The change of location for 10’s reality show is causing a major budget blowout
In this edition of Media McKnight:
– Big Brother’s budget blowout 00:00
– New KIIS Melbourne breakfast team and PR spin
– Survivor Rivals season reveal
– News.com.au’s Steve Irwin “exclusive” called out
– Nine eyeing sale of Mt Coot-tha
– Nine’s 70 Years of Television promo
You can watch the video version of this article in the YouTube player below:
BIG MONEY PROBLEMS
Big Brother is facing some financial issues, according to inside sources.
Despite the success of the program last year, the move to Brisbane – which was revealed here on Media McKnight – is causing something of a budget problem.
The plan had always been to stay at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, but an existing booking meant producers had to find a new location.
That has ended up being Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane, as we reported, and has now been confirmed by 10
But the move has caused something of a financial issue.
Who picks up the bill?
According to my sources, the already tight budget is under extra strain because of the costs associated with the move – and 10 is refusing to increase the budget, forcing Endemol Shine Australia to pick up the costs.
10’s financials have been dire for the past few years, with the company posting losses of over half-a-million dollars.
Apparently, every department is complaining about network expectations and the lack of cash to be able to match them.
Will viewers notice?
Probably not.
Today the network launched a fantastic promo that certainly looks like a million dollars.
Australian production teams have an ability to pull everything together and make it work – and that just might be the issue here.
When budgets are being squeezed, but the product still looks good, those budgets are just going to be squeezed even further.
SPECULATION… OR TRUTH?
The Melbourne replacements for Kyle and Jackie O have been revealed ahead of an official announcement by ARN.
My partner at TV Blackbox, Kevin Perry, dropped the big news on Monday night in an exclusive report.
According to Kevin, Ash London and fashion stylist and media personality Elliot Garnaut are set to front the station’s new breakfast show on KIIS 101.1.
TV Blackbox understands London and Garnaut will form the new on-air partnership, combining London’s extensive commercial radio experience with Garnaut’s background across fashion, television and podcasting.
The appointments mark a significant reset for ARN in Melbourne, after its decision to replace a local breakfast team with the Sydney-based Kyle & Jackie O Show failed to deliver the ratings result the network had sought.
The station is currently sitting in eighth place overall in Melbourne, with the breakfast slot rating a meagre 5.1, coming in ninth.
When approached for comment, ARN told TV Blackbox:
“There’s been plenty of speculation about our KIIS Breakfast shows in Sydney and Melbourne, and we look forward to announcing the new line-ups soon.”
Well, it’s not speculation, though, if it’s correct.
I really hate it when PR people do this.
They’ll take something that they know is correct and try to discredit it with a word like ‘speculation’.
I get they don’t want to confirm the news until they are ready, but just say ‘we’re not ready to confirm or deny any reports at this time”.
It achieves the same result without annoying the journalist.
SURVIVOR NAMED
Channel 10 has announced the theme for this year’s series of Survivor – which is likely to be its last for a while.
In a world-first, 24 players will face off under the banner of ‘rivals’.
Media McKnight broke the news back in July.
Network 10 says the 24 castaways have been divided into 12 pairs of rivals, with each contestant matched against someone with similar strengths, physicality, intelligence, drive or charisma.
#McKnightWasRight
NEWS CORP’S STEVE IRWIN LIE
Here’s a question for you; do journalists lie on purpose, or do they do it out of incompetence?
With the 20th anniversary of the death of Steve Irwin, outlets have been looking for exclusive angles.
And news.com.au made a big claim in its story, saying:
“Croc legend Steve Irwin’s final words have been revealed for the first time 20 years after his sudden death rocked Australia”.
The outlet told readers his last words were “I’m dying”.
As the copy said – ‘Revealed for the first time in 20 years’.
Just one little problem.
Justin Lyons had revealed Steve’s dying words back in 2014 in an exclusive interview on Studio 10.
That interview made headlines around the world, and the YouTube clip has had 7.7 million views.
To make matters worse, the story was even reported by news.com.au; the very same outlet now claiming to have the exclusive on Steve’s last words.
If you’re going to make a big claim like this, at least do a Google first.
CAN NINE ACTUALLY SELL ITS BRISBANE SITE?
An interesting report popped up this week about the future home of Channel 9 in Brisbane.
The Courier Mail reports the company is planning to sell its historic Mt Coot-tha headquarters after more than 67 years, as the broadcaster considers moving to a new Queensland home.
The news came via an all-staff email last week from Queensland Managing Director Kylie Blutcher, who said the network was exploring options for a “unified future home for Nine in Queensland”.
A sale would require a rezoning of the land where the commercial stations – Seven, Nine and 10 – reside.
That land is specifically for television broadcasters and can’t be used for anything else.
However, Brisbane City Council is developing a new master plan for Mt Coot-tha, which would allow Nine to sell the site if its rezoned.
Bluchter has been trying to get off the mountain for some time, but doing so would require taking a financial hit due to the fact Nine can’t sell the site to any other industry.
There have previously been talks with Government about a funding package to help the networks move to the city, which hasn’t gone anywhere so far.
Rezoning the land would solve all the problems as the networks do not want to be on Mount Coot-tha. Driving up the mountain is not convenient, and technology changes mean television stations can now run out of office buildings.
GREAT PROMO, WILL THE SHOW BE ANY GOOD?
Television in Australia is about to hit an important milestone, with the 70th anniversary of the first official broadcast taking place on the 16th of September.
And, I have to say, Nine has outdone themselves with an amazing promo to celebrate.
Just amazing and really well done. Congratulations to the promo team.
Of course, most TV fans know that Bruce Gyngell re-recorded that famous opening weeks after the initial broadcast, as opening night wasn’t recorded… and apparently he wasn’t as polished as he is in the official clip.
Still, this is a wonderful tribute ahead of a two-part special to air over the next two Wednesday nights at 8.45.
When TV turned 60, the networks ignored it – in fact the live special I made on Studio 10 was the only celebration.
At that point, TV executives didn’t want to appear old by reflecting on the past, now they love nostalgia to draw viewers in.
It comes as Nine appears to be stripping back its broadcast television assets and turning its focus to other parts of the business.
Advertising revenue continues to fall and it’s creating big problems within the industry.
I don’t see that changing any time soon, so expect more redundancies.
Meanwhile. I haven’t seen this 70 years special, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve done.
It looks like a clip show judging by the promo in the vein of 20 TO 1 – it could have been so much more.
Oh well, I’ll share my thoughts next week.
Media McKnight is published on YouTube every Tuesday at 8pm AEST at YouTube.com/@McKnightTonight.
The article goes live on the TV Blackbox website every Wednesday morning.
Send your tips to: [email protected]
