Underbelly Files

It’s all about the cricket on week 3 on Nine as the Third Test, being played at the WACA in WA, eats into prime time for the eastern states (and SA). In this test, Australia will be looking for a win to “put the Indian’s away”. Australia currently leads the Vodafone series 2-0 after 2 games. The fourth test plays in Adelaide during the week of Australia Day.

Sun Jan 15
6.30 Cricket – Third Test live from WACA
7.30 (QLD Only) 60 Minutes – new but will contain some repeat stories
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 CSI
10.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights
12.00 Flashpoint – new

Mon Jan 16
6.30 Cricket – Third Test live from WACA
7.30 (QLD Only) The Big Bang Theory
8.00 (QLD Only) The Big Bang Theory
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 Harry’s Law – new
10.30 Harry’s Law – new
11.30 The Unusuals

Tue Jan 17
6.30 Cricket – Third Test live from WACA
7.30 (QLD Only) The Big Bang Theory
8.00 (QLD Only) The Middle – new
8.30 Two and a Half Men
9.00 Mike & Molly – new
9.30 Top Gear
11.00 Weeds
11.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Wed Jan 18
6.30 ACA
7.00 The Big Bang Theory
7.30 RBT
8.30 Underbelly Files: Infiltration
10.20 True CSI: Cold Blood
11.20 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Thur Jan 19
7.30 Getaway new
8.30 Unforgettable
9.30 CSI: NY new
10.30 Nothing Trivial
11.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Fri Jan 20
7.30 Two and a Half Men x 2
8.30 Movie: Maverick
11.00 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Sat Jan 21
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Summer Series
7.30 Movie: Monster House
9.30 Movie: TBA
12.00 Movie: Cross of Iron

Note – that cricket coverage continues on GEM from 6.00pm – 6.30pm when Nine goes over to the nightly News. If the cricket finishes early, regular programming will resume including The Big Bnag Theory at 7pm weeknights, ACA at 6.30pm.

Information above for NSW, VIC and QLD only. SA, NT and WA check local guides.

Correct at January 10, 2012. Subject to change.

Nine generally do not cross promote their channels, but anyone watching GO or GEM last night, would have noticed an abnormally large number of promos for shows on Nine – alot more than usual.

During the Underbelly Files: Infiltration encore on GEM, there were numerous promos for Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away – which airs tonight (Feb 21) on Nine, as well as promos for new Top Gear, A Current Affair and $#*! My Dad Says. Over on GO!, similar promos could be seen for Nine shows.

In ratings, Nine are taking a beating from Seven landing a distant second in the weekly result. Shows on Nine are generally not performing as well as they may once have, especially those against Seven’s ratings powerhouses Packed to the Rafters and My Kitchen Rules.

New episodes of The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men and Top Gear are all way down in viewers compared to last year, while new comers $#*! My Dad Says and Mike and Molly have struggled to make any ground and ACA constantly loses to TT. And we all know about Ben Elton.

The ads on Nine’s digital channels for show on the main channel are an attempt to remind viewers about new shows on Nine so ratings will hopefully improve.

The Underbelly Files will be encored on GEM.

Next Sunday, Feb 13, the first of the three telemovies Tell Them Lucifer Was Here, will be played on GEM from 8.30pm

Then, the following Sunday, Feb 20, the second Infiltration will air on GEM at 8.30pm.

Although to soon to be confirmed, and assuming no further programming changes, the third Underbelly Files movie will be on GEM Sunday Feb 27.

According to the GEM amendments, each of the movies are in HD.

So – if you missed out on Monday night, or would like to see in HD, then check GEM on Sunday.

Following Tell Them Lucifer Was Here on Sunday 13^th is the movie The King about Graham Kennedy’s life and times.

And on Sunday Feb 20, at 10.30pm, is Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story.

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.