Network Ten celebrates Survivor Australia’s solid ratings but will they last?
IT may be a little early for Survivor’s producers to pop the champagne corks after seeing their early ratings. After pumping millions of dollars into the program — and no real competition in the timeslot — many have questioned whether the show should have done better.
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IT may be a little early for Survivor’s producers to pop the champagne corks.
Despite a solid ratings start, the true test is yet to come — with Wednesday’s premiere airing against little competition.
Ten yesterday celebrated the show’s national viewership of 716,000, making it the top show in the 7.30pm timeslot and a noticeable jump from last year’s series debut ratings of 639,000.
But with the network pumping millions of dollars into the shoot in Fiji, some questioned whether Survivor should have drawn stronger numbers, particularly when its biggest rivals were Britain’s Got Talent on Nine and Highway Patrol on Seven.
“It is a good start, particularly for Ten, but advertisers will be watching closely to see how the ratings go throughout the series and next week when it goes head-to-head against The Block,” one commentator noted.
TV Tonight’s David Knox was more upbeat about the show’s three-month run.
“It was a good start for Ten winning the timeslot and … the social media reaction was pretty positive,” he said.
“Ten took advantage of a lull in the TV battle to wisely launch the show away from the upcoming competition.
“The Block has a big fanbase and is the one to beat. Seven is launching an unknown with Dance Boss and pitching it as an entertainment alternative. Survivor isn’t cheap to make so it does need to perform.”
This latest Survivor pits familiar faces — including model Monika Radulovic, personal trainer Steve “Commando” Willis, AFLW player Moana Hope and former NRL and rugby star Mat Rogers — against everyday Aussies in its Champions v Contenders series, hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia.
Ten chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said this year’s launch was up 12 per cent on last year.
“It’s great that audiences have welcomed back the series … We have great contestants and look forward to enjoying the rest of the season,” she said.
The season’s second elimination came last night, with American Survivor alumni Russell Hantz sent packing after talking a big game heading into the series.
The Champions tribe took the first opportunity they had to get rid of the three-time Survivor player.
“I’m not happy about it,” Hantz, 45, said, adding he wasn’t surprised to be voted off the island as he knew his teammates were “coming” for him.
“I was hoping I would fly under the radar longer but people knew who I was and what I was like so that put a target on my back immediately,” he said. “Plus I was on the outside being the only American on the show.”