Although Ten are describing it’s new 7pm news service as a ‘summer add-on’, the performance of the new bulletin will be closely watched by all networks.
Nine has made no secret it has always thought about moving it’s news to a later timeslot to cater for the busier lives of viewers. The reasons for not doing so relate back to a) guts and b) it ain’t broke, so it doesn’t need fixing.
Many commentators have suggested Seven should move it’s main bulletin out of direct competition with Nine, and that the 7pm timeslot for 7 News would be an ideal fit. This has yet to be realised.
ABC News is also gearing up for a marked change in 2003, investing more attention to format and cosmetic changes.
So, if there is any remote success with the new Ten News at 7pm over the summer season, it could result in a huge change in the landscape of TV news in 2003. Ten have nothing to lose – how many Seinfeld replays can the viewers take? The station finds itself in the same position with its 7pm timeslot as it did in the early 80’s when it only had endless repeats of MASH to run. It then discovered a soap called ‘Neighbours’ and ran with it.
And if anyone can make a success of it, the much underrated Mal Walden can.
