1. Great Australian Bake Off FINALLY GETS AN AIRDATE!!!

Yes, it really has.

Nine have advised (as predicted) that the Great Australian Bake Off will hit our screens from 8pm Tuesday 9 July, allowing all to see if the wait and end-to-end promotion has been worth it – I think it is. (At least they waited for Packed To The Rafters to finish instead of launching it against the finale of Seven’s Aussie Drama juggernaut.)

2. There were movements at the station…

Wednesday night threw TV schedules into chaos (as is evidenced by the re-issued FTA rankings here). Some networks fared better than others, as was evidenced by Helen Kaplos‘s “moment” on Today Tonight that evening:

It only fuelled rumours that Seven would be returning to the hour of news/current affairs it trialled at the start of 2013, especially when that’s what played out on Thursday night. It also extended speculation that’s what Melissa Doyle will be doing in Sydney after she announced she’d be leaving Sunrise in a few weeks for a “national prime time news program”, rumoured to be co-hosted by a very absent Matt White. Will this be the end of the first news/sports-reading husband/wife duo in Chris Bath and Jim Wilson, or will there be a new program appear on 7Two at 7pm (as is the other rumour)? Time will indeed tell.

Samantha Armytage will replace Doyle on Sunrise, with her replacement on Weekend Sunrise still to be announced.

3. Ten wins AND loses simultaneously.

Two big appointments this week – Ricky Ponting will join the Ten Sport commentary team once they start broadcasting the Twenty/20 Big Bash competition later this year, and Joe Hildebrand will join Ten Mornings as the co-host of the program with Ita Buttrose. They’re also looking for staff too (so it can’t be too far away):

Want to join @TenMornings. We're looking for staff now: http://t.co/VhXEdFljsh @TenCareers #MorningPirates

— Ten Mornings (@TenMornings) June 25, 2013

It’s also been a week of those interesting times the Chinese proverb spoke about ratings wise. Under the Dome premiered on Tuesday past and draws a very strong crowd against the third last episode of Rafters, giving the network something to crow about indeed. It also scored a replay Friday night at 9:30pm in the timeslot formerly occupied by Reef Doctors, the latter experiencing its third timeslot change in as many weeks and now finding a “home” on Eleven 6:30pm Saturday.

4. #WNF.

Sketch comedy, recorded in front of a studio audience. Add in political lampooning (and hurried re-writes after the re-coup in Parliament) and the team at Wednesday Night Fever more than have their work cut out for them – but they’re clearly up to the challenge:

5. New TV coming your way.

Screen Australia have announced the recipients of a whole new batch of funding for TV and film, and in very important news the Danger 5 team have secured cash to return for a second season. This is a very promising list for TV to come in 2031/14 (with Asher Keddie and Rodger Corser already attached to Party Tricks:

Adult Drama

ANZAC GIRLS
AG TV (SPV of Screentime)
Producers Lisa Scott, Felicity Packard
Writers Felicity Packard, Niki Aken
Directors Ken Cameron, Ian Watson
Broadcaster ABC Television
Domestic Sales Village Roadshow
International Sales ALL3MEDIA
Synopsis In World War I, 3000 young Aussie and Kiwi women served as nurses – nearly 300 were decorated for courage beyond the call of duty. But they were also just ordinary girls. A story based on real events and real people.

CATCHING MILAT
Shine (Aust) Pty Ltd
Producer Kerrie Mainwaring
Writer Justin Monjo
Director Peter Andrikidis
Broadcaster Seven Network
International Sales Shine International
Synopsis This true story of the investigation that leads to the arrest of Ivan Milat details Detective Paul Gordon’s struggle to find the killer – and then convince his bosses he is on the right track.

DANGER 5 SERIES 2
Dinosaur Pty Ltd
Producers Kate Croser, Dario Russo
Writer Dario Russo, David Ashby
Director Dario Russo
Broadcaster SBS
Domestic Sales SBS Content Sales
Synopsis It’s Christmas in the 1980s. Adolf Hitler is alive and has two Yuletide wishes: Danger 5 dead… and the world under his Christmas tree.

THE GALLIPOLI STORY
Matchbox Pictures Pty Ltd
Producers Penny Chapman, John Schwartz, Jacquelin Perske
Executive producers Sam Worthington, Penny Win, Michael McMahon, Michael Schwarz, Luca Scalisi
Directors TBC
Writers Jacquelin Perske, Shaun Grant, Cate Shortland, Stuart Beattie
Broadcaster Foxtel
International Sales NBC Universal
Synopsis The story of journalists Charles Bean, Ellis Ashmead Bartlett and Philip Schuler, sent with the troops to Gallipoli in 1915, and how their quest for the truth helped change the war’s course – and its legend.

LOVE CHILD
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Producers David Maher, David Taylor, Sarah Lambert, Sue Seeary
Writers Tim Pye, Liz Doran, Sarah Lambert
Directors Shawn Seet, Shirley Barrett, Geoff Bennett, Ian Barry
Broadcaster Nine Network
International Sales ALL3MEDIA
Synopsis A character drama set in 1969 in Kings Cross; the time and place Australia came of age and the new generation broke all the rules.

PARTY TRICKS
Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Imogen Banks, John Edwards
Writer Michael Lucas
Broadcaster Network Ten
International Sales Endemol Worldwide Distribution
Synopsis A woman’s campaign to be the next State Premier is complicated when her ex-lover is announced as the new leader of the opposition.

CHILDREN’S TV DRAMA

IN YOUR DREAMS SERIES 2
Southern Star Entertainment
Producer Noel Price
Writers Josh Mapleston, John Armstrong, Tim Gooding, Julie Miller
Director Ralph Strasser
Broadcasters Seven Network, NDR
International Sales Endemol Worldwide Distribution
Synopsis Sam and Ben are settling back into life in Australia when their eccentric German relatives, Philipp and Lili von Hasenburg arrive unexpectedly. But things suddenly go pear shaped when Philipp is arrested and can’t return to Germany. The Australian twins must then make choices that will affect the lives of everyone around them.

LITTLE LUNCH
Gristmill Pty Ltd
Producers Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope
Writers Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope
Director Wayne Hope
Broadcaster ABC 3
International Sales ACTF
Synopsis A mockumentary series about what happens at snack time in the primary school playground, based on the books written by Danny Katz and illustrated by Mitch Vane.

MAKO ISLAND OF SECRETS SERIES 2
Jonathan M Shiff Productions (JMSP)
Producer Jonathan M Shiff
Writers Anthony Morris, Michael Joshua, Max Dann
Directors Evan Clarry, Grant Brown
Broadcasters Network Ten (Domestic), ZDF Germany (German-speaking)
International Sales ZDF Enterprises
Synopsis A new mermaid arrives convinced that Zac is a danger to mermaids everywhere, not realising that there may be another merman in town bent on seizing Mako Island for himself.