In August this year we launched our very first Pilot Week and between us, we thought it went pretty well. So well in fact, tonight we’re announcing that four standouts – Taboo, Kinne Tonight, Trial By Kyle and Bring Back Saturday Night – will make their way to your living room, laptop, mobile device or whatever it is you use to get your Network 10 fix in 2019.
How did we decide which four of the eight unique, thoroughly entertaining and occasionally head-scratching programs made the cut? Well, it’s all thanks to you! We asked you, our incredibly helpful audience, to jump on 10 Play and 10 social media to give us your honest opinion. Your reactions, social buzz and, of course, the TV ratings were all taken into consideration – and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.
Network 10 Chief Content Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said:
“We had a great time bringing new programming ideas to our audiences and were very happy with the overall response through live audience numbers, 10 Play and social media.
“We listened to feedback and combined this with range of other measures from timeslot to demographic performance before deciding which programs we would commission to a full series.
“Taboo, Kinne Tonight, Trial By Kyle and Bring Back Saturday Night will air on 10 in 2019 as full series, representing a serious investment in unique and local production. These shows complement our fantastic slate of programming for 2019 and cements 10’s role as the innovator, and sometimes wild child, of Australian commercial TV.”
TABOO
It’s a record-breaker in its home country of Belgium and although this one has a simple premise, it hits home harder than you might expect. Each week, a different comedian spends five days and nights with members of a disadvantaged group in society and uses the experience to perform a stand-up routine about them. Did we mention the subjects are sitting in the front row? This outstanding show is produced by Lune Media.
KINNE TONIGHT
Modern life can be a real buzz kill, so why don’t we ditch it for a while and laugh along with Troy Kinne’s fast-paced Kinne Tonight produced by Big Yellow Taxi Productions.
The things in life that have contributed to a tiring week become laughing fodder for our viewers in this fresh comedy that leaves no one safe, including – perhaps most importantly – the viewers themselves.
TRIAL BY KYLE
Ever wondered what Judge Judy would be like if she was a controversial male shock jock who lives in Australia? Neither have we. Fortunately, Screentime Australia produced Trial By Kyle anyway and we’re very glad we found out.
The toughest cases, biggest celebrities and genuine disputes can only be settled by one man, Kyle Sandilands. When you add The Bachelor Australia star and criminal lawyer Anna Heinrich into the equation, ready and willing to forensically analyse whatever evidence may come her way, the case is closed on this sure-fire hit.
BRING BACK SATURDAY NIGHT
Originally we’d planned to write a blurb about Rove McManus’ new generation-bending live TV conquest, but after it set social media ablaze, we thought we might just let Twitter do the talking:
“#Roveau is my hero. #PilotWeek” – Sam Dastyari
“You actually got me to turn off Netflix. That’s impressive!” – Ryan Betson
“There’s no way that’s not getting picked up for a full series” – Mark Humphries
“Great job” – Todd Sampson
“Bring it back for sure” – Sarah Harris
The reviews are in and Australia is behind Rove and his quest to reunite the country’s greatest acts, bands and TV stars in a fresh spin on the Saturday night variety hour of old, produced by Roving Enterprises.
Pilot Week will be returning in 2019, with 10 now open for ideas.
