The future of Channel Ten’s wacky reality show The Masked Singer Australia is reportedly at stake.
The show, which aired for five seasons, does not have a 2024 air date despite being announced at Channel Ten Upfronts in October.
And according TV tonightProducers Warner Bros TV have been quietly “gauging interest from rival networks”, meaning the franchise could drop Ten entirely.
The sung guessing game presented by Osher Günsberg apparently Very expensive to produce thanks to the elaborate costumes, high production quality and international talent needed to put on the show.
This, along with the difficult advertising market, has reportedly called into question the viability of the franchise for Ten.
The future of Channel Ten’s wacky reality show The Masked Singer Australia is reportedly at stake. (Pictured: The Masked Singer judge Abbie Chatfield)
Additionally, The Bachelors and its various spin-offs, also hosted by Günsberg, also do not have dates for 2024 despite having been announced at the Upfronts.
Speaking to TV Tonight, a Ten spokesperson said: “We are currently confirming our programming for the second half of the year and announcements will be made soon.”
It comes after Channel 10 suffered its worst year in its ratings history for 2023 as viewers abandoned its once iconic shows in droves.
And according to TV Tonight, producers Warner Bros TV have been “quietly gauging interest from rival networks”, meaning the franchise could leave Ten entirely.
Blackbox TV sector blog website reported By October, the network had endured its worst year in OzTam history this year since the ratings system began in 2001.
Viewers have gradually been tuning out their once-popular shows such as The Project, MasterChef Australia, The Masked Singer Australia and Gogglebox.
At the time, The Dire News ranked the embattled network as the fourth most popular station in Australia, well behind Seven, Nine and the ABC.
Additionally, The Bachelors and its various spin-offs, also hosted by Günsberg, also do not have dates for 2024 despite having been announced at the Upfronts. (Pictured from left to right: Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and Luke Bateman of The Bachelors)
A source told TV Blackbox at the time that part of the problem was that the network had constantly struggled to retain viewers.
‘Ten has no returning fans. If so, why do The Project, MasterChef, HYBPA, Gogglebox, The Masked Singer and many, many more fall year after year?
‘They don’t have sport, the Melbourne Cup is gone. They can’t launch a new program; the most recent example: Shark Tank,” they said.
It comes after Channel 10 suffered its worst year in its ratings history for 2023 as viewers abandoned its once iconic shows in droves. (Pictured: The Project features Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris)