Australian TV Presentation Thread

Actually seven still put 'NOW' ids that are affliate safe when the first promo is shorter than the credits. Its all to create acceletared flow 'seamless tv' and not about squeezing extra advertising time because that is self defeating.

Nine and ten are yet to employ a seamless approach with both networks sqeezing existing credits for just that added promotion (rare) and having a lot of space between shows (sponsor billboard (previous show), news update, sports update,weather update, id, sponsor billboard (next show))

I think australian tv is about to change and in my oppinion ids shoudln't exist betwen programs instead having a voiceover during the production enders of the previous show played before the credits with something like 'Now for an all new 24 on seven'. I'ds can vbe played between programs keeping the viewers attention.

Sponsor billboards are the last things played in the first and last commercial breaks.

There's something about Ten's announcements over the end credits that just doesn't really wash with me. I'm not sure if the links are live or pre-recorded, but they lack the 'natural' touch of live announcing - they are obviously scripted and would be more suited to a promo/trailer than a CA link, in my humble opinion. The Aussie networks seem to love filling promos with Questions, eg. 'She's been lying to her fiance. Will her shocking secret be exposed?' and ' Will they ever see the ones they love again?' Has Tom gone a step to far this time?' and Ten's end-credit VOs reflect this style, rather than the lively interjections and homely feel of many British announcements.

And Routemarker - welcome to TV Forum from a fellow Media Spy member. Look forward to your input.

I've been told that they are pre recorded (it would be much messier live). Ten i think can't move away from voiceovers, i mean they've been doing it for years now somethings changed and they cant handle it.



Yeah ive noticed that with australian promoes because theres this belief that you havethe first 2 seconds to capture a viewers atention rather than have ' Thursday on an all new Blue Heelers' they'd have a crying woman with the voice over 'this woman has just commited a murder' which i think is very effective.

Glad to have found another place besides mediaspy, they just love their news sets too much there!

Seven have introduced a new PRG (programme return graphic) played after ad-breaks; replacing the still '7' caption there is now a bouncing little TV set. Can't stand it myself - but here's a link:

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/sevenrpg.wmv

Heres a sample of Sevens ECP for 2004. The format is likely to change when the network look is revamped in February.

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/ecp_seven_2004.wmv

Interesting they start with a full-screen promo, before cropping it into the credits - was this a glitch, or is that how all ECPs are playing now?

Could they run those credits any faster?! Or do I take it that Amazing Race just has more credits than the average Seven show, hence they flash by very quickly to fit them in?

what do you mean by full screen promo?

Seven reformats the credits entirely. Every show on starting from 5.00 and ending 10.30 will have the ECP. The production company cards are shortened to 1 second each with the audio from the promo playing in the background before going to the credits. They do this to minimise switchover which happens when production company cards are placed at the end of the credits sequence in the traditional way.

nine and ten still squeeze credits making them unreadable but do them only sometimes. Nine recently eployed something similar to seven maximising their promo area during CSI to ensure audiences flow into the next show with theshow starting immediately afterwards. They did this to make sure they won the week as ten was doing very well on sundays.

heres what they did in those times of need
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/nineecpa.wmv

I see that Credits get squeezed for announcements and promos in the UK but if there is a commercial break between programs what its the point really? It doesnt help the lineup flow at all they may as well just let the credits roll by normally with the original theme and stop all this uniformity stuff if accelerated flow isnt employed.

The only reason seven does this is to make sure viewers are glued well into the next show. Ive heared its very labour intensive as they dont do it live. It seem sonly UK networks alter credits live.

I don't think Seven do a credit for their own shows though - having seen a lot of Aussie-transmitted eps of Home & Away recently I haven't ever seen them do that before.

yes they do. they make one in the uniform format for the network and one international version. This practice started in jan-feb 2004. I have never seen the international credits for any of sevens shows this yr.
http://img138.exs.cx/img138/5042/credits31yb.jpg
here's the video if you want to see how seven employs accelerated flow here by playing the next episode preview then a 'NOW' id.
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/homeandawayecp.wmv

After reading this I must say I'm very surprised at how the TV networks you mention are prepared to go to such lengths to ensure that they keep every last viewer possible. Compared to the techniques used in the UK, it does seem very obsessive, and it makes me realise how "behind" we must been seen to be by American and Australian TV networks who I suppose have been using techniques like this for years. I wonder how long it will be before we head down the "accelerated flow" road?

Well its still new to aust but standard practice in the US (from 1994 i think). Seven starting the whole thing now the other networks are starting to use 'NOW' alot. Before this networks would play promos, commercials and a news update which was about 2-3 mins dead space. Now its reuced to 10 sec or nothing.

That nine ECP was very rare and they used that after the olympics to create the now very strong tuesday block of CSI/Cold Case. In the first few eps nine cut CSI credits entirely just leaving the exectutive producers with the voice over 'NOW all new Cold Case'. I guess they got in trouble with TBTP for that and hence the redesigned ECP. It resulted in almost no switchoff making cold case australia's #1 new drama.

One thing is ten network are still yet to employ this practice properly. with 3 milion people watching idol (huge by aust standards) they still have 50 sec credits, sponsor billboards, news update and an id between shows. Viewers switchoff in droves.

It was interesting to learn the thinking behind ad-break presentation in Australia (and the USA, I guess) as well as the fast-track switching between the programmes. It's very common in Australia to have a quick fade-to-black directly from the action of the show - with no super or caption - followed immediately by a trailer (then the ads). UK viewers who are well-accustomed to 'long' End-of-Part captions/ bumpers and quaint text such as 'End of Part One' would probably be horrified if this practice was adopted on the UK networks.

Personally, I'm not really a fan of this because breaks often come at very dramatic or poignant points in a drama, and a 'pause' provided by a 'bumper' or slide gives you a brief moment to reflect on what has just happened, before being bombarded with an upbeat promo or an ad for burgers.

TPTB in Oz seem to think that any indication that an ad-break is imminent (even a super or caption at the bottom of the screen) seems to say to the viewer 'Have a flick through the channels while the ads are on', and therefore miss a trailer for another show, or even not switch back if something else holds their interest. Cutting quickly to a promo means viewers will at least see that promo and hopefully tune into the show being promoted.

How likely is it the UK FTA/terrestrial networks will adopt this policy at some point? We already have extensive ECPs and 'coming next' captions near the end of shows. The IBA ruling stated that there must be a clear indication where a programme has stopped and an ad has begun, therefore we got the EOP captions on UK productions and slides/bumpers added 'live' on overseas shows. Does this ruling still stand under the present authority? Also, our ad-breaks seem to be getting longer and longer - would it not make sense to have more breaks, but shorter ones (echoing Australia)?