FED: Ratings up for 7pm Project

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
FED: Ratings up for 7pm Project

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - The 7pm Project is finding its feet with ratings for the
light news TV program finally picking up.

The panel-style comedy show premiered with more than a million viewers last year, before
ratings plummeted to lows of under 600,000 viewers.

But Australians seem to be returning to the Ten Network show with ratings over the
past couple of weeks heading back up.

On Thursday night the show scored 800,000 viewers - about 190,000 away from rival Home
and Away on the Seven Network.

Many believe the end of daylight savings is to thank for the increased audience, while
others say viewers have simply become used to the program, which airs five nights a week.

Comedian Dave Hughes, who co-hosts alongside Charlie Pickering and Carrie Bickmore,
says the team has finally found its groove.

"We're more and more finding our rhythm," Hughes told AAP.

"Being more comfortable with ourselves. I love how we're happy to get a laugh and then
also be serious when we feel it needs to be."

Network Ten bosses made the decision to give the show a fair run, despite the lacklustre ratings.

Pickering says he can see The 7pm Project becoming a "permanent fixture".

"I don't see why it wouldn't," Pickering told AAP.

"It's not a narrative drama where you can get tired of the premise - the news is a
constant source of information and I think the show has the potential to be a mainstay
of television."

Bickmore and Pickering are both nominated for most popular new talent at this year's
Logie awards.

Pickering says hosting the show is his "dream job".

"For the first time in my career I'm not doing a job hoping that I'll get noticed and
offered a better job," the former Channel V personality said.

AAP kaf/nf/cjb

KEYWORD: PROJECT

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