Ten gets ready for its 2011 news launch
TV news veteran Tony Ritchie, executive producer of 6pm With George Negus – Network Ten’s new 2011 news offering – talks to Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes about:
- The challenges of launching a news bulletin;
- What he learned from launching Sky News;
- What viewers can expect from Ten during the 6pm slot
- Why he’d be happy with an audience of half a million
Watch video clips by subscribing to Mumbrella’s Mumbo Report YouTube channel.
Great questions. Understandably, Tony manages to dodge most of them and hedge his bets on what this will look like. (He has an alternative career as a media trainer for politicians.)
Has he checked in with James yet?
Good luck! What a tough job. When Seven News and Nine News regularly dominate overall ratings, no wonder Ten is looking at getting a slice of that – and why not? This is solid programming by Ten. Their plans seem spot on – if it is to be a NETWORK news at 6, then quality is the only way to do that – you cannot compete on popular grounds against two local stations in the five cities.
They just have to believe in what they are doing and go for it. Don’t send mixed messages. 6PM is a quality national news program – go with it, don’t pretend it’s anything but that. Don’t fill it up with local previews of 6.30 to try and cover up lack of localism – those viewers will come at 6.30.
Just concentrate on the stories and the storytelling. Be relevant. I think you said that too. CBS News in the US is fast going down the path of irrelevance – it lags way behind its competitors and even they are struggling. Katie Couric’s program is an aimless mess, stuck in the past, unsure of what it is anymore or where it should go. Everything about it – the set, the storytelling, the reporters – looks stuck in 1992. It is not transparent or really upfront about its editorial choices on the air, and it feels out of touch. Your 6PM needs to be immediately relevant to viewers – why are you covering a particular story. Remember your viewers are really savvy. Don’t be afraid to go down the informed, clued-in road of presentation.
Presentation-wise, again, don’t be afraid to look different. As you have noticed, Channel 4 News just looks like a cut above, a considered, cool program. The way Jon sits in his chair at that desk and you see his crumpled suit and he sits awkwardly (it’s brilliant!) – and then the extension of the desk for interviews – and how they present in general is just more real and open! This kind of presentation could stand out against 7 and 9 News and help send the message about your 6PM show.
Don’t be afraid to do a long interview. You’ve got nothing to lose. As I said, 6PM is what it is – it can never try to compete for the popularity contest (with all their pop news bytes) against the local Channel 7 and 9 news because a national news, like a national newspaper in this country, simply cannot win there. So offer up real quality and the viewers will come. Best of luck!
by the way, the one about the Royal Wedding. Tony, I think the answer is not a follow-up story on the dress, but looking into how Australians really feel about it. No pre-conceptions one way about republic or other – just their thoughts. Or maybe not. Maybe a better follow-up would have been staying in Britain (with another of your great reporters there), but looking closer at the tough times, economically and what this means for the Royals. Or looking back in history at Royal Weddings in times of austerity. Or the new era of young Royals. On the night of the announcement. Interesting to ponder – even if the topic question was a bit strange.
Pls have the presenter sit behind a desk, not standing like on bloody Sunday…