Fed: Animal shows on the rise

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2008
Fed: Animal shows on the rise

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - Television networks are scrambling to produce programs about animals,
with the format proving an almost certain ratings success.

Seven's hit show The Zoo, which debuted on February 3, is the latest popular animal
program to hit our screens.

The show, which is hosted by Melissa Doyle and gives viewers an inside look at some
of Australia's most popular zoos, was an instant ratings winner, picking up 1.386 million
viewers.

Its second episode last Sunday picked up 1.32 million viewers and was the fifth most
watched show in the country.

It joins other animal shows already on the commercial networks including Seven's RSPCA
Animal Rescue, which returned for another series last night, and Nine's Talk to the Animals,
which is hosted by Nicky Buckley.

And there'll be more to come this year.

Seven will screen Outback Wildlife Rescue, while Nine is pinning its ratings hopes
on Animal Emergency, which gives viewers a look inside Melbourne's Lort Smith Animal Hospital
- one of the largest animal hospitals in the world.

Later in the year Network Ten will air Bondi Vet, which started production this week.

The show features Sydney veterinarian Dr Chris Brown, who lives and works in Bondi,
and aims to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look into his work.

Last year Ten aired a five-part series Celebrity Dog School, which was not the ratings
winner the network had hoped.

But Ten believes Bondi Vet will be different story, with a Ten spokeswoman describing
it as a cross between successful shows Bondi Rescue and RPA.

According to senior media analyst and buyer Harold Mitchell, the trend is not likely
to go away any time soon.

"Programming often goes in cycles," Mr Mitchell said.

"One initial success is followed by others that copy. This is currently happening with
animal shows.

"And we'll see more."

Mr Mitchell said the fact that The Zoo was doing so well would only add to the growing
number of programs.

"The Zoo is doing quite well, so this is the beginning of a cycle of shows that are
successful," he said.

Mr Mitchell said the networks' affinity for animal shows had little to do with the
fact that they were relatively cheap to make.

He added viewers should also expect to see an increasing number of crime shows on television
soon following the successful premiere of the Nine Network's controversial drama Underbelly.

"Next will be violence," Mr Mitchell said.

The premiere of the dramatisation of Melbourne's gangland wars was watched by more
than 1.3 million Australians despite it being banned from viewing in Victoria because
of a court order.

AAP kaf/jt/mn

KEYWORD: ANIMALS (WITH FACTBOX)

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