Neighbours faces axe after dumped by UK broadcaster Channel 5
Australia’s longest-running TV drama is close to the end after its British broadcaster revealed the contract will cease in June.
The future of Neighbours – Australia’s longest-running TV drama – is in serious jeopardy after it was revealed its contract with a UK broadcaster will cease mid-year.
Filming at the famous Ramsay Street set in Melbourne has been called off on Monday and production company Fremantle is holding urgent talks with more than 100 staff after the news broke in the British media on Sunday that the show’s future was in limbo.
Neighbours first aired in Australia 37 years ago but now faces the axe after it was revealed Channel 5, its British broadcaster network, would not continue airing the program beyond June after being unable to reach an financial agreement with Fremantle.
It’s understood many employees of the show are devastated and are concerned about the future of their jobs.
It’s understood that Channel 5 – which began airing the soap in 2008 – provides most of the funding for the program’s production.
Neighbours first aired in Britain on BBC1 in 1986 and the show attracts about 1.2 million viewers there daily, while latest figures from TV ratings company OzTAM showed it attracts about 120,000 Australian viewers each night.
British reports claim the drama series is financially unviable without a replacement UK broadcast channel.
In an email sent by the program’s executive producer, Jason Herbison, to all staff on Sunday, he conceded “the future of the show has been uncertain for some time”.
“Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace C5,” the email said.
“These discussions are ongoing. However, there is no new broadcaster at the moment and production must end, effectively resting the show.”
He said a briefing would be given in Monday’s urgent meeting with staff on the production situation, followed by talks about what steps would be taken next.
Mr Herbison confirmed production of the program would continue as planned through until June 10.
Neighbours, which was created by TV executive Reg Watson, has been struggling in Australia with dwindling audiences for some time.
It was removed from Network Ten’s main channel and moved to its digital channel, 10 Peach, in 2011.
The program has bolstered the careers of many Australian talents including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Imbruglia, Alan Dale, Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem.
A spokeswoman said Network Ten hoped the series could continue. “As outlined in the email to Neighbours cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward,” she said.
“Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner.”
Neighbours came under siege last year after cast member Shareena Clanton said racism, sexism and misogyny was “rife” on set.
Sources told The Australian last April that they were blindsided by the claims. Fremantle engaged Sydney-based firm Campfire X – an Indigenous-led creative consultancy – to conduct an independent cultural review into the program both on and off the set.
The findings of the review have not been made public.
Filming in Melbourne on Monday has been abruptly called off and production company Fremantle is holding urgent talks with more than 100 staff after the news first broke in the UK media on Sunday that the show’s future was in limbo.
Neighbours first aired in Australia 37 years ago but now faces the axe after it was revealed Channel 5, its British broadcaster network, would not continue airing the program beyond June after being unable to reach an agreement with Fremantle.
It’s understood many employees of the show are devastated and are concerned about their jobs.
Mr Herbison confirmed production of the program would continue as planned through until June 10.
Neighbours has been struggling, with dwindling audiences in Australia for some years and was taken off Network Ten’s main channel and moved to its digital Channel 10 Peach in 2011.
The program has bolstered the careers of many Australian talents including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Imbruglia, Alan Dale, Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem.
A spokeswoman said Network Ten hoped the series could continue.
“As outlined in the email to Neighbours cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward,” she said.
“Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner.”
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