Channel 10 moves Bachelor in Paradise to later timeslot in favour of MasterChef

After the ratings juggernaut that was Married At First Sight it was always going to be difficult for Bachelor in Paradise to even come close. So it wasn’t surprising to hear the dating show has been bumped back to make way for a popular cooking show.

After the ratings juggernaut that was Married At First Sight it was always going to be difficult for Bachelor in Paradise to even come close.

So Confidential wasn’t surprised to hear Channel 10 has bumped Bachelor back to 8.40pm, making way for the network to launch the new season of MasterChef.

A Network 10 spokeswoman denied MasterChef’s crossover launch was to compensate for lower than expected Bachelor ratings, stating the broadcaster had waited to make sure it didn’t clash with Seven’s My Kitchen Rules which finishes this week.

MasterChef will fill in the spot vacated by Bachelor in Paradise. Picture: Supplied

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“The launch date of MasterChef Australia is always a late decision so it’s after the MKR finale,” the representative said.

“With MasterChef starting on Monday 29 April, our prime time schedule from Tuesday to Thursdays will go from one audience favourite to another. Bachelor In Paradise is performing well this season. The show has also always been the sort of show that people catch-up on.

“This year it’s adding an average of 200,000 catch-up viewers. That’s huge.”

Storylines such as Brooke and Alex’s lesbian relationship has failed to be a hit with viewers.

But Channel 10 insists this season of Bachelor in Paradise has been a huge success with more than 200,000 watching it on Ten Play days after. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10

Married At First Sight averaged 1.4 million viewers an episode for its mammoth three month run of more than 40 episodes.

Bachelor In Paradise by comparison has hovered at around the 500,000 mark, with the entire season spanning a little more than three weeks.

It has been a tough year for Channel 10 across the board in the ratings stakes.

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! had a strong start when executives launched the reality series out of ratings period so it had no competition. But as soon as Nine and Seven hit home with its programming for the year, I’m A Celebrity ratings plummeted.

Married At First Sight has proved to be a juggernaut of a show, scoring record ratings this season.

Chris Brown and Julia Morris’ Sunday Night Takeaway was a ratings flop, while the new look Dancing With The Stars also failed to make its mark.

In the lucrative breaky TV market, Ten has also struggled with Studio 10 attracting an average daily audience of 55,000.

Although they start earlier, Seven’s Sunrise leads with an average of 288,000 viewers in metro cities nationally and Nine’s Today has 194,000.