Seven cancels more programs, including Sydney Weekender after 25 years

It appears Seven is slowly morphing into a sports only network with some reality TV thrown in. It’s a shame really because they’re alienating many Australians whose interest lie elsewhere.

Cheap reality shows taking over. Further indication of TV’s free to air demise.

Seems channel 7 has no idea what people want not everyone is into reality shows (which are manufactured by the network to make it a show no reality what do ever) Some of us really do want to see what this country is all about there are some really great places off the track. Who wants to see the hashed Big Brother ,Farmer wants a wife my kitchen rules all these shows are over the top with scandles ,billing ,bitchyness and very bad acting get a grip channel 7 and get some real shows on your channel

Not looking to troll you Pete but isn’t it all about what rates and brings in the advertising dollar and not what we believe to be “quality” shows? If a show on basket weaving by African tribeswomen rated 1.5 million viewers each week, do you not think that the networks would be putting that on ahead of “cheap reality shows” if those reality shows rated poorly? It’s all about the dollars baby and that’s the way it should be, no?

@Hans van Winklestein
The FTA networks are not completely run for commercial return, as you’d suggest. There is a charter, to which all FTA networks, by law, have to adopt and abide by… regardless of commercial ROI.

Minimum Quotas apply for: Regional content, Children/Pre-school content, Drama content, Community Service Content…

How they commercialise this content is their challenge. However, if they can’t commercialise this content, they have no choice but to still include some form of content to meet their minimum requirements.

ref: https://www.freetv.com.au/what-we-do/industry-standards/

Hope this helps to clear a few concerns around why some viewers / readers will be upset at the loss of regionally targeted content. As per one of the key points in this report.

There are also job losses as a result of these shows being axed which are not mentioned here !

Look at the garbage they are replacing it with, the benefit that show had in promoting New South Wales attractions, accommodation, special events, restaurants…etc is significant. The free to air networks are only following what each other do to the point of saturation and nothing really original. Thank god for pay TV I have really no reason to watch free to air anymore.

NINE WILL END UP WITH THOSE SEVEN STAFF THAT LOSE THEIR JOBS SO FAR NNE HAS SIGNED ALEX CULLEN SEVENS EX SUNDAY NIGHT REPORTER

Thanks for that Jason. Give the caps lock an extra tap next time mate.

What a shame Channel 7 has lost the plot. Slowly degrading over the last couple of years. Who wants to watch reality shows which is all you broadcast. With low calibre human beings flaunting themselves, bad language, exhibiting bodies to the other sex. Which isn’t a good example for the younger generation
As well as this the over content of cooking shows with fighting teams defnitly not cooking. Big brother come on channel 7 do you have to.
It seems to me you are designing your program content for the 20+ age group who don’t stay home they go out clubbing.
To have a good informational news program with local news content (eg: for WA) & not everything dominating from another state would be welcome. To input some great shows or movies & not reruns of shows that were aired a couple of weeks ago or programs rehashed from years ago.
Food for thought.
You have lost us as viewers

I wonder if the sacked staff were put on new EA agreements or contracts several weeks before the firings, on the repeated promise there would be no redundancies, like the newly-sacked staff at Pacific Mags were?
Think Channel Seven is a family-oriented company? Think again.
They will NOT be allowed to get away with what they have done. Watch this space.

Just more cheap reality tv and rubbish. Free to air is in a race to the bottom! Mark K

About a month ago I watched Sydney Weekender (which is a great and interesting show), apart from then I have not watched it for years. I don’t like Mike Whitney (people who laugh at their own jokes are generally not funny) but when I saw how much he has aged my immediate thought was ‘my God, how the hell is this man still on TV’? He looks positively [edited under Mumbrella’s comment policy]. Does anyone else think the same way?

If channel 9 or 10 are reading this can you please pick up Sydney Weekender – it is a great show and it showcases the best of what NSW has to offer – which is what we need in our country towns to promote tourism. I have booked trips away to country destinations and had many a meal from the restaurants showcased on the show as well.

Looks to me that [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] goes from one job kills it [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] then goes to another and kills it too. Shame shame [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]

I guess that means permanently switching to ABC and SBS. All you will see on the other stations will be wanne-be’s on reality shows and then encores of the reality shows, not for me

Now I will switch to ABC and SBS permanently. Can’t stand all those Wanne-be’s on reality shows. All we will see on the other 3 stations next year will be reality shows followed by encores of the same. Why don’t they all have a dedicated station for this crap and have shows with actual entertainment and interest

HaAATE Big Brother. Boring! Cheap crap to watch so must be cheap to produe. Only the 1st one was an interesting novelty.

HaAATE Big Brother. Boring! Cheap crap to watch so must be cheap as sh…t to create and produe. The 1st one was an interesting novelty.

Hilarious

Channel 7 is no longer a channel worth watching. Just sport and knockoffs of American rubbish. Even Sunrise is going downhill. It must be a lot cheaper to make than. I think that it may have something to do with them having new shareholders.
These channels have shares in Pay TV channels. They will make us pay for good content and leave us with rubbish. Free to air will have sport where they make big bucks from advertising

GOLLY EVEN HIS NAME IS IN CAPITALS

Brendon what a nasty comment He is the most successful and long running host on television. He is 60. God knows who you are and what you do. No doubt it is of little substance.

What a nasty comment Brendon. Mike is still on television because of his affable nature and his exceptional skill at being the longest running host on television. Sydney Weekender rates highly on a weekly basis. God knows what you do but no doubt it’s of little substance.

Biggest mistake 7
Real places ,real people ,great for our tourism
I don’t watch the fake “reality shows “ and as someone else commented who wants to watch the cat fighting on most of the others shows 7 is now leading to
Sorry you have lost me

Umm, did we miss the bit where Sydney Weekender was an advertorial show? Not saying that’s a bad thing, but definitely pay for play…
Also have to agree with @Brendon – not about the age thing (glass houses), but about Mike Whitney, he does laugh at his own jokes, a lot…
To be fair, I think I prefer Mike to Sonia – she was excruciating on the Voice, and am baffled that she is going to be on big $$s to do Big Brother and a Mega Mini Golf (which I’m excited about btw…).
Maybe someone can do a Reality Show ‘Battle of the Excruciating TV Hosts’ – Sonia, Grant Denyer, Darren McMullen, Kochy and Gretel Killeen…?

I agree, Channel 7 has lost the plot and does not know what its viewers want. Sydney Weekender is a great show and showcases NSW tourism and because of the show i have visited a lot of the places they promote. The person who is making these decisions should get the chop not Mike Whitney and Sydney Weekender.

Channel 7 really does not know what its viewers want. This is a great show and Mike Whitney and his team have been terrific. They have done so much for tourism and highlighting our towns that because of this show i like many others have visited places i would never have ever discovered. Instead of chopping the show with Mike and his team they should be sacking the people who made this really dumb decision.

It is sad I totally agree to much sport nothing of interest for the other people who not sports minded some reality’s loosing interest it like there running out of things of interest to show. ?

So write very true totally agree there

Well, here we go again, you are a disgrace channel 7 and management
You axe so many of your most loved and long running shows.
I very rarely watch chn.7 and now I never will.
Why don’t you sack that old has been
David Koch. He is such a [edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] trying to be young again with out any success.
Wake up to your selves
Ex viewer