The Nation (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | June 5, 2007 |
| Defunct | August 29, 2007 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Key people | Mick Molloy (host), Pete Smith (announcer) |
| Products | Television program |
| Parent | Nine Network |
The Nation was an Australian television series combining satirical sketches and panel discussions that addressed current political and social issues on a weekly basis. It debuted on 5 June 2007 at 9:30 pm on the Nine Network. The program was hosted by Mick Molloy and featured a cast including Akmal Saleh, Jackie O, Tiffany Cherry, Gary Eck, Paul Calleja, Nikki Osborne, with Pete Smith serving as the announcer. Filming took place in front of a live audience at the GTV-9 studios in Melbourne. Early episodes welcomed guests such as Peter Garrett, Stephen Curry, and Lisa McCune. The series ended its run on 29 August 2007.
Ratings
At its premiere, the show led the Nine Network’s 16-39 age group ratings in Melbourne, Sydney, and along the east coast; however, it placed third nationwide behind Channel Seven’s Crossing Jordan and Channel Ten’s Numb3rs. Viewer numbers dropped significantly after the first episode, with the second installment losing more than 20% of its audience. In response, adjustments were made to the format, including adding experienced announcer Pete Smith and WSFM 101.7’s Amanda Keller to the lineup. On 4 July 2007, Nine rescheduled the program to Wednesdays at 10:30 pm, positioning it against Ten Late News and Channel Seven’s The Unit.
Viewership figures by episode were:
- Ep. 1: 772,000
- Ep. 2: 610,000
- Ep. 3: 626,000
- Ep. 4: 575,000
- Ep. 5: 548,000
- Ep. 6: 418,000
- Ep. 7: 363,000
- Ep. 8: 398,000
- Ep. 9: 387,000
- Ep.10: 406,000
- Ep.11: 413,000
Criticism
According to the Herald Sun, reactions to the first episode were mixed; numerous viewers contacted Nine Network to express concerns regarding jokes they considered offensive during the broadcast.