Pilot Week are a series of television pilots broadcast by Network Ten. The first line-up of eight pilots aired in August 2018. A second line-up of four pilots aired in September 2019.
No line-up aired in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Network Ten announced Pilot Week would return in 2021;[1] then pushed it back to 2022[2]; six pilots were broadcast exclusively on 10 Play, Network Ten's free video on demand service, in July 2022 under the new name "Pilot Showcase".[3]
It is unclear if Pilot Week will be reprised.[4]
Production edit
Background edit
On 28 August 2017, Ten's administrators announced that the U.S. media company CBS Corporation (which had a 33% share in the multichannel Eleven and was Ten's largest creditor) had entered into a binding agreement to purchase the company for $123 million. CBS refinanced Ten's existing debt including guarantor fees to billionaire shareholders James Packer, Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon, and existing loans from the Commonwealth Bank. Shareholders in Ten Network Holdings lost their investment.[5][6]
Gordon and Murdoch had also placed their own joint bid for the company, which was not endorsed by the administrators.[7] At a meeting held on 12 September, Ten's creditors overwhelmingly voted in support of CBS' bid, citing concerns over Murdoch's previous management of Ten and talk of mass job cuts in the news department under Murdoch/Gordon ownership.[8][9]
The CBS acquisition was completed on 16 November 2017, when the shares of Ten Network Holdings were transferred to CBS Network Ten BV, a company registered in the Netherlands.[10] [11][12]
Following the CBS acquisition, the network became a division of CBS Studios International.[13] Ten moved to commission more Australian content. The additional programs were financed by the savings from the dissolution of Ten's output agreement with 21st Century Fox.[14]
First line-up (2018) edit
Television presenters Grant Denyer and Angela Bishop introduced the audience to each pilot as it premiered across the week.[15]
Skit Happens edit
A sketch comedy program featuring Heath Franklin, Janis McGavin, Jenna Owen, Josh Glanc, Neel Kolhatkar, Stuart Daulman and Vita Carbone. The sketches included paraodies of MasterChef and The Good Doctor.
It was produced by CJZ.
The Good Doctor sketch received criticism with autism awareness charity Amaze tweeting that the skit should not have been aired.[16][17][18]
Disgrace! edit
Hosted by former Australian Senator Sam Dastyari.
Drunk History edit
An educational comedy television series. In the program, an inebriated celebrity struggles to recount a historical event, while actors reconstruct and enact the narrator's anecdotes while lip syncing the dialogue.[19] The pilot featured retellings by Stephen Curry and Rhys Darby on Ned Kelly and Phar Lap, respectively. The pilot featured the actors Gyton Grantley, Aaron Glenane, Greta Lee Jackson, Ryan Fitzgerald and David Collins.
It is based on the American series of the same name, which is in turn based on the web series Funny or Die.
The pilot drew mostly positive reviews, but some viewers were unhappy that the show seemed to glamourise excessive binge drinking in a country which has an extensive history of drinking problems.[20][21]
Network Ten commissioned a six-episode series in 2019.[22] It was released prematurely on 27 March 2020 on their streaming service 10 Play,[23] prior to its official premiere on 14 September 2020.[24][25]
Taboo edit
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Kinne Tonight edit
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Trial By Kyle edit
The reality show is set in a court room with Kyle Sandilands passing judgement across a whole range of real life cases. Helping him analyse the evidence is former The Bachelor Australia contestant and criminal lawyer Anna Heinrich.[26] The pilot proceeded to a series in 2019.[27]
Dave edit
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Bring Back… Saturday Night edit
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Second line-up (2019) edit
In June 2019, Network Ten announced five pilots for a second-line up.[28] Among the five was an international version of the American reality-based documentary television series of Catfish: The TV Show hosted by Casey Donovan (singer), but a pilot was never produced.[29][30][31]
Sydney's Crazy Rich Asians edit
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Part Time Private Eyes edit
Heidi Arena and Nicola Parry play "school mums turned detectives". Produced by CJZ.[32]
I am… Roxy! edit
Reality series following Roxy Jacenko.
My 80 Year Old Flatmate edit
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Reception edit
First line-up edit
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers |
Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | ||||||
| 1 | Skit Happens | 19 August 2018 | Sunday 8pm | 350,000 | 11 | 13,000 | 13 | 363,000 | [33][34] |
| 2 | Disgrace! | 19 August 2018 | Sunday 8:30pm | 229,000 | — | — | — | 229,000 | [35] |
| 3 | Drunk History | 20 August 2018 | Monday 9:30pm | 367,000 | — | 35,000 | 20 | 402,000 | [36][37] |
| 4 | Taboo | 21 August 2018 | Tuesday 9pm | 277,000 | — | — | — | 277,000 | [38] |
| 5 | Kinne Tonight | 22 August 2018 | Wednesday 9pm | 404,000 | 20 | — | — | 404,000 | [39] |
| 6 | Trial By Kyle | 23 August 2018 | Thursday 8:30pm | 385,000 | 16 | 3,000 | 17 | 388,000 | [40][41] |
| 7 | Dave | 24 August 2018 | Friday 8:30pm | 246,000 | — | — | — | 246,000 | [42] |
| 8 | Bring Back… Saturday Night | 25 August 2018 | Saturday 7:30pm | 203,000 | — | 21,000 | 18 | 224,000 | [43][44] |
Taboo was nominated for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program at the 61st Logie Awards.
For the week of 19-25 August 2018, Network Ten had a 11.5% main channel share.[45] Australian comediennes Jane Kennedy, Meshel Laurie and Em Rusciano called out the gender disparity in the male-dominated line-up.[46]
Second-line up edit
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers |
Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | ||||||
| 1 | Sydney's Crazy Rich Asians | 8 September 2019 | Sunday 9pm | 254,000 | — | — | — | 254,000 | [47] |
| 2 | Part Time Private Eyes | 10 August 2019 | Tuesday Xpm | 344,000 | 20 | 36,000 | 18 | 363,000 | [48][49] |
| 3 | I am… Roxy! | 11 September 2019 | Wedesday Xpm | 399,000 | 18 | 39,000 | 18 | 415,000 | [50][51] |
| 4 | My 80 Year Old Flatmate | 13 September 2019 | Friday 8:30pm | 174,000 | — | — | — | 174,000 | [52] |
For the week of 8-14 September 2019, Network Ten had a 11.7% main channel share.[53] I'm sure I can *find* some criticism that 3 out of the 4 shows were reality shows.[citation needed]
Pilot Showcase edit
- Courtney’s Closet (30,914)
- Abbie Chats (22,855)
- Dinner Guest (17,057)
- The Love Experiment (10,420)
- Time To Die (8,493)
- The Bush Blonde Vs The World (7,042)[54]
References edit
- ^ https://www.mediaweek.com.au/network-10s-announces-pilot-week-to-return-for-2021/
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/10/pandemic-pushes-pilot-week-to-2022.html
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/06/pilot-showcase-2022-on-10play.html
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/05/screen-forever-2023-will-10-reprise-pilot-week.html
- ^ Battersby, Lucy (28 August 2017). "US broadcaster CBS to buy Ten Network". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Battersby, Lucy (11 July 2017). "CBS claiming debts of $843 million from Network Ten". The Sydney Morning Hearald. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (7 September 2017). "Billionaire Ten backer Bruce Gordon wins first round in challenge to CBS takeover". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Mason, Max (19 September 2017). "Network Ten creditors' meeting votes for CBS". The Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Kruger, Colin (20 September 2017). "CBS won because Network Ten employees didn't want Lachlan Murdoch to come back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ CBS Corporation Completes Acquisition Of Ten Network. Archived 2017-11-16 at the Wayback Machine, Ten Network Holdings, 16 November 2017.
- ^ Request For Removal From The Official List, Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Ten Network Holdings, 15 November 2017.
- ^ Kruger, Colin. "Euro Ten". MSN Money. The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "About - Ten Network Holdings Limited". tenplay. Ten Network Holdings. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Mason, Max (2 April 2018). "CBS backs Network Ten's homegrown strategy, commits to long-term". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ https://www.paramountanz.com.au/news-and-insights/network-ten-reveals-pilot-week-line-up-what-will-australia-deem-the-next-big-hit/
- ^ https://www.mamamia.com.au/the-good-doctor-skit-happens/
- ^ https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/tv-shows/skit-happens-sketch-slammed-offensive-in-the-extreme/news-story/a9e125d7b6ab2694a597d1581924937a
- ^ https://www.3aw.com.au/mum-of-two-autistic-sons-slams-highly-offensive-channel-10-comedy-sketch/
- ^ "Get Your Beers Out 'Cause Drunk History Australia Is Coming To 10 and 10 play". 10 Play. Network Ten. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (20 August 2019). "Steve Curry happily "potty mouth" for Drunk History". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (20 August 2019). "Pilot Week vote: Would you watch more of Drunk History?". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, Dave (10 October 2019). "2020 Upfronts: 10: Five Bedrooms, Masked Singer, DWTS Renewed". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ Knox, David (27 March 2020). "10 Play: Drunk History Australia". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Get Your Beers Out 'Cause Drunk History Australia Is Coming To 10 and 10 play". 10 Play. ViacomCBS ANZ. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ Knox, David (2 September 2020). "Airdate: Drunk History Australia". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "About Trial By Kyle". 10 play.
- ^ Moran, Robert (16 October 2018). "Trial By Kyle is first pick up from Ten's Pilot Week, says Kyle Sandilands". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/pilot-week-channel-10-2019-56016
- ^ Tan, Steffanie (20 August 2020). "NOOO: Channel 10 Has Binned Its 'Catfish Australia' Show Hosted By Casey Donovan". Pedestrian. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ Vrajlal, Alicia (20 August 2019). "Casey Donovan's new show cancelled". Yahoo! Lifestyle. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ Perry, Kevin (19 August 2019). "10 Cancels Production on Casey Donovan hosted program Catfish Australia". TV BlackBox. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ https://cjz.com.au/shows/part-time-private-eyes/
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/sunday-19-august-2018.html
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/09/timeshifted-sunday-19-august-2018.html
- ^ quote:"Disgrace was 229,000" from https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/sunday-19-august-2018.html#comment-560732
- ^ quote:"Drunk History was 367,000." from https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/monday-20-august-2018.html#comment-560855
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/09/timeshifted-monday-20-august-2018.html
- ^ quote: "Taboo was 277,000." from https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/tuesday-21-august-2018.html#comment-560964
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/wednesday-22-august-2018.html
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/thursday-23-august-2018.html
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/09/timeshifted-thursday-23-august-2018.html
- ^ quote: "Dave pilot was 246,000." from https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/friday-24-august-2018.html#comment-561322
- ^ quote: "Bring Back Saturday Night was 203,000." from https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/08/saturday-25-august-2018.html#comment-561392
- ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/09/timeshifted-saturday-25-august-2018.html
- ^ https://mumbrella.com.au/ten-finishes-pilot-week-with-an-11-5-share-537411
- ^ https://www.mamamia.com.au/channel-10-tv-guide-pilot-week/
- ^ https://mumbrella.com.au/nine-faces-accusations-of-racism-as-694000-tune-in-for-60-minutes-report-on-meghan-markle-597161
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20191115193755/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/tuesday-10-september-2019.html
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20190920083958/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/timeshifted-tuesday-10-september-2019.html
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20210625041437/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/wednesday-11-september-2019.html
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20190920083833/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/timeshifted-wednesday-11-september-2019.html
- ^ quote: "My 80 Yr Old Flatmate pilot was 174k." fromhttps://web.archive.org/web/20191220020948/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/friday-13-september-2019.html#comment-595868
- ^ https://mumbrella.com.au/tens-pilot-week-delivers-an-11-7-share-for-the-week-598283
- ^ https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/08/04/exclusive-just-30000-people-watch-10s-pilot-showcase-winner-courtneys-closet/