Channel 7 and 9 locked in late-night fight

THE TV wars are set to enter a new era with a race to claim the late-night timeslot underway between Channel Seven and Nine.

Seven CEO Ryan Stokes has confirmed they are looking at new programming for the late night timeslot. Picture: Nigel Hallett

THE TV wars are set to enter a new era with a race to claim the late-night timeslot underway.

Confidential can reveal the Seven Network has been working on a late-night program for several months in a bid to crack the notoriously difficult timeslot.

The news comes after rival station Nine is rumoured to be developing a game show for the same timeslot.

Channel Seven are working on a special program for the late-night timeslot.

But it’s believed Channel Nine will rival them with a game show at a similar time. Picture: Adam Ward

An insider close to the new Seven production said the finer details are being worked out with a pilot to be shot in coming months.

“It has been an idea network executives have been playing with for a while,” the source revealed. “After 9pm the market is open, not many people are watching TV, so if the right program is made, the audience is there for the taking.”

The evening timeslot has not had massive success for any network since the Rove juggernaut of the early 2000s.

It is understood potential hosts will be trialled for Seven’s proposed new show.

Among the possible hosts are Michael Usher, who recently joined the network from Nine, Angela Cox who has come home from the US bureau after several years, and an international talent whose identity is top secret.

While Seven executives are keen for the show to go ahead, the source said they have been unenthusiastic about some of the ideas brought to the table.

Channel Seven may put Angela Cox at the helm of the new show. Picture: Tara Croser

“There is a team of people working on concepts … but so far they have been butting heads with execs over the direction of the show,” they said.

“If this goes to air, the bosses want to make sure it is must-watch TV, particularly because Nine is rumoured to be working on a late-night show of their own.”

Earlier this year Seven CEO Ryan Stokes told Confidential the network was considering new programming for the night viewing.

“It is a timeslot we are looking at,” Stokes confirmed.