Predictions of the demise of popular Seven and Prime news presenter Ian Ross seem to be somewhat premature. Last week we reported that several media sites were execting the immediate retirement of Ross following a break due to illness.  It was speculated that Peter Overton could be leaving Nine to join Chris Bath at the Seven newsdesk.

Yesterday Ian Ross was back at work and laughing off the speculation. It is good news for Seven and fnas of Ross.

Popularity: 5%

Most Watched Programs

1  Prime News Monday to Friday  PRIME  74000

2 60 Minutes NBN 69000

3 Seven News Monday to Friday PRIME 62000

4 McLeods Daughters NBN 54000

5 Seven News Saturday PRIME 53000

6 The Lost Tribes NBN 48000

7 RPA Where Are They Now? NBN 48000

8 M-Shrek 2 NBN 47000

9 Ten News Saturday TEN 46000

10 All Saints PRIME 46000

Popularity: 1%

Most Watched Programs
1  NBN Evening News Saturday – Newcastle Flood Special  NBN  173000
2 NBN Evening News Sunday – Newcastle Flood Special NBN 121000

3 NBN Evening News Monday to Friday NBN 112000

4 The Chasers War on Everything ABC 110000

5 Big Dog Goodnight NBN 102000

6 A Current Affair NBN 99000

7 Spicks & Specks ABC 98000
8 Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show NBN 93000

9 Friday Night Football Rabbitohs v Panthers NBN 90000

10 McLeods Daughters NBN 87000

Station Ratings
                    Week 23
2007     Week 23
2006     Prog
2007     Prog
2006

NBN                 37.1                     37.2                 35.0             36.6

PRIME             22.2                     22.9                 25.8             22.7

TEN                 18.6                     19.8                 17.0             19.8

ABC                 16.1                     14.3                 16.4             15.9

SBS                 6.0                       5.9                   5.8               5.0

Popularity: 1%

Last week Nine won Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, but average prime time audience shares for the week were: Seven 28.7 per cent; Nine 27.4, Ten 21.7, ABC 16.8, SBS 5.5.

It may be instructive to compare the table below with this list of the programs most watched last week by viewers aged 16 to 39: 1 Grey’s Anatomy (7); 2 My Name is Earl (7); 3 House (10); 4 The Chaser’s War on Everything (ABC); 5 Desperate Housewives (7); 6 NCIS rpt (10); 7 The Simpsons (10); 8 Big Brother Live Eviction (10); 9 Shrek 2 (9); 10 Ugly Betty (7). So Nine’s only claim on the under-40 audience was wrought by a jolly green ogre.

What Australia watched, week ending June 9
1 60 MINUTES Nine 1,683,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Mon-Fri Seven 1,612,000
3 SEVEN NEWS – SUN Seven 1,609,000
4 IT TAKES TWO Seven 1,593,000
5 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,534,000
6 SHREK 2 Nine 1,532,000
7 1 VS 100 Nine 1,476,000
8 RPA WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Nine 1,465,000
9 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,465,000
10 SEVEN NEWS – SAT Seven 1,455,000
11 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC 1,450,000
12 GREY’S ANATOMY Seven 1,434,000
13 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,430,000
14 GETAWAY Nine 1,420,000
15 THE CHASER’S WAR ON EVERYTHING ABC 1,417,000
16 HOUSE Ten 1,409,000
17 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,392,000
18 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,384,000
19 UGLY BETTY Seven 1,362,000
20 MY NAME IS EARL Seven 1,334,000

Source SMH David Dale

Popularity: 1%

Media Hunter has been told that Geoff Eather has resigned as CEO of NBN, effective 22 June. He will be replaced by Deborah Wright who has been promoted from NBN Station Manager.

Popularity: 1%

A tipster claims we can expect a boning of The Catch-Up by the end of this week.

The Catch Up airs on Nine and NBN.

Popularity: 6%

A meeting between Peter Overton and Channel Seven took place today, with a signing possible by tomorrow, sources tell The Spy Report this afternoon.

We’ve heard strong whispers that if Overton goes, Nine is looking at replacing him with former staffer Hugh Riminton.

Popularity: 5%

The Spy Report has received a tip that says Chris Bath has been told to expect to front Seven News Sydney indefinitely as Ian Ross battles poor health.

It’s believed that Ross may even retire, the tipster says.

Seven News has enjoyed high ratings since Ross, formerly with Nine, joined the network.

Seven News is broadcast on Prime in Newcastle. Chris Bath is a former NBN News Presenter.

Popularity: 6%

High-profile commentator and close Packer family friend Alan Jones has been sacked from the Today show and will deliver his final editorial on June 15.

It makes the highly influential Jones – the country’s most successful radio host – the first victim of the new majority shareholders of the Nine Network after James Packer sold a further 25 per cent of his PBL Media interests to private equity firm CVC Asia last Friday.

2GB’s Jones has delivered a two-minute editorial every morning on Today for nearly 20 years and used it to give him a national platform.

He was appointed to the program by the late Kerry Packer, but now that son James has just a 25 per cent share of PBL Media the new management has control – and wants to send a clear message it is in charge.

Jones is understood to be unhappy about the decision but has accepted it.

Nine made no comment but sources confirmed the decision had been made in recent days.

Today is broadcast Monday to Friday on NBN.

Popularity: 1%

The sale of the Nine Network’s Willoughby headquarters will move to the top of the agenda following James Packer’s decision to relinquish control of the station to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners last week.

CVC’s purchase of another 25 per cent in PBL Media, which also owns ACP Magazines and the internet joint venture ninemsn, could also prompt a rethink of publications including The Bulletin magazine.

Some insiders say it might become a monthly instead of weekly, with a bigger focus on its website.

However, PBL Media chief executive Ian Law insisted in a letter to staff yesterday that “the reality is that we are about growing our business by devoting resources to editorial and programming content as well as strengthening our efforts in sales and marketing”.

He also said ACP Magazines would not move out of Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd’s offices in Park Street, the SMH reports.

Popularity: 1%