The Nine Network has confirmed its latest local drama production Hyde & Seek will premiere on Monday, October 3 at 8.45pm

The move sets up a head to head battle with Seven’s new local production The Secret Daughter which is also confirmed to be premiering in the same timeslot.

It’s a disappointing result for the Australian drama industry, after avoiding airing local productions in the first half of 2016, the commercial networks are now jamming all there new content into the final weeks of the ratings year.

Ten’s new series The Wrong Girl will premiere in the same Wednesday timeslot as Nine’s recently launched Doctor Doctor.

With the overall decline in free to air audiences, programming local dramas against each other increases the likelihood of them not surviving.

Hyde & Seek features an all-star cast including Matt Nable (Underbelly: Badness, Gallipoli), Deborra-lee Furness (Correlli, Jindabyne), Mandy McElhinney (House of Hancock, Love Child), Zoe Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters), Emma Hamilton (The Tudors, Mary: The Making of a Princess), Tai Hara (Home and Away), Claire Lovering (San Andreas), Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (Puberty Blues), Andrew McFarlane (Devil’s Playground, Love Child), and Aaron Fa’oso (East West 101).

When his best mate and partner is killed in a random attack, Detective Gary Hyde (Matt Nable) vows to bring the killer to justice. Together with his new partner Claire McKenzie (Emma Hamilton), Australian Federal Police boss Jackie Walters (Mandy McElhinney) and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chiefs (Deborra-lee Furness and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), Gary uncovers a criminal underbelly of murder and fraud as he is thrust into the secretive world of homeland security. In a world where crime has no borders and everyone has something to hide, Gary’s wife (Zoe Ventoura) and young children find themselves in the firing line.

Nine’s Heads of Drama, Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney, said:

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Matchbox Pictures and our brilliant cast to bring audiences the most exciting and action-packed drama of 2016. With its ripped-from-the-headlines stories and international locations, Hyde & Seek is must-see crime drama at its most compelling and entertaining."

Hyde & Seek is made for the Nine Network by Matchbox Pictures, with producer Stephen Corvini (Schapelle, Devil’s Dust) and Executive Producer Debbie Lee.

"Hyde & Seek is a view of some of the timeliest & most engaging stories going on in our world right now and Matchbox Pictures are delighted to have partnered with Channel Nine to bring this series to life”, Corvini said.

The creators/writers are Gavin Strawhan (Step Dave, Nothing Trivial) and Rachel Lang (Outrageous Fortune, Blue Rose) with writers Niki Aken and Michelle Offen. The series is directed by Peter Andrikidis (Catching Milat, Fat Tony & Co.), David Caesar (Underbelly: Razor, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and Daniel Nettheim (Doctor Who, Ripper Street).

HYDE & SEEK: MONDAY, OCTOBER 3 AT 8.45PM ON CHANNEL NINE