People power changes network schedules

TEN seems to have finally heard Supernatural fans...

TV networks sometimes really do take notice of what we're telling them.

Sometimes when the audience makes their feelings known television networks actually do listen.

The ABC has been forced to take notice of ratings and complaints over two of its shows and it has buckled to pressure.

Fans of Collectors have been unhappy with its new Sunday night time slot this year. It had been pushed out of its long-established Friday night slot to make way for the whodunit show Sleuth 101.

That sent viewers into a tailspin and they let the network know their anger on the show's message board.

"Watching Collectors use to be a great way to start a weekend. Now it being on Sunday afternoon I find it too rushed and unable to let the collections sink in," said Liz.

"It is an awful time slot for the program as it usually coincides with the start/middle or ending of dinner so one can't snuggle into a comfy chair and relax whilst the show is on," said Helly.

"Very unhappy about program change to Sunday nights, never missed a Friday night show, I have been unable to see any of the Sunday night shows, and miss my favourite show," added Pamela.

From March 19th the show will be back to 8pm Fridays while Sleuth 101 will take over the 6:30pm Sunday slot from March 28.

The drama series My Place is also getting the push. Having aired on ABC3, the network was keen to give it a wider replay on ABC1, to accommodate families who don't have digital television yet.

But it has been sinking in the ratings, down to 286,000 on a premium Sunday night slot. At 7:30pm it was thrashed by Airways (1.43 million viewers), Border Security (1.42m), Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (1.2m) and 60 Minutes (1.09m). After just two weeks, ABC has resigned itself to the fact that the show didn't appeal to a family audience and will move it to a late afternoon slot in April. It will be replaced by nature documentaries from this Sunday.

Meanwhile, fans of Supernatural look like they're finally being heard, with TEN rumoured to be returning the show to late nights on Mondays soon. The show was pulled off air in summer and Aussie fans have been fuming ever since, even sending postcards to the network to vent their anger.

TEN was the network last year that returned The Office to air with a campaign that said, "You Blogged. We Listened."