What the axing of Wake Up says about Ten’s plight
Wake Up ended this morning and Ten is slashing its news staffing. Until it finds a new owner, the network has no option but to cut costs radically, argues Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes
It comes as little surprise that Ten has axed Wake Up.
But nonetheless, the decision – and the lack of local content to replace it – suggests that Ten is running out of choices.
Primetime isn’t working, mid mornings are a struggle and breakfast time has failed. (With the caveat that at least the new series of Masterchef has held up so far.)
It was interesting reading the press coverage on this story yesterday.
The SMH reported it as a “bloodbath” and ran it alongside an oped piece which talked at length about the network’s “uninspiring leadership”.
All very different to what was in The Australian, where it was cold and factual with no fingers of blame pointed.
The overwhelming majority of posters to this site said the show would fail and be dumped.
Aside from semi-trolls like myself, these were industry professionals and they were spot on. Ten is firing the wrong people.
Have to agree here with Bec… While things always look different in hindsight… but – looking at it coldly and objectively – their earlier Breakfast show didn’t work… so what was different about this version – except for being at the wrong end of Manly beach… get a better view looking up the coast… but seriously? Just putting it at Manly beach, different hosts… what was there to drag viewers away from Seven and Nine… then throw in a rocky start – so any viewers that did sample, headed back…
Truly I think its sad… I think they are doing a great job with this years Masterchef… my kids loved the earlier versions of SYTYCD but the kids did not like or gel with ANY of the judges / hosts of this year’s show…
One could even argue that the start was moving Neighbours and Simpsons off the main channel… but then that starts another whole arguement…
We need good healthy competition from all the networks…
Ten could probably phone all the viewers of “Wake Up” and apologise personally for the program’s demise!
It’s a great shame for the people continually losing their jobs due to such poor decision making. Ten should look at Offspring and Masterchef (this year) and to a lesser extent Puberty Blues as their inspiration. Quality shows. You can’t build an audience with that Harry show. They’ve tried low rent. Why not try putting things on that aren’t disposable.
Get matchbox to make something for them. God knows they seem to be getting interesting things commissioned every five seconds. Or put some comedy on that isn’t cast from the same pool as everything else they’ve tried. They can’t do any worse than they are.
Sam Mac should be given the big seat on The Project. One of the best things Ch10 has going for it.
(not Sam Mac writing this)
So…given carte blanche…creates a show based on old programmimg from Channel 7…sacks people with talent who understand TV…………advertising revenues fall to all time low ………….dumps most expensive breakfast show in history..sacks more people…pays a man not to work….all in 15 months…….I am very much looking forward to see what this talented management has in store in the next year……
There are 3 other breakfast programs so it was always going to be a big ask. They would’ve had to either take a substantial audience from those programs, or build share, but Wake Up wasn’t different enough to do that.
Ten used to do the offbeat and legacy programming that is now done by the digital channels. Its finding it hard to find its market.
Please reveal just who is the actual Content Director at Network 10. Is it an abacus or a human being?
The arbitrary nature of the Network lineup is exasperating. Has The Bolt Report been shown the door? If not, why not? And why so many repeats and overseas repeats at that.
Somebody surely can do a lot better.
I agree with Fitz – it was the beginning of the end when they prioritised multi channels over their main channel. Neighbours and Simpsons should not have been moved.
Very nice article and a viewpoint well argued Mr Burrowes.
Waiting for new ownership makes Ten seem like an sickly orphan, scrubbed squeaky clean, seated beside a cardboard suitcase, and dressed in his/her Sunday best, waiting for suitable good people to come along and provide a home and future.
Whoever comes along, if they are television producers, they will have to rely upon the basic foundations of good television, if the orphan is to thrive. News is essential, so is local and general human interest, sport and entertainment, which must (this is absolutely essential) differentiate between light entertainment , drama and the arts.
Prisoner, Neighbours, whatever the case may be, a regular drama production in episodic yet linked serial format is imperative.
But above all things listed, the basic rule of humility is paramount. This is the missing link at Ten, they have forgotten that they have an audience who regularly invites them into their homes day after day night after night.
As surely as the Doctors oath begins “first do no harm,” the television oath should be, first remember that you are a guest in the homes of your audience, and that you need them more than they need you.
Serve haute cuisine, but eat humble pie.
Dunno….Maybe sacking all the senior managers in 2012 was a bad idea?……..
Agree with Billy C – Content is king and hammer needs to make a decision as to what the brand stands for & Offspring etc says quality works….. Look at HBO.
It is ironic that Murdoch worked to get rid of management who were pulling in over $200m in profit some three years ago.
I attended the Ten Upfront in 2011 (soon after those changes) and heard how good he was and how wrong everything and everyone else was. He also stated Ten deserves a 33% share of the business.
Lest not Forget – it was Murdoch that ruined the Network, Profit Line, Culture and Company.
Shame on the Board.
Warburton and McLennan are only “road kill”.
The show didn’t need to be axed, just rejigged. Getting rid of Mathison would have been first order of business, imho.
Has the Bolt Report been shown the door? No, indeed, it has had its time doubled. Probably because people like me watch it. What sort of people are we? People who haven’t watched TV at all, election nights aside, since the 1980s. In other words, people who are not interested in the deregulated junk that has been on since then.
To be quite truthful, I did watch Media Watch when it was presented by Stuart Littlemore in the 1990s. I even filled in a ratings survey: one quarter-hour per week. Now, with the Bolt Report, it’s an hour a week! Things are looking up.
Called it when it launched. Where’s my Nobel Prize?
“James Mathison is fast and funny, “…..you are taking the **** here surely Ed?
Thank God for Family Feud!