How the virus may soon make us switch off TV
While most of us are glued to our screens in coronavirus isolation, the crisis has seen much of Australia’s TV production postponed or put on hold, meaning networks could have some big holes to fill in their program schedules. See which shows have been affected.
Fiona Byrne
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Australian TV production has been hit hard by the coronavirus with some of the most anticipated shows of the year postponed or on hold, meaning networks could have some big holes to fill in their program schedules in coming months.
Channel 7 has been the hardest hit of the three commercial networks with the shutdown of AFL and the Olympics. Adding to the angst is Holey Moley, which was to be shot in California last month but the cast returned to Australia without filming the series because of the deepening of the US corona crisis.
The same situation affected Seven’s Celebrity SAS show. The production had to leave its New Zealand set the week filming was to begin as the country went into lockdown.Australia’s Got Talent has also been postponed with a new filming date yet to be announced.
Seven has completed filming for Big Brother, Plate Of Originand The All New Monty.
Channel 10 is continuing to film MasterChef in Melbourne and Neighbours will resume production after the Easter break.
Production has been halted on The Bachelor with a resumption date still to be confirmed. Survivor Australia was to be filming in Fiji this month but it, too, is on hold.
The Amazing Race Australia was tipped to film in June with contestants confined to racing around Australia. Ten is yet to confirm if that timeline remains in place.
On a positive note The Masked Singer will be filmed in Melbourne late this year and Ten expects the judging panel, including Lindsay Lohan and Dannii Minogue, to be unchanged.
Meanwhile, Channel 9 is dealing with production delays on The Blockand The Voice because of coronavirus restrictions. Both shows are half filmed. The rest of Nine’s big ticket items, including Lego Masters, Ninja Warrior Australia, Informer 38383 and Halifax Retribution, have been filmed and are ready to roll out.