Questions are being raised about the viability of Channel 10 after a horror year of low ratings and financial losses.
Things are so bad the network was forced to cancel its annual Christmas Party, as first revealed by Daily Mail Australia.
The struggling organisation is now officially Australia’s fourth free-to-air network after being placed behind the ABC in the ratings race.
But it gets worse.
Questions are being raised about the viability of Channel 10 after a horror year of low ratings and financial losses. Pictured former host of The Project Peter Helliar and Carrie Bickmore with remaining host Waleed Aly
10 has just recorded its lowest commercial share since OzTam ratings began with a network share of just 22.1 per cent, well behind its rivals at Nine and Seven.
10’s main channel had a 13 per cent commercial share this year – that’s the same as the combined share of Seven’s three multichannels – 7TWO, 7mate and 7Flix.
Traditionally, ratings have not been 10’s number one priority – it’s all about profit.
10 was once the darling of the industry with its low-cost base and alternative programming which led to financial success.
The struggling network is now officially Australia’s fourth free-to-air network after coming fourth in the ratings race behind the ABC. Former Project host Lisa Wilkinson
Those days seem a distant memory now after it booked a bottom-line loss for calendar year 2020 of $3.4 million, according to filings with ASIC.
So, can things be turned around?
It looks unlikely.
TV audiences are more fragmented than ever before as streaming services continue to take viewers away from traditional TV channels.
As these audiences continue to look to online alternatives, 10 seems unable to find shows that will connect with their under 50 demographic.
While spin doctors sprout the network has a younger audience than its competitors, the fact is Nine and Seven both beat 10 in total people and their key under 50 demo.
A string of failures has only added to its woes. The Real Love Boat, The Challenge Australia and The Traitors were all flops.
A string of failures has only added to its woes. The Real Love Boat, The Challenge Australia (pictured winner Kiki Morris) and The Traitors were all flops
The Bachelor franchise has failed to fire over the past few years and the newest edition – The Bachelors – was considered so bad by programming bosses it has been bumped to January.
Originally intended to have aired this year, executives are said to be less than impressed with the revised format which sees three Bachelors instead of the usual one.
Sources say the show was almost axed altogether but ultimately the decision was made to burn the episodes off over the summer period.
These failures come as 10’s big shows continue to lose audiences.
Rob McKnight says TV audiences are more fragmented than ever before as streaming services continue to take viewers away from traditional TV channels
Despite all the headlines you read about The Project its numbers remain very low, so low in fact that any other show would have been cancelled by now but because it is so well known in the TV industry, it’s a protected species.
While MasterChef does OK even its numbers are not great these days.
Hunted Australia was a surprise hit for the network, but not anywhere near as successful as something like Married At First Sight.
In fact 10 is really struggling on all fronts with one exception – the 8.30/9pm slot.
As Nine and Seven continue to turn off the lights after the big 7.30 reality shows, 10 has quietly been building a library of hits in the later timeslot.
The cast of MasterChef Australia are pictured
Have You Been Paying Attention? and Gogglebox are clear winners and now The Cheap Seats is finding an audience.
In fact, there’s an argument 10 should move these shows to 7.30 and provide a real alternative to its competitors.
A few months ago Gogglebox sat in the 7.30pm timeslot and did great numbers, so a strategy like this could actually work.
Looking at 10’s programming for next year and I mostly agree things are not going to get better.
New shows include Taskmaster, Dessert Masters and Location, Location, Location.
Channel Ten stars Lisa Wikinson and Carrie Bickmore are pictured
The only show I’m excited about is Taskmaster. Recently I discovered the UK edition of the show and I’m addicted and have been bingeing every available episode.
Tom Gleeson will serve as host and will do a great job, but it won’t be enough to save the network.
Remember when 10 used to be innovative? The days of that fun and cheeky channel seems a distant memory, but if it wants to recapture the hearts of Australians it needs to look back to that irreverent past if it wants to have a bright future.
It comes after claims that American media giant Paramount Global could be looking to sell off Channel 10, if industry rumours are to be believed.
However, the station’s parent company Paramount ANZ has strongly denied the claims, calling them ‘inaccurate and misleading’.
The Australian was first to report on the possibility of a sale, citing sources as saying Paramount hoped to offload 10 in the next two years.
A Paramount ANZ spokesperson told Mumbrella The Australian’s report was plain wrong, saying: ‘Paramount has no plans to sell Network 10.’
Channel 10 was bought out by ViacomCBS in 2017.
The conglomerate, whose diverse interests include motion pictures, book publishing and amusement parks, rebranded as Paramount Global in February this year.