By Lisa Simmons
Gold Coast Bulletin
October 29th, 2010

INTERNATIONAL fans have joined the rush to sign an online petition to save Gold Coast production Sea Patrol.

Channel 9 and the show’s makers Di and Hal McElroy have confirmed series five, which is filming in north Queensland before it moves to the Gold Coast next month, would be the last. It will air on Channel 9 and NBN in the new year.

Clint Rolfe launched the petition on Monday at fan site Sea-Patrol.com, which he set up in January 2007, six months before the series debuted.

Yesterday it had collected almost 600 signatures, most from Australia and New Zealand, though some came from fans in Hong Kong, Canada, the Phillipines and even Alaska in the US.

Rolfe conceded it was unlikely the network would change its mind and commission a new series, having made a decision based on budgets and some new shows on the way.

“It’s a way to say thanks to the cast, crew and makers for five years of great entertainment, to let them know their work is appreciated and to point out to the network too, that this is a show with a fan base, so don’t mistreat it in the final season with regards to storylines, don’t change its timeslot from one night to another, air it really late, or move to the secondary multi-channels.

“If there can’t be a series, why not look at doing a telemovie down the track?”

Sea Patrol stars Lisa McCune, Ian Stenlake, Conrad Coleby, Kristian Schmid and Tammy McIntosh.

The show had a healthy 1.2 million fans this year and has been on-sold to countries around the world.

Channel 9 commissioned 13 episodes for series five, down from 16 this year, which takes its total run to 68 episodes.

A production tax rebate for local dramas expires after episode 65.

TVTonight.com.au
By David Knox on October 27, 2010

The fifth and final season for Sea Patrol is a reminder that television production doesn’t enjoy the same level of government investment as that of feature film.

Television is often seen as the lesser sibling of film, despite the fact it is a much bigger employer and far more widely viewed by Australian audiences.

This week it was confirmed that the Nine drama will come to an end in 2011 as the tax rebate expires at 65 episodes.

Producers Hal and Di McElroy told TV Tonight, networks don’t have a bottomless pit of money.

“The Tax Offset for TV at 20% is modest compared to feature films at 40% so its a pity that it cuts out at 65 episodes because it becomes a penalty for success,” they said.

With its huge location costs, the Nine drama will wrap at 68 episodes, with 3 less this season than the last.

This year has again been a strong one for Australian TV drama, but as some dramas are pitted against one another in competing timeslots there is a risk that they can corrode one another.

“There’s always been competition for viewer loyalty,” said the McElroys. “Research suggests the audience run a ‘must watch’ list in their head – and there’s only room for 5 or so shows! So you’ve got to be good to get there which is a healthy goal. We’re not scared of competition – it energises us.”

And while there are suggestions that the new multichannel environment impacts on the likelihood of drama renewals, the McElroys agreed that there is now a new benchmark in measuring the success of a local drama.

“Yes, its psychological really – north of one million in 5 capital cities on Free TV,” they said.

“Pay TV is looking to come up to that number over their rotation. Competition splits the audience up into smaller and smaller pieces. But that’s true of all media, indeed all manufacturing. Cost of production becomes the decider in terms of audience reach.

“Of course we’re sad that Series 5 will be the last, but we’re proud of what we have achieved and all of us are determined to make our last our best.”

Sea Patrol will continue filming its fifth series until February.

TVTonight.com.au
By David Knox on October 26, 2010

Channel Nine’s next season of Sea Patrol will be its final series.

Currently filming in Queensland, the series will bring to a close five seasons aboard the HMAS Hammersley.

The drama, starring Lisa McCune and Ian Stenlake, averaged 1.2m viewers last season.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a production tax rebate expires after 65 episodes. Next season’s 13 episodes takes the total number of episodes to 68. This year it had 16 episodes.

Sea Patrol has been a shiny success story for Nine, produced by McElroy All Media. With its Armidale-class patrol boat from the Royal Australian Navy, and mix of action and romance, it has sold to over 100 territories principally via the Hallmark Channel.

McCune and Stenlake both return for the final series along with Conrad Coleby, John Batchelor, Matt Holmes, Kristian Schmid, Nikolai Nikolaeff, Danielle Horvat, Tammy McIntosh plus Ditch Davey and Renai Caruso.

But some fans are already looking to save the series from ending.

Clint Rolfe who runs website SeaPatrol.com told TV Tonight, the show had been written off by some observers in its first season but has built a loyal legion of fans. A Petition to save the show is already gathering signatories.

“The fans all feel for the cast and crew, who still have to deliver Sea Patrol 5. That said, fans aren’t taking the news lying down,” he said.

“Athough it’s almost impossible to change a network’s mind, the Hey Hey fans did it, so maybe the fans of Sea Patrol will have some success. Even if Nine won’t fund another series, how about an explosive movie length episode to take the series out on a high? In any case, we’ve started a petition and would love more support.

“Although it isn’t the highest rating Australian drama on TV, and costs a mint to make, the quality gets better and better each series.

“The only bright light is we still have 13 solid episodes to look forward to.”

Reports of a final series follows news last week that Seven is yet to decide on the future of City Homicide for 2011. A 6 episode-arc will screen next year while the network promises a decision early next year.

Nine is yet to confirm the future for COPS L.A.C. while TEN has not announced any renewal yet for Rush.

1) Were you shocked when you heard Series 5 was to be the last? Or did you already sense it might be the last?

Yes and No. We’ve long known that the government film and TV incentive legislation introducing what’s called the Producer Tax Offset cut out at 65 episodes. But of course we love the show, we’re all proud of it and as optimists we want it to last forever. But all good things come to an end. So boy, are we going to go out on a high.

2) How are the cast and crew taking the news?

Same same. It’s a very very tough gig, wet, difficult, dangerous and very demanding. Most (we have a 92% crew retention rate series to series) have done it for five years, so they’re sad but happy.

3) The newspaper report states that the tax rebate for the series expires after episode 65, is this the main reason the series won’t be renewed? Despite good overseas sales?

Yes, overseas sales take years to achieve and years to accrue, particularly as the Australian dollar has improved in value by 30% over the last 5 years, which paradoxically means our overseas revenue by comparison has reduced by that same 30%.

4) The big question everyone is asking, is the last episode being rewritten to address the series ending, or is SP 5 going to be shot as is? Do you think fans will see the last episode as a fitting end to the series?

The last episode will we hope feel ‘right’ for the fans. Life does go on and that’s certainly true of Navy life – their job never finishes. So it’ll be a mix of emotions.

5) On a much brighter note – how is Sea Patrol 5 coming along?

We’ve just had 17 straight shooting days of appalling weather driving rain, big winds, pushing up dangerous seas. The toughest most difficult conditions we’ve ever worked in. Even the Navy boys are amazed we keep shooting. Then they say they’d only do such boardings if it’s a rescue operation and lives are at stake. But our cast jump in those RHIBS and do boardings in 3 metre seas with no stunt doubles. So the footage is the best yet – dark, brooking skies, scary black water, winds whipping up a nasty choppy swell. Wow its great stuff.

Friday, October 15, 2010
The Cairns Post

AN estimated $2 million will be pumped into Mission Beach over the next month as another season of hit drama Sea Patrol is filmed in the area.

Not surprisingly, local business owners have rolled out the welcome wagon.

Sea Patrol 5 – Damage Control follows the crew of HMAS Hammersley as they patrol the coastline of Australia, protecting the nation’s borders.

Lisa McCune heads the cast, along with Ian Stenlake and Conrad Coleby. There are up to 150 cast and crew.

Mission Beach business owners say the production brings $2 million-plus to the beachside town’s economy each year.

Mission Beach Holidays owner Vicki Wiltshire said practically every business in town benefited.

“They always film at the same time each year, right at the end of the September school holidays,” she said.

“It extends the season for us by over a month and that positively affects every business in town in some way.

“Whether you are renting accommodation, building supplies for the set or selling petrol or beer, it is brilliant for the local economy.

But it’s not just the economic benefits that the locals like. It’s the return of the people that have now become old friends after so many seasons filming in the community.

“They have been coming here to film every year for a few years now and they are such great people you can’t help but get to know them,” resident Kerri Pike said.