Channel Ten's days as the darling of the ratings - or at least the critics - looks on shaky ground, with the news that one of their pet projects may not return for another year.

Thank God You're Here, one of Ten's only recent runaway successes (and a much-needed one in the light of Idol's crumbling appeal and a wash of US re-heats and dud local content) may not be signing on for 2008, and the pundits don't favour Ten's chances without the Working Dog theatresports show.

[Media commentator Glenn] Dyer said the appointment of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O as the new Big Brother hosts could prove problematic.

"Kyle is one of the judges on Australian Idol. Its final was down 700,000 [on debut] ... Kyle and the other judges bear some responsibility for that.

"On that basis, I think Kyle and Jackie O will probably make people nostalgic for Gretel Killeen.

"Big Brother's been bland for two years. Ten wants to go back to being a bit outrageous, a bit controversial to get people to watch."

Ten also faces stiff competition from Nine following the unveiling of the latter's new branding, clearly targeting Ten's predominantly younger audience.

Media buyer Steve Allen said: "If you ask people around town, Seven looks good; Nine looks promising; Ten, there's a question mark over it."

If you ask us, Ten started going down the gurgler when they put Secret Life Of Us on during the day and capped it off by insisting on shite local versions of overseas reality/talent hits.

But as for "the young people" going over to Nine, that's probably also about as likely as Nine ever showing a drama series in full, chronological order, at the same time each week.