American Dad
7TWO – Jonathon Creek

9.30pm
Ten – Good News Week
Nine – Underbelly Files
Seven – Brothers and Sisters
ELEVEN – Dexter
GO! – The Vampire Diaries *

Tuesday
7.30pm
Ten – Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation
Nine – The Big Bang Theory * / Top Gear
Seven – My Kitchen Rules

8.30pm
Ten – NCIS
Nine – Top Gear
Seven – Packed to the Rafters
ELEVEN – The Office
GEM – Hoarders *

9.30pm
Ten – Lie to me
Nine – Ben Elton: Live from Planet Earth
Seven – Parenthood
ELEVEN – Nurse Jackie / Californication
GEM – The Closer *

Wednesday
7.30pm
Ten – The Biggest Loser Families
Nine – The Big Bang Theory * / Mike and Molly *
Seven – My Kitchen Rules
ELEVEN – Futurama at 8pm

8.30pm
Ten – Blue Bloods
Nine – The Farmer Wants a Wife
Seven – Criminal Minds
ELEVEN – All New Simpsons
GO! – V *
7TWO – Pie in the Sky

9.30pm
Ten – House
Nine – RPA: Where Are They Now?
Seven – City Homicide
ELEVEN – Bob’s Burgers
GO! – Fringe *
7TWO – Murphy’s Law

Thursday
7.30pm
Ten – The Biggest Loser Families
Nine – RBT / Getaway
Seven – How I Met Your Mother
7mate – Mighty Ships

8.30pm
Ten – The Good Wife
Nine – CSI
Seven – Grey’s Anatomy
ELEVEN – Stargate Universe
GO! – The InBetweeners at 9pm *
7mate – Megastructures

9.30pm
Ten – Law & Order: SVU
Nine – CSI: NY
Seven – Desperate Housewives

Fridays
7.30pm
Ten – The Biggest Loser Families
Seven – Better Homes and Gardens
ELEVEN – SYTYCD USA
7TWO – That’s My Boy

8.30pm
Ten – Law & Order: UK
ELEVEN – SYTYCD USA
7TWO – Escape to the Country

9.30pm
Ten – Medium
7TWO – 60 Minute Makeover

Programming correct as at Feb 3 and subject to change.

Twas the week before ratings began for 2011 … and networks started filling their schedules with new content…

After two months of repeats and generally inferior free to air programming, finally the time has arrived for season premiere after season premiere.

This is where we will go from having nothing to watch one week, to having too much to choose from the next.

In week 6 (Jan 30 – Feb 5) – the last week of summer TV Ten will launch three new shows as well as premiere new episodes in season returns of others.

Already revealed is programming for Sunday Jan 30 which includes the premiere of The Biggest Loser Families at 6.30pm, two NEW episodes of Modern Family at 7.30pm, the premiere of Hawaii Five-O at 8.30 and new NCIS: LA at 9.30pm.

During the day on Sunday Jan 30, is a Video Hits Big Day Out Special, featuring the best Aussie music acts from Brisbane, the first stop on the Aussie leg of the Big Day Out tour.

Monday Jan 31 – after two months of repeats finally new episodes of GLEE are here! In Season 2, episode 9 Special Education, its sectionals time, and the Glee kids are fighting. Narcissism and secrets are threatening to blow New Directions’ chances.

Glee returns to Mondays, 7.30pm from Jan 31.

Undercover Boss (US) remains at 8.30 Mondays with new episodes. At 9.30, Mon Jan 31 is The Melbourne International Great Debate 2008.

Tuesday Feb 1 – New NCIS is back, at 8.30pm with season 8, episode 7 Broken Arrow. At 7.30, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation remains in repeat. 9.30 TBC.

Wednesday Feb 2 – Biggest Loser Families continues at 7.30pm.

Premiere of new series Blue Bloods is at 8.30, Wed Feb 2. In the first episode, we are introduced to the Reagan family as Jamie (Will Estes) is graduating from the Police Academy and joining the NYPD, after deciding not to pursue his career as a lawyer.

At 9.30, House returns with season 7, episode 9 Larger Than Life! Guests stars Candice Bergen and Matthew Lillard.

Thursday Feb 3 – Biggest Loser Families continues at 7.30. 8.30 is another new episode of The Good Wife, with new Law and Order SVU at 9.30.

Friday Feb 4 – Biggest Loser Families continues at 7.30pm.

At 10.30pm that night, is the season finale of Outrageous Fortune.