Neighbours, The Simpsons to make way for extended news and current affairs on TEN in 2011
The move of long-running programs and Neighbours and The Simpsons to new digital channel Eleven and the plan to have two-and-half hours of News and Current Affairs Monday to Friday were among the highlights of Network Ten’s program launch at the Fremantle Maritime Museum this week.
The relocation of Neighbours and The Simpsons is a sure sign that the extraordinarily successful programs, which have under-pinned TEN’s schedule for more than twenty years, have finally begun to wane.
The launch of Eleven gives the network a three channel strategy.
TEN will be the home of entertainment for under 50s with a line-up ofAustralian and international programs, five new US series, three new’big event’ TV franchises, new Australian drama, as well as a newline-up of News and Current Affairs
ONE will continue as dedicated sports channel
New channel ELEVEN will be ‘the destination for a distinctly youthfulaudience with first-run Australian and international content and aline-up of some of the most-loved US series of all time.’
TEN’s extended News and Current Affairs line-up is a major shake-up,not to mention investment, in the channel’s early evening schedule.
TEN News at Five will be followed at 6.00pm by a new 30-minutenational news program targeting viewers seeking a smarter, moreinformed and insightful approach to the stories, issues, events andnews-makers of the day. At 6:30 pm weeknights and 6:00 pm weekends, TENwill present a half-hour locally produced news service presented byNarelda Jacobs focusing on Perth’s major news stories. This will befollowed Mon-Fri by the returning The 7.00pm Project, giving TEN two-and-a-half hours of news and current affairs programs on weekdays.
Network Ten chief programming officer, David Mott said: “So far thisyear, we’ve delivered three big new hits with Glee, Modern Family andUndercover Boss. We also remain the leader in ‘big event TV’ with themost talked-about program in Australian television history, MasterChefAustralia, surpassing all previous records.”
“Next year will be even bigger and better with more bold formats instore. In 2011, we’ll create more ‘big event’ TV moments, deliver morelaughs with the best local and international comedies, we’ll screen themost exciting light entertainment formats and we’ll have the best mixof drama from Australia and around the world.”
