While Hollywood continues to gnash its teeth through the Writer's Strike, and favoured dramas, comedies and chat shows go silent without scripts, it seems the Strike is bringing about some goodness - for the Australian television industry.

Media boffins predict that because there are less new episodes of favoured US shows to buy, but networks will still be charging the same amount for advertising - even if repeats are being shown - the local networks could be left with money to burn, which would hopefully be spent on commissioning local content. In fact, that looks highly likely already.

Tim Worner, programming head for ratings leader the Seven Network, agreed that a repeats overkill could be dangerous.

"We have to be careful - with some shows, you're starting to see their bum through their pants," he said.

Mr Worner said Seven devised a plan last October to prepare for the worst. "The essence was turning a problem into an opportunity." That plan included holding back US programming that could have run during the summer, and expanding and extending Australian production.

Other networks have also made contingency plans. Nine Network's programming boss Michael Healy said the network had decided to make more local programs: "There are shows we have already commissioned because of the writers' strike."

Ten Network's programming head David Mott is also in commissioning mode, with the network to reveal more local shows "within the next week".

This is all well and good, provided said proposed local content doesn't feature a) Hotdogs or b) Kyle Sandilands. Which, given the recent run of new Australian television, is probably almost guaranteed.

Who knew there'd ever be a time when we pined for repeats of Just Shoot Me! and The Nanny?

 

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