Subject: Messageboard Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 01:10:51 +1000 From: Mark Longmuir To: Mark Longmuir DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) -- Mark Longmuir - longmuir@labyrinth.net.au Homepage: http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~longmuir/ Whose Line is it Anyway? - http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Lot/8451 "Stop tap dancing, you fool!" --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... Monday, 02-Aug-1999 23:31:05 203.101.15.184 writes: From The Sydney Morning Herald : OPTUS HAS A NEW VISION The pay TV war is heating up again with word that Optus Television, formerly Optus Vision, will launch two major general entertainment channels and re-brand its corporate image in October. Sources say one entertainment channel, which is yet to be named, is tied in with movie and TV giant Warner Bros, with access to Warner's vast library of hit shows, including Friends, ER, Suddenly Susan, Veronica's Closet (and DCS!) . The channel will go head-to-head with Foxtel's flagship Fox 8, which has an output deal with Warner rival 20th Century Fox, but Optus insists the timing of the long-awaited entertainment channel has nothing to do with ratings being introduced to Pay TV. "We were always going to broaden the platform with general entertainment," said a spokesperson. "It was something we saw a gap in." The intriguing part is what Channel 9, which has free-to-air rights to Warner's top-rating shows like Friends and ER , will make of them appearing on cable. Not a lot, we suspect. Former Network Ten programmer Kristin Marlow is the new channel's head of programming; numerous national and international program providers have been approached for material......etc" Now, Pay channels such as Arena and Fox 8 have much the same distribution deals as the networks. The free-to-air channels have rights to the output of certain distributors/production companies and choose to air what they will and leave the rest on the shelf. Pay TV channels seemingly show the lot. So would one conclude that should Optus have a Warners channel they'd have the full compliment of DLIIA? It's been about a year since it debuted in the U.S and Channel Nine have done zip about scheduling it anywhere, which is rather ludicrous considering the success of DCS here. I'd guess the new channel wouldn't hesitate to air DLIIA? So, yet another version of WL fails to be delivered to a national audience......{mutter, mutter, grumble, grumble}....anyone on OPTUS ?! M ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... Monday, 02-Aug-1999 23:43:08 130.194.11.89 writes: It seems kind of weird the pay TV deals. I was thinking it might be a Disney or ABC connection that was preventing Foxtel getting shows like DCS or Home Improvement - but with DCS it could, I suppose, be Warner. The Foxtel line-up does include stuff like Dharma & Greg, NYPD Blue and others so it's not ABC. However, just thinking about it, they also have Buffy which is as much WB as DCS is(?). However, Foxtel (or at least, some of their channels) have previously said things like "we are unable to/don't have the rights to purchase" when I've asked about Home Improvement, DCS, etc. So perhaps they would be on this new channel. I guess, if they are, the only thing we could do is wish James Packer the best in his intentions to force the cable providers to permit access to each other's channels. (Up till now, there's not been much point - Foxtel's so far ahead in terms of variety of shows...) Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... Monday, 02-Aug-1999 23:52:48 203.101.15.184 writes: The American networks tend to work on an outsourcing basis much as the ABC has done here, they do deals with the production companies so Warners, for instance, may have shows on the 3 main networks. As for Buffy though it's on the WB in the U.S it's still a 20th Century Fox production. As for access to each other's channels. It looked like that would be the case when Galaxy folded but then the whole competition/monopoly problems got started. Austar, the regional satellite service does, however, have quite a few channels from each. We now get UKTV, Fox 8, ESPN etc as well as the more general channels (the sports, BBC World, Arena, TV 1, V etc). We also get the three Optus movie channels as well as C7. At one stage it was possible to fiddle the decoder and pick-up Optus but it was brief. However, with their channel-sharing maybe Austar will be in line for any new channels Optus start (don't hold your breath). In any case, if you want DL tapes let me know and I'll make you some. M ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Incidentally, a couple of other things... Monday, 02-Aug-1999 23:50:30 130.194.11.89 writes: Just forgot a couple of things... Firstly, when I asked arena whether they could get the US series, or if it would have to be shown on commercial TV first, they confirmed(?) that it would go to commercial TV before pay. So, if it actually was to appear on Optus, it would probably be repeats of episodes previously seen on 9 (as with all the popular comedies, dramas, etc. on Foxtel). My guess regarding 9 is that they're holding it off, possibly until the ratings end so that they can try it out over the summer. Perhaps, if it is successful, they can then go and show the full series during next years' ratings period. I also have to say I love this line: "We were always going to broaden the platform with general entertainment," said a spokesperson. "It was something we saw a gap in." Oh boy, is there a gap :) (and that's Optus' own doing, it's not like an industry thing they've picked up on). Up until now, they've basically just had half the movies, and the AFL football (constantly!). Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... Tuesday, 03-Aug-1999 00:01:00 203.101.15.184 writes: As for Channel 9, I'm rather fed-up with them. Summer looked like a good DL try-out time in January. One thought though, DCS has only a few episodes left for this series. Last year they went into repeats as they're doing with Friends again. With a few more months till the ratings period ends perhaps they'll be adventurous and try to keep the DCS audience. Okay, I'm ranting. The only thing I liked of what I saw of Optus was that the presenters on MTV were way less annoying than the Channel V ones and that the Disney channel had the Muppets and The Wonder Years (ahh, nostalgia......anyone know *exactly* what time The Wombles are on Nick !?) M Off for a bex and a good liedown. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Channel 9 again Tuesday, 03-Aug-1999 04:55:41 152.206.180.69 writes: Not sure exactly when the Wombles are on, think it's Saturday morning (incidentally, caught the 'Wombles Movie' on a while ago!). The only things I'd really want from Optus are a few of the movies (the good movies seem to split half-half) and the Disney channel... Anyway, I don't know whether Channel 9 would try out a new series... the Drew Carey name is not so big here, but then again it may be enough... and they're probably only looking at the first 6 episode try out for now (with the full series if it works out, otherwise it'll become a summer filler... erghhh...). Possibly they didn't get them quick enough to show last summer, or they had to wait a while by contract, or wanted to see how it did in the US. I do love the way though, that shows don't exist until they're scheduled. Becker's the current 'hit' show (and Will & Grace), though I don't think they were huge successes in the US... I can't count how many 'New US hit series' or 'New American series of the year' we've been told about, and DL will be advertised as yet another. Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Re: Channel 9 again Tuesday, 03-Aug-1999 23:23:05 203.101.15.175 writes: Okay, Channel 9, Monday night they advertised 'The Incredible Hulk Reunion' as "brand new", how many years has Bill Bixby been dead ?! It was made in 1988 ! As for the 'new hit series' the networks always crow about. It's been going on for years and more often than not the shows have already been cancelled by the time they get here (e.g 'My Brother's Keeper' etc). Though, granted, they are getting here quicker. Wombles appear to be sometime around 11am on Nick Jnr and it's a 1997 series co-production between ITV and some production company in Quebec. As for 'Angel', I'd been wondering much the same thing but you'd think Channel 7 would go after it to keep their Buffy audience happy. I'd assume it's also a 20th Century Fox production (can't remember, just remember reading the scripts). So that'd suggest it would go to Fox 8 (yay). The question with 7 is whether they'll play 'Earshot' here. It's only just airing in the U.S, having been pulled for its content. It's due to air in NSW in 2 weeks (I believe you're a few weeks behind in Vic ?). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved. [Inside The Web] [Image] [Get FREE Message Board] [Image] Whose Board is it, Anyway? Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! Wednesday, 04-Aug-1999 01:00:56 152.203.160.179 writes: We're about 6 weeks behind in some shows, Buffy was pulled for a while and there was a massive protest :) Angel will be weird, it's made especially for the WB network in America, AFAIK... which might mean that 9 gets the rights (ooh, messy...) followed by Optus. If it is 20th, then Seven will get it (and hopefully be happy), tehn Foxtel... Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Message thread: DLIIA? & Australia - The plot thickens... (02-Aug-1999 23:31:05) Mark: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:43:08) Re: Oh bugger... and I'm not subscribing to them just for DL... (02-Aug-1999 23:52:48) Mark: Ok, so I guess only 'Angel' will go to Optus :) For now, I just hope 9 does get it first (and don't cancel it...) (n/t) (03-Aug-1999 04:57:49) Mark: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (02-Aug-1999 23:50:30) Re: Incidentally, a couple of other things... (03-Aug-1999 00:01:00) Mark: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 04:55:41) Re: Channel 9 again (03-Aug-1999 23:23:05) Mark: Oh yeah :) We're behind alright! (04-Aug-1999 01:00:56) Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prev Page Next Page Now viewing page 3 of 4 (05-Aug-1999 13:16:35 to 02-Aug-1999 17:38:53) [Image] Message subject: Name: (optional) Email address: (optional) Type your message here: [Get them to Buy It!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to main board ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © Looksmart, Ltd., 1997-1999 All rights reserved.