Since Channel Seven have been portentously telling us about their post-Olympics premieres with the hilariously epic "AFTER THE OLYMPICS" promos for all their new material, it's doubtful that there's a single person in the country who doesn't realise that every network has been waiting for today (or, in Ten's case, last night) to start pummelling you with new shows and ratings-grabbing programming decisions. Got your TV guide and a highlighter ready? Good, here's the word from the network heads:

Seven will lead the launch with nine new or fresh series starting this week, with Nine and Ten staggering their news shows over several weeks.

 

"It is without doubt going to be the most fiercely competitive back end of the year we've ever had," said Ten spokeswoman Joan Papadopoulos.

The fact each commercial network has a new drama is remarkable - Seven's is family-based Packed To The Rafters, Ten's is police emergency Rush and Nine has Gold Coast crime series The Strip.

Having seen the ads for Rush approximately 50,000 times over the past fortnight, I'm actually quite excited for that one. The main problem with Seven's promos is that they spent so much time saying "AFTER THE OLYMPICS" and pressing the slow-mo button that it was more or less impossible to actually get a grasp of what, i.e., Packed To The Rafters is going to be like, other than something about Rebecca Gibney laughing while being crash-tackled by her TV hubby, and then Martha from Home & Away taking off a trench-coat in a hallway, or something. Help me, I need Seven de-promo-ing.

In any case, let's place some bets: I'm calling it a photo finish between Rush (everyone loves a gritty Melbourne crime show) and Packed To The Rafters (Always Greener syndrome), and Nine tailing with The Strip (because why watch the Gold Coast when you could watch CSI: Miami?). Your turn. Are you interested in any of the new programs about to begin?

Tags: au | channel nine | channel seven | channel ten | industry | packed to the rafters | ratings | rush | the strip