Channel 7’s Plate of Origin finale to air next week
High-profile hosts haven’t been enough to help Channel 7’s Plate of Origin, which will end next week with a double-episode finale. Here’s what TV experts say is to blame for the lacklustre performance.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cooking show Plate of Origin will be “burnt off” with a double-episode grand final next Tuesday night.
On the back of underwhelming ratings the highly promoted series featuring Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and Manu Feildel has not lived up to expectations.
While Seven is saying the three-hour event is due to a clash with AFL coverage next Monday night, TV experts have blamed the show’s format.
“This is what we call burning off in the industry,” said David Knox from TV blog, TV Tonight.
“It’s like they got Matt and Gary and then tried to quickly build a format around them, but it doesn’t have enough point of difference. It’s the format that is the problem.
“It just feels like two parts My Kitchen Rules, one cup of Family Food Fight thrown in a mixmaster. You look at it and it just feels like everything else we’ve seen before.”
TV expert Colin Vickery said the positive was how the three high profile hosts gelled together.
“Plate of Origin always felt like it was made up of leftovers — a bit of My Kitchen Rules mashed with Family Food Fight and lightly sprinkled with MasterChef,’’ he said.
“I suspect that Seven had the catchy title before they knew what the format would be.
“The rapport between Manu, Matt and Gary was the best thing about the show.
“Not being able to promote the show during the Olympics probably hurt but the ratings free fall since the launch episode indicates the concept never really engaged viewers.”
Despite all three hosts being well liked, it doesn’t always translate into success.
Plate of Origin’s ratings were at one point as low as 382,000 metro viewers.