McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

It was a week where the industry faced more impacts from COVID-19, the ABC and Christian Porter went to war on the PR front and Channel 10 delivered some sizzle for their upcoming shows   There’ sone thing certain when it comes to the Australian television industry – it’s always evolving and always changing.   Currently, each network is finding new ways to showcase their ratings performa...

In an exclusive interview Seven's Director of programming Angus Ross reveals his plans for 2022 and beyond. Angus has been the Director of Programming at the Seven Network since 2012. He carries the weight of the commissioning and acquisitions of all entertainment content across the channels of Seven and 7plus. Topics include: His high school days and what he wanted to do prior to being in the med...

More job losses in the industry and more ethical questions raised about the conduct of two national broadcasters.   Australian television is never dull, that’s for sure. It’s been a week where WIN has announced the axing of 6 local bulletins and the ABC has fired back at its critics as one of its reports attacks the credibility of a senior media professional.   On the ratings front we’ve...

Alex Hayes has over 500 000 followers on social media and his influence and reach continues to grow. His upcoming appearance on Nine's Celebrity Apprentice Australia is likely to introduce himself to a whole new audience and potentially more followers. In this lengthy One on One podcast, I dig a little deeper to understand what this idea about social media influencing really means and find out abo...

Seven’s won another week, Craig McLachlan made headlines again and Lego Masters dominated… but sometimes the biggest stories are the ones you haven’t read about.   There’s plenty of topics to discuss this week including what is probably the most important issue of all: ratings.   It’s the one thing every network cares about,but it’s not often they agree on the data. From the daily spin t...

Nick Bracks is well known in Australia for his modelling career, various high profile businesses, his stint on Dancing with the Stars, a role in Neighbours and his advocacy work in the mental health space. In this podcast: Nick Bracks discusses: The perceived pressure of being the son of Victoria's longest-serving Premier His unhealthy and private obsession with fitness at a very young age Turning...

A lot has happened since our last episode, which is why we’ve had to do two big news sections this week.   Things get a little heated during the discussions… and for once Rob isn’t involved! No, this time it’s Aaron and Molk on ratings and demos and the rest of us still don’t understand what they’re talking about!   In this episode: ·     2.42 – Bert Newton has h...

Tony Barber graced our screens for four decades through The Great Temptation, Family Feud, Sale of the Century and Jeopardy, has worked for 7, 9 and 10 and picked up a Gold Logie along the way. Australian television game show royalty, Tony Barber talks to Aaron Ryan at TV Blackbox about his career from the Navy to radio, to singing and dancing and to rising to the game show mountain by hosting day...

Well, well, well. Hasn’t it been another interesting week in the world of television. The team are wrapping their heads around the latest headlines and bringing new information to breaking stories as we record the podcast.   In this episode: ·     1.50 – 9 News faces backlash over regional news service cuts ·     8.27 – Big Brother attacked fo...

The gang are back to talk about another big week in television which has seen Big Brother enter the mix in the 7.30 timeslot battle.   We’ve also seen the departure of a key executive who has influenced our TV screens in a very big way.   Plus we share our viewing habits to give you some new ideas on what to watch.   In this episode: ·     2.50 – Craig Campb...

We take a two-week break and the TV industry explodes with big stories. Luckily, we’re back to bring you our insights and commentary.   Molk is also back to deliver his recommendations on what to watch and Sarah’s running late (even though she’s literally 2 feet away on her boathouse).   In this episode: ·     1.47 – More developments in the Neighbours racism all...

Todd McKenney returns to Dancing with the Stars and speaks to TV Blackbox about the two week event, the nostalgia and dating Sonia Kruger. getting the gang back together the banter between himself and Sonia the story behind Sonia Kruger being his first girlfriend the professional dancers his lower scores compared to the other judges whether he believes Schapelle Corby is a worthy participant going...

It’s been a week of chaos for channel 9 with a cyber attack and your good friends at TV Blackbox have all the inside goss.   We’ll also go down the rabbit hole and give Logies organisers some advice on what they must do to make sure the awards are credible going forward.   Also, there’s more exclusive news and our guide to what we’ve been watching over the past week.   In this episo...

Everyone can stop panicking as we’ve come up with the solution to saving the TV industry.   It’s an episode where a topic goes off on a tangent (nothing new there) and we end up examining the disconnect between producers and viewers. Is a successful TV show down to skill or just dumb luck?   We’re about to get very honest.   Plus, how Rove McManus killed variety television and Sharo...

The news TV Blackbox broke a week ago has finally been confirmed – Natalie Barr is the new host of Sunrise.   About time everyone caught up!   We’ll talk to Nat about her past, present and future and find out her plans for Seven’s #1 breakfast show.   Also, there’s more exclusive news and our guide to what we’ve been watching over the past week.   In this episode: ·  ...

Noni Hazlehurst is an Australian television icon, starting her career on The Box in 1974 Memorable moments would sparkle the television landscape with roles in The Sullivans , Waterfront , The Shiralee and The Letdown . A whole generation of Australians watched her present the ABC's flagship program, Play School, for over 20 years. She was the main presenter of Better Homes and Gardens on Channel...

Oprah’s bombshell interview has brought ratings and headlines across the world, but Australia’s own Sam Armytage still managed to drop her own bombshell here in Australia.   There’s always so much to discuss in the world of television and this week things might get a bit controversial as one of the panel go on a rant (and for once it’s not Rob).   In this episode: ·   &nbs...

An old favourite returns to the podcast this week as we talk deals, accidents and spray’s.   Dan Bennett comes back to his old stomping ground to share his views on the stories of the week alongside Rob McKnight, Sarah Monahan and Aaron Ryan.   In this episode: ·     1.19 – Regional TV in for a shake-up as WIN TV gets set to return to Nine ·   &nbs...

It’s an episode where you’ll learn waaaaaaaay too much about sex in retirement homes!   YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!   But we’ll also chat with the legendary Larry Emdur after official confirmation he wilkl be hosting Channel 7’s The Chase Australia . Larry is one of the nicest guys on TV and he opens up about the audition process and whether he’s feels the pressure of taking over a successful...

There’s been good news and bad news in the world of TV this week.   THE GOOD: Seven has posted a profit despite a soft advertising market, 10 has been given millions of dollars by the Government and Beau Ryan is apparently making mega-bucks   THE BAD: TV ratings are dire despite the fact the official ratings survey has just begun, a TV producer is on indefinite leave and does anyone actu...

In this episode, we welcome our contributor Rod Morris - a veteran who's done more TV than just about anyone. We also speak to the experts from Married at First Sight and bring you up-to-speed with the biggest TV stories of the week. 3.07 – Larry Emdur to replace Andrew O’Keefe on THE CHASE 8.23 – Surgery for Allison Langdon after an accident on The Today Show 11.23 – Ranger Stacey speaks abo...

We're back and things are a little different. Radio and TV host Ben Fordham joins us to talk all things TV... and boy is there a LOT to talk about! In this episode: ·     5.42 – Andrew O’Keefe and Ash Williams face court ·     17.43 – Rob brings everyone up-to-speed on LIVE+ ·     20.354 – STAN makes a big play for sport an...

Ash Williams is a legend! Pure and simple. As he finds fame on the 2021 edition of Channel 10's I'M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE! we find out why he didn't want to do the show, how he missed out on being THE BACHELOR and there are plenty of secrets revealed along the way. Strap yourself in for a wild ride with the most unpredictable man in showbusiness Support this show http://supporter.acast.co...

Settle in with a bit of eggnog as we bring you the Christmas tale of Australian television. It’s the final episode of TV Blackbox for 2020 and we have some tall tales to tell! We also welcome special guest producer to the stars Abbey Mikkelsen ! Each week the TV Blackbox team take you behind the scenes, wade through the PR spin and launch into the reality that is the Australian television business...

The ratings race for 2020 is over but the spin has just begun!   The team are all together as we say goodbye to official ratings and look at all the big stories of the week, including the ABC which held its showcase event for 2021. Each week the TV Blackbox team take you behind the scenes, wade through the PR spin and launch into the reality that is the Australian television business   I...