The TV landscape for the second half of the year is looking as varied and unpredictable as the first as the major networks' schedules begin to take shape.
Network Ten has announced it will unleash a racy new US comedy among family friendly new series as it chases ratings for the rest of the year.
Seven will rush new series of Prison Break and Heroes into its schedule, within days of their airing in the US, along with its new local drama City Homicide and the commercial TV debut of Kath and Kim.
They will compete with Nine's previously announced string of observational reality shows, its own local drama Sea Patrol and the gritty US legal drama Damages, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne.
Seven has dominated the first half of the year but Nine remains within striking distance of its rival.
Ten has claimed a number of victories with younger audiences in 2007 and believes a strong second half line-up could see further improvement.
For Ten, its most controversial hope will be David Duchovny's sexy new comedy Californication, which will debut in September, two weeks after it premieres in the US, the network announced.
It will join a schedule that includes the sixth Australian Idol - set to follow the current series of Big Brother - and a new series of Thank God You're Here.
Ten will also air the second series of US reality contest So You Think You Can Dance, which was a hit for the network when it aired over summer, while Rove McManus will make his debut as a game show host on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
Seven will unveil Shark, starring James Woods and Jeri Ryan, in its second half drama schedule alongside new series of Criminal Minds and Ghost Whisperer.
But Seven's main focus will be on local programs.
Australia's Best Backyards, Jamie Durie's first hosting effort for his new employer, RSPCA Animal Rescue with Anthony Field from The Wiggles and the new observational reality show Surf Patrol will also join the schedule.
Should any of the new programs fail, Seven has a strong stable of returning programs to rely on for ratings, including Dancing With The Stars, Australia's Got Talent, The Force and Border Security.
Seven has also secured rights for Mark Philippoussis's reality foray The Age of Love, but expect to see that either late at night or over summer.
Nine has the most unpredictable line-up with a number of untried observational shows of its own set to be scheduled, including The Gift, Farmer Takes a Wife, Things To Try Before You Die, RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, Posh Coming To America and Dirty Jobs, hosted by Jo-Beth Taylor and Ben Dark.
Other shows at Nine's disposal include The Dame Edna Experience along with The Girls of the Playboy Mansion and the telemovie The King, both of which have aired on Foxtel.
Nine will also have high hopes for its big budget local drama Sea Patrol, which begins on July 5, and the return series of Weeds and ER.
The ABC will be hoping the Chaser team's pre-election return and the drought drama Rain Shadow will eat into the commercial networks' audience share, while SBS will unveil the dramas Major Crime and The Circuit.
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