Ten’s Meet The Press hooks up with News Limited
Paul Bongiorno replaced as face of Ten’s Meet The Press
Ratings-hungry Ten Network is going into a partnership with News Ltd to expand its Meet The Press program – but the new version will be less news-led and more lifestyle.
The Sunday morning political program, hosted for two decades by Paul Bongiorno, will now be fronted by former Sky News and Breakfast presenter Kathryn Robinson.
Veteran Bongiorno will remain a contributor to the program, but not on a weekly basis.
Meet The Press will also be expanded to one hour, diluting its political-interview focus with sport, lifestyle and entertainment to fill the extra 30 minutes.
A Ten spokeswoman said production of the program was being outsourced “to be more cost effective.”
It’s new executive producer will be Kylie Merritt, whom joined News Limited as head of video in August last year.
It is expected that News Ltd – a print-based company expanding into TV production and also a quarter owner of Foxtel – will use its columnists on the show in the future.
The Herald Sun’s Andrew Bolt will continue his Sunday morning The Bolt Report.
Hugh Riminton will remain on the panel.
The Ten spokeswoman said that Ten would have overall editorial control of the show’s content.
Given the very limited views of the News Limited political commentators Ten is obviously not looking for a large audience. Maybe they can charge News Limited for advertising.
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A show called Meet the Press featuring sport, lifestyle and entertainment? Sounds an awful lot like what Nine did to the old Sunday show in response to Sunrise. Will it also include the Meet the Press All Stars and Kathryn’s Angels?
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Wow, a backward step. Soon there will be segments on the latest fad diets, some C-grade celeb has been talkfest, and a cheesy crooner who struggles to hold a note. And Network Ten wonder why they are losing viewers?
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