Ten’s Breakfast boss: I’m not thinking about ratings but unlike Kochie and Karl, Paul Henry will say what he thinks
The EP of Ten’s new show Breakfast says that she has had no conversations with her bosses about ratings.
Majella Wiemers told Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes: “I haven’t even thought about figures. It’s never been brought up in any of my discussions. At no stage were figures ever bandied about.”
Breakfast goes on air a week on Monday. Yesterday analyst Steve Allen suggested Breakfast needs to deliver metro ratings of at least 100,000, which would still put it well behind Sunrise and Today.
Wiemers also discussed the appointment of controversial Kiwi Paul Henry, accusing the presenters of Seven’s and Nine’s shows of being unwilling to say what they think.
“I, like everybody else, had seen the YouTube clips and in that first meeting (with Henry) my perception had completely changed.
“He doesn’t ever say anything to get a response; he says something because he truly believes it.”
She conceded: “I think we are going to run up to the edge and there will be times where we may jump over it.”
“It would be remiss of me to have Paul Henry as a host and then gag him. What would be the point? – I could roll out a David Koch or a Karl Stefanovic if I wanted somebody who wasn’t prepared to put themselves on the line and say what they think.”
Wiemers predicted that viewers would also see a new side of Andrew Rochford, who is moving to the role after a stint as the breakfast host on Sydney radio station Mix 106.5.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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” i just want to make one australian happy”
ahhhhhh…
*vom*
seems like a capable woman tho – good hair too!
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I think she just signed her own severnce pay slip.
If she is inthe business of TV and doesnt think ratings then she is either misguided or stupid. Prgrammers live and die by the numbers delivered. she better start thinking about them.
George Negus anyone?
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i’m a masive fan of Paul Henry – can’t wait!!!
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We will just wait and see. Never worked with or met a TV executive who was not interested in ratings..
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Millions of dollars to make one Australian happy?
I’m sure Gina will be thrilled.
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“He doesn’t ever say anything to get a response; he says something because he truly believes it.”
Whew, as long as he’s really a racist and not pretending that’s obviously okay then.
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Yet another example of a ridiculously all white cast for a new show. What is it with Channel Ten and the cliched blondes???
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Make one Australian happy? I’m guessing that would be Gina…
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And Ten comes out with more beautiful Aryan faces. YAWN…!!! White Australia policy anyone?
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A producer at a commercial TV network that relies on ‘bums on seats’ to justify its existence says ratings have never “been brought up in any of my discussions. At no stage were figures ever bandied about.” Amazing! Well, dear, you better get used to discussing figures because you can bet that by 8.30 every weekday from the day after the show starts you will have OzTAM numbers landing in your email inbox and management asking questions about them. Then I’m pretty sure there will be numbers “bandied about”… like how many $$$ your show is or isn’t making…
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Channel Ten wonderful to have Paul Henry and Andrew, Kathryn and Mags, great team. Awesome channel. I was a channel nine fan and now that Paul is around I am a channel ten fan.
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