Top Gear Australia Changing Channels And Hosts?

[FinalGear]

It's been a busy couple of days -- first rumors of Fifth Gear getting canceled and now multiple reports that Australia's Channel Nine has gained the rights from the BBC to do the show instead of SBS.

Rumor is that Shane Warne is being talked to to host the show as well as Jeremy Clarkson, although I have no idea how that would work.

We'll let you know as the news comes in and thanks to everyone who sent in tips.


Posted By: Viper007Bond
Link: http://www.finalgear.com/news/2009/1...nels-and-hosts

[dakameleon]

It's not "multiple reports" because the Herald Sun is a part of the News Ltd group - which is the second site linked above. If you look at the second page linked above, you'll note it's got "Herald Sun" after the author's name - the appearance of multiple reports is just a ploy for more page views.

And as huge as Warney is, he's a bit wooden in front of the camera. I fear for the easy going charm of the current hosts...

[MP4/14]

It will be the death of TGA if it goes to CH9.

[bootlegapparel]

Don't trust news ltd, they're rubbish.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...21/2719929.htm

Top Gear denies Clarkson, Warnie match-up

Posted 1 hour 8 minutes ago

The BBC has denied reports Jeremy Clarkson and cricketer Shane Warne will join forces to host a new series of Top Gear Australia.

News Limited and Fairfax reported that Channel Nine had snared the rights to the popular motoring show from SBS.

The News Limited report added that Clarkson and Warne - a fast car enthusiast - would front the local version of the show.

"Utter nonsense," said a spokeswoman for BBC Worldwide, which owns the rights to the franchise.

She did, however, confirm the BBC was in talks about the future of Top Gear Australia.

"Beyond that there is really nothing to add," she said.

The British edition of Top Gear - hosted by Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May - is estimated to have a worldwide audience of 285 million.

SBS has broadcast the hugely successful show since 2005 and has produced two seasons of a local version.

[drnick]

On reading this, i had to check the date to make sure it wasnt April 1st.

Biggest load of bollocks I've ever read.

if its true, it will rapidly descend into another "The Car Show", and no one wants that. 9 will ruin it

[wikkedsnaab]

TV execs must be the most impatient type of people after 2 year old toddlers... TGA finally has the right bits in place, it just needs a few more shows under its belt to get into its groove. Channel 9 would be insta-death for TGA (as it is for any credible show), as would having Warnie as a host.

[iNOMAD]

I like Top Gear AU the way it is. I hope that the hosts don't change.

[NooDle]

BOO! Me no like cricketers!

I just want Warren and Pizzati, thanks

[Fleetfoot]

The way of Australia, throw some dumb blonde airhead at a show and call them presenters, shane may be all that and a cricket player and he owns big cars but he'll be the death of TGau, too cocky, too up himself, too "look at me" womanizing piece of ego driven drivle.

There's a FORMULA to TG uk and by sticking Warnie in it they've already killed the formula.
Yes, you can try to put some celeb driver in it (which they will) and that'll kill it too, that just makes it Fifth Gear which is now cancelled for that exact reason, too much ego and no "fun factor othere than Johnny smith.
Or they can learn the formula and put in some humans (not media boss suck ups or sons of celebs ...) and that'll kill it too.

Warren did ok, Steve started to get it right, Morrison was pulled in after Cox failed to grasp what it takes to emulate or beat Jeremies skills and Morrison didn't do a bad stint.

Channel 9.. best of luck but starting all over with Shane is the worst start TGau could have.

[cardinal fang]

Too much change too quickly, I reckon Warnie could work, but his profile is too large, as is his ego.
Channel Nein already suffering relevancy deficit, income deficit, and looking for an easy fix, and TGA ticks the boxes.
SBS has done the work to get the show with a Oz flavour, now Nein want it.
Show me the money.

[Dsemaj]

Sure. Sure. Sure. I'll see it when I believe it. Top Gear will not work on a commercial station, period. (Before you whinge, SBS is not commercial, despite having advertisers) Channel Nine's previous attempt at a car show, the... Car Show was basically padded press releases, presented on camera with jokes even your dad wouldn't touch and more sponsors plastered on than a NASCAR team.

[JaMa]

Originally Posted by iNOMAD

I like Top Gear AU the way it is. I hope that the hosts don't change.

I agree. I thought season 2 was a *big* improvement from season 1. Plus, for chrissake, they are trying to invent their own version, not just emulate Clarkson/Hammond/May. There's a community of us in the US who watch the show - not because its top gear, but because it's a decent show and gives us another outlet to see what the rest of the world thinks about the automotive world (the US is a complete vacuum of good automotive journalism.)

Anyway I hope they dont change it...

J

[d798]

yup. keep top gear australia the way it is..improve but dont mess it up..altough an ep or two with that superstar whatever might be entertaining..make him go thru some rubbish challenge like the grass cutting bit...hehe
hell come down from his pedestal pretty quick

[ashspet]

ffs, give it some time to settle in. Keep messing with it and it'll never make it. Granted the changes for s2 made it better than s1. Now's the time to let it develop and grow. Mr Warne is just a size thirteen steelie in the petunias.

(steelie - steel capped boot)

[jimmy44]

Well The Age says it has happened:

Top Gear ready to park itself at Nine

Channel Nine today announced it has won the rights to screen the popular BBC car show Top Gear from existing Australian broadcaster SBS.

Nine, which was outbid by SBS when rights were on the block several years ago, has secured access to all 13 seasons of the show except for the first.


No announcement has been made on any possible changes to the show, but speculation in News Ltd papers earlier this week suggested former cricket star and renowned car buff Shane Warne could have a hosting role.
The move to Nine would be an ideal fit for the Top Gear franchise. Nine's parent company, PBL Media, publishes the Top Gear magazine and is a partner in the Top Gear Live outdoor event, which returns to Sydney in February.


The Top Gear brand is lucrative and includes products from magazines and books to clothes and bumper stickers.


The show is estimated to have a worldwide audience of 385 million.


The loss of Top Gear is a blow to SBS, which has just finished airing the 13th series. It was the broadcaster's highest-rating regular show, often attracting audiences in excess of a million.


More crucially for SBS, it was a flagship show for the public broadcaster as it seeks to complement insufficient Government subsidy with commercial sponsorships.


While Top Gear Australia has bucked the industry norm by not outrating the original, it remains the highest-rating locally produced program that SBS has made.


with Paul Kalina




Source: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...147879814.html




Seems like they may have got the rights to the UK version as well (all 13 seasons). Man I hope this is not true and The Age just messed their facts up

[bootlegapparel]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...section=justin

[dakameleon]

So looks like the move to Nine is confirmed at least... wonder what they'll do to the timeslot. And whether they'll jump straight in to the new series later this year - SBS had been catching up...

[fbc]

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