Channel Ten has axed the TV reality show Big Brother, according to several reports - including being mentioned on Rove.

behindbigbrother.com is also reporting that Channel Ten is holding a media embargo on the announcement of the axing until midnight tonight. As well, their sources have said that it was unexpected as the producers were trying to save the show.

The ratings for the show have been declining since the show replaced previous host Gretel Killeen with radio jocks Kyle and Jackie O - the show was even beaten by the Budget speech made by Wayne Swan.

However, ratings have bounced to more than 1.4 million with the appearance of Pamela Anderson.

The news comes after an administrator for the forums at the official Big Brother website said that the show won’t be returning.

"I can confirm Big Brother won’t be renewed on Channel 10 in 2009," ‘Lulu_b’ wrote on the forums.

The Seven Network’s Ryan Stokes has indicated that the network is keen to take back the Olympic rights for the 2016 Summer Olympics after losing the rights of the 2010 and 2012 Olympics to Nine and Foxtel.

However, it also looks like that they would need to go to Foxtel to help get the bid, or another pay-TV group. This sounds like the AFL again.

Seven currently has partnered with SBS, who will be broadcasting several events that Seven will not broadcast - while other programming will go to Yahoo!7.

Source: TV Tonight

BBC1’s soap EastEnders will be tackling the subject of child sex abuse for the first time. The storyline will also involve the Bianca Jackson and her family and a-yet-to-be-introduced character named Whitney Dean, the stepdaughter of Bianca Jackson.

EastEnders is used to controversial storylines, tackling a long list of sensitive subjects, including one where a character buried his estranged wife. That got 116 complaints to Ofcom, and the BBC released a partial apology after it received more than 600 complaints.

Source: MediaGuardian

The battle of the DVRs has begun, with Seven bringing out the TiVo to compete with the Foxtel’s iQ - claiming it would help bypass pay-TV subscriptions - whatever that means.

But the new machine, which has a RRP of $699, will have limited content due to the fact that we don’t have enough content on the free-to-air channels. TiVo’s main success is where that channels from FTA, Cable and Satellite TV users can use TiVo and not the selection of the provider.

As well, users will now have to have a broadband connection to access certain features.

The device will come with two high-definition tuners - allowing users to record two programs while watching a pre-recorded show. The device will also store the last 30 minutes of TV programs, and would allow viewers to catch up to shows that they missed if they arrived home late.

Sadly, you won’t be able to skip advertising - which was one of the reasons that the TiVo became so popular.

Currently on FTA, you can get ABC1, ABC2, ABC3 (which is basically the same as ABC1), SBS, SBS World News, Seven, Seven HD, Ten, Ten HD, Nine and Nine HD. But expect more SD services coming soon after it was deregulated just this year.

ITV1 is believed to suffered the worst Saturday ratings on June 28, with BBC1 winning the whole day thanks to Wimbeldon and the penultimate episode of Doctor Who.

The commercial channel brought only 10.2% share for all-hours, down from its previous recording of 11.5%. BBC1, however, brought 26.9%. The Doctor Who episode brought 7.4 million, according to unofficial ratings.

The BBC1 basically won the entire day, except for 15 minutes - where BBC2 showed Wimbeldon. BBC3’s behind-the-scenes look into the production of Doctor Who, Doctor Who Confidential, got 1.1 million and a 6.8%.

After the massive cliff-hanger in the second-last episode of the series - I’m trying not to spoil it - here is what the media is saying:

Wired has a story about the second-last episode and about the cliff-hanger - and it does contain spoilers, so if you don’t want to know - don’t read it.

Doctor Who News is reporting the unofficial ratings of the episode, with 7.4 million viewers.

We, The Journal, have a video of the trailer for the last episode of the season. Don’t view the video if you don’t want to see spoilers.

The Coventry Telegraph has a blog post about the episode, and also links to other news articles about the future of the Tenth Doctor.

The Telegraph is reporting that the BBC is expected to be watched around 10 million, hoping to eclipse the 9.1 million who watched the first episode of the season. The final episode is also getting some additional minutes, totaling 65 minutes.

Just as Australia starts off the new season of Doctor Who, the BBC will be playing the last  episode of the season - then we will have to wait for a Christmas Special and 3 specials for 2009 as a new season will be shown in 2010 - what a time gap.

Anyway, I saw the second-last episode of the season and I was like OMG!! - without that facial expression.

Below is the trailer for the last episode. WARNING: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS (AU)