Channel 10's major unravel exposed
Once a ratings juggernaut and star-maker, DWTS had its heyday in the 2000s with memorable performances by stars like Bec Hewitt and Ada Nicodemou. Photo: Channel 7
When it returned in 2021, Seven leaned heavily into nostalgia, reviving hosts Sonia Kruger and Daryl Somers. But audiences had moved on, and despite some high-profile casting, including Courtney Act and Grant Denyer, viewership declined year-on-year. Production costs were high, and by 2025, it was quietly confirmed this season would be its last. Photo: Channel 7
This once-revered tribute show This Is Your Life made a comeback in 2022 with Melissa Doyle as host. It featured emotional episodes spotlighting the likes of Ian Thorpe and Shane Warne (posthumously). However, the format felt dated, struggling to connect with younger audiences. Ratings were inconsistent, and after a subdued 2023 run, it was shelved again. Photo: Channel 7
Balloon artistry competition Blow Up tried to emulate the feel-good magic of Lego Masters. Despite bright visuals and charming contestants, the show failed to land. Host Stephen Curry and judge Balloon artist Chris Adamo couldn't elevate it past its niche appeal. It vanished after its debut season. Photo: Channel 7
Marketed as a blockbuster survival epic, big-budget gamble The Million Dollar Island featured 100 contestants competing in a remote location for a million-dollar prize was riddled with logistic issues. Critics called the format chaotic, and the lack of clear storytelling hurt audience investment. The show failed to rate and was canned despite heavy promotion. Photo: Channel 7
Holey Moley was an ambitious minigolf meets Wipeout hybrid that hoped to be a family favourite. While Rob Riggle and Matt Shirvington brought energy to hosting duties, the concept wore thin quickly. Despite a flashy launch and US branding, ratings tanked after a few weeks. Photo: Channel 7
Ultimate Tag was a high-energy sport-meets-game-show format where contestants tried to outrun elite 'taggers'. The production was impressive, but the gameplay lacked tension. Even the presence of Olympian Liz Clay couldn't save it from cancellation. Photo: Channel 7
Wife Swap Australia 's 2021 reboot aimed for controversy but ultimately fell short, being more awkward than insightful. Families clashed over parenting and values, but the drama felt manufactured. Critics said the format hadn't evolved, and audiences didn't bite. Photo: Channel 7
Channel 7's House Rules was a strong contender to The Block, especially with memorable seasons like the 2017 showdown between Aaron and Daniella and Andrew and Jono. But fatigue set in by the later years, and ratings steadily declined. Seven pulled the plug in 2020 and struggled to replace it with a successful renovation show. Photo: Channel 7
Touted as 'the Olympics of food', this multicultural cooking contest Plate of Origin, brought together teams from various backgrounds. Despite heavy-hitter hosts Manu Feildel, Gary Mehigan, and Matt Preston, the show lacked cohesion. The pandemic-affected production didn't help, and viewership never took off. Photo: Channel 7
Pooch Perfect was a dog grooming competition hosted by Rebel Wilson charmed some viewers but confused others. Critics couldn't decide if it was a kids' show or adult reality TV. It gained some attention in the US but was never renewed in Australia. Photo: Channel 7
Launched with a bang, Ninja Warrior became a prime-time powerhouse thanks to its jaw-dropping stunts and everyday Aussie heroes like Ashlin Herbert and Ben Polson. The first few seasons drew millions, but interest began to wane as the format became predictable. Photo: Nine Network
By 2022, key contestants had either moved on or lost their novelty, and new competitors struggled to match early fan favourites. Nine chose not to renew the show amid declining ratings and rising production costs. Photo: Nine Network
Hosted by Scott Pickett and Poh Ling Yeow, Snackmasters was a unique culinary competition had chefs reverse-engineering iconic supermarket snacks. It was playful and different but didn't have the hook to retain long-term viewers. Although the early novelty worked, the second season suffered from repetition and audience fatigue. Nine quietly shelved it after two seasons. Photo: Nine Network
Fronted by respected journalist Liz Hayes, investigative current affairs series Under Investigation aimed to dig deep into cold cases and social mysteries. While it was praised for its depth, it lacked the urgency of other news programs. Viewer numbers remained modest, and when Hayes departed Nine in 2023 to join Seven, the show was formally retired. Photo: Nine Network
A daytime fixture for over a decade, Millionaire Hotseat was a rapid-fire quiz show hosted by Eddie McGuire kept Nine's afternoons humming along for years. But by the 2020s, its format felt tired and viewership dropped. The show quietly wrapped in 2023 as Nine refreshed its schedule with newer content aimed at younger demographics. Photo: Nine Network
Marketed as a heartfelt alternative to fast-paced dating shows, My Mum Your Dad 's format saw adult children nominate their single parents to find love. It earned praise for its authenticity and warmth, but ratings never matched critical goodwill. Despite likeable cast members and emotional moments, Nine didn't renew it after two seasons. Photo: Nine Network
Rush was a travel-adventure competition that tried to mimic The Amazing Race energy with a high-stakes format. Hosted by David Genat, the show placed contestants in remote destinations with limited resources. While visually engaging, the show lacked compelling contestants and storytelling, and Nine opted not to bring it back. Photo: Nine Network
A cult hit in its first run, Beauty and the Geek paired shy, nerdy men with confident women for a reality makeover experience. In the 2021 reboot, Nine gave it a more emotional and wholesome tone, bringing in Sophie Monk as host. Photo: Nine Network
However, long-time fans missed the chaos of earlier seasons, and the new format struggled to attract new viewers. It ended after two revival seasons. Photo: Nine Network
Australia's version of Celebrity Apprentice Revived had four seasons with Mark Bouris at the helm before ending in 2016. However it was revived with Lord Alan Sugar as the headline act in 2021. The reboot pulled in influencers and entrepreneurs like Martha Kalifatidis and Scherri-Lee Biggs. While it delivered drama, critics called it hollow and repetitive. Despite some explosive boardroom clashes, it failed to capture the magic of the original and was axed after two seasons. Photo: Nine Network
Hosted by Karl Stefanovic, This Time Next Year profiled Australians working towards life-changing personal goals. The time-jump format was novel, showing before and after moments within one episode. While emotional and well-meaning, it struggled to maintain ratings past the second season and was not renewed. Photo: Nine Network
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
New South Wales government announces funding for new movie studio site
Australia's movie industry received some happy news on the final day of the Sydney film festival. With the New South Wales government announcing a $380 million package to support the film and digital games sector. It will help develop a domestic sector that has played a starring role famous films like Happy Feet, Babe, and Planet of the Apes. New South Wales Arts Minister John Graham is hoping to help the industry attract even more Hollywood investment. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens here in New South Wales. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead. That's why the government's investing strongly here." The package includes $280 million to support post, digital, visual effects and video game development. Another $100 million will help kickstart the hunt for a location to serve as Sydney's second film studio. Mr Graham says there's a critical shortage of production space, with Disney Studios at Moore Park currently the city's only film studio. The facility has played a pivotal role in blockbuster movies like Mad Max Furiosa and The Matrix "Unfortunately, no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself." Treasurer Daniel Mookhey expects to see the investment spur economic activity and job creation. "The industry supports over thirteen thousand direct jobs, and with this investment, we're confident that it's going to create a great degree of spillover. This is what it looks like to be boosting economic growth in New South Wales in the twenty first century." He says the sector already injects more than $1 billion into the local economy. The treasurer also announced new plans to cut red tape in an effort to make the movie and game-making as seamless as possible. Head of Screen New South Wales, Kyas Hepworth welcomed the news. "It's just exciting to see the government standing for the creative work as practitioners and storytellers within the state and we're not only looking at the state what happens in New South Wales affects Australia and elevates our storytelling globally." Other states have been competing for big budget films, too. Queensland is giving a $71 million boost to its screen industry, and W-A forking out $300 million for a studio complex in Perth. It comes against the backdrop of threatened movie tariffs from the U-S -- which have created uncertainty that investments like these hope to redress.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Exploded': Influencer's horror near-death sauna ordeal
Aussie model Dominique Elissa has detailed how a peaceful escape turned into a nightmare when she nearly lost her life in a terrifying freak accident. The 30-year-old influencer shared a shocking story of the near-death experience that happened in the backyard of a house she was staying in. She posted a video on TikTok this week, explaining how she narrowly escaped death in a clip that has over 80,000 views. The podcast host was staying at a house 30 minutes outside Byron Bay, where she was set to host a wellness retreat the next day. But her tranquil getaway was ruined when a sauna on the property exploded just moments before she was about to use it. 'I didn't think I was going to talk about this, but I had a crazy, traumatising, near-death experience the other night,' Elissa said. She had turned on the sauna to heat up while cooking dinner, planning to use it afterwards as she had done the night before. 'I finish eating dinner and I'm about to put my swimmers on to go in the sauna, and I hear 'boom',' she explained. 'I look up and the entire sauna exploded.' The blast sent debris flying 10 to 15 metres into the air, causing a power cut in her remote accommodation. 'My phone was about to die, and I had no reception,' she said. 'I was screaming, 'Help, someone help me!' It was like a horror movie'. She managed to dial triple-0, but emergency services were unable to save the sauna. '(It) burned to the ground,' she said. 'It was the most horrific thing to experience because I was only a few minutes from going into that sauna'. 'I'm so grateful to be alive, so grateful to be here,' the wellness enthusiast added. Comments from her 73,000 TikTok followers quickly flooded in. 'This is straight out of a Final Destination movie,' one follower wrote, while another added, 'new fear unlocked'. Many also believed that Elissa's late mother, Odile Faludi, who passed away in March after a battle with stage four cancer, was watching over her. 'OMG Dom, life is so precious, your mum was there watching over you,' one follower commented, echoing the thoughts of many. Others shared their shock that this could even happen. 'I have never heard of this before,' one person admitted. 'Never going to a sauna again,' another claimed. Saunas can explode and burn down for a number of reasons. Malfunctions in the heater or thermostat can lead to electrical fires, as can poor design – like installing a heater too close to timber walls or ceilings. Leaving towels or other flammable items on or near the heater can also cause them to ignite quickly. While uncommon, some saunas use hot rocks that have internal cracks. If water becomes trapped within these cracks, it can heat up and cause the rocks to explode.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tamworth, Albury previews: Trainer Sue Grills eager to see what bargain buys can deliver
Sue Grills will use Monday's hometown meeting at Tamworth to take the wrapping off two of her unraced brigade who could have both been bought for no more than $5,000. The duo – Pride Of Nations and Artie's Magic – were each offered at the HTBA Yearling Sale at Inglis' Riverside complex in April, 2023. Lot 113, now known as Artie's Magic, was knocked down for $3,000. Later on the same day, Lot 257, now called Pride Of Nations, fetched just $2,000 when she was put through the ring. Grills knows first-hand that (high) price doesn't always mean (high) performance, pointing to her own $2,000 purchase at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2017 where she snapped up an Animal Kingdom close relation to Pride Of Dubai. Its name was My Benalla. 'He was a really good horse,'' Grills says. ' He could have potentially been the best horse I ever trained but I just couldn't keep him sound. 'He had a lot of issues. He was a really big horse who had crook pasterns but he still won four races from six starts.' MY BENALLA ðŸ'¥ returned with a bang @sconeraceclub after 20 months off recovering from a tendon injury, gives #Kosciusko slot holders something to think about @garyharleysky @garykliese @MickWallaceMail @daveystan1 @P_L_Looker @MelindaTurner_ — Andy Grills (@andy_8005) September 7, 2021 Grills' Tamworth debutante Pride Of Nations boasts a pedigree far in excess of her meagre price-tag. For starters, she is a daughter of Doncaster winner Kermadec who is credited with Group 1 winner Montefelia. Better still, Pride Of Nation's grand-dam, Tessamo, is a daughter of 2YO Triple Crown winner Tierce and is a half-sister to Guy Walter's four-times Group 1 winner, Streama. Alas, it seems it was not Pride Of Nation's pedigree that turned buyers off at the sale, it was her physique. 'When they bought her apparently she was very small,'' Grills explained. 'I didn't see her at the sale, I only got her six or seven months ago and I gave her a little prep and gave her six or seven weeks' break and back in again. 'I don't expect too much of her for her first start, trials are so different to races, but she's a nice little filly. 'It's no good putting her over 1000m, she is bred to run further, so 1200m looks a nice start for her on her home track with a good draw.' Artie's Magic, like Pride Of Nation's, will be handled by champion country jockey Kody Nestor when he steps out in the Concrete Industry Supplies Maiden Plate (1000m). 'He's a bit the same as Pride Of Nations,'' Grills says. 'I only got him this prep. 'He was well-educated. (Tamworth trainer) Mark Milton had done a great job with him, then I got him so I've only had him a couple a months. 'He trialled okay too (so) I think he'll run a nice race. 'He has drawn the outside barrier but it doesn't matter so much at the 1000m now at Tamworth because they've only got one turn and they're home.' Flying Artie boasts a fascinating pedigree owing to a rare 3 X 3 double-cross of champion racehorse and sire, Century. Grills' third runner on Monday's card is So Rosie who resumes after a short, sharp, successful last campaign that was not without drama. . @chelseahillier4 guides So Rosie to victory in Race 5 at Dubbo! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 29, 2024 'She's got her barrier issues so you're just better off giving her a couple of starts and putting her out,'' Grills said. 'She had to re-trial because she got scratched at Coonabarabran or somewhere. She hit her stifle bad coming out of the gates so I had to put her out again for a month. 'It is a good race for her but I wish she had the outside and not the inside barrier.' â– â– â– â– â– Travers does the Math at Albury The stars, or more precisely, the clouds, have aligned to boost the already bright prospects of a ninth victory for warrior queen Mathrin at Albury on Monday. The Michael Travers -trained mare has a 72.2 per cent win/place record on Heavy tracks throughout her long career. Better still, the Kitchwin Hills-bred mare has a 100 per cent record on the Albury Heavy, having knocked off a hot Class 1 that day which included subsequent Country Championship Final participant, Tap 'N' Run. 'She is a gun,'' Travers said. 'She loves it wet and she's going well, we are just going to need luck because she gets back in her races. 'She is our stable stalwart and we love her to death. We treat her like a queen here.' Understandably so, given Mathrin has won eight races for trainer Travers, two of which he steered her to himself in his days as a dual licence holder. Mathrin under a strong ride from @DanBeasley111 gets home in Race 6 at @mtcwagga. Bringing up a double for Dan this afternoon ðŸ'� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2024 'She just keeps turning up,'' an admiring Travers says. 'She is just all heart and doesn't know how to not put in a good run.' Mathrin's tally of starts will tick over to 78 on Monday but she shows no signs of tapering off. In fact, she won the Cowra Cup at her 70th race day appearance, adding the Corowa Cup at her 73rd. A thrilling finish to the Cowra Cup ðŸ�† and it's Mathrin who gets the photo for @TraversRacing! @COWRAJOCKEYCLUB — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 19, 2025 Mathrin will have company in Monday's Boss Better Living Systems Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m) from the former Leilani Lodge resident Kahawaty, who is one-for-one at Albury only it was on a Good 3. 'She's another one who races really well all the time but unfortunately the wet is not going to help her at all,'' Travers warned. Travers is also hoping a positive barrier will lead to a positive outcome for flashy chestnut filly, the hitherto unlucky Gioia River. 'She has been racing really well,'' Travers says. 'I thought she could win last start if she had drawn a gate but we have been forced to go back to the tail of the field all the time, so hopefully on Monday she can travel a little bit closer.' Born and raised at Arrowfield Stud, Gioia River was knocked down to Gai Waterhouse et al for $175,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Sale. A daughter of The Autumn Sun, Travers' filly counts two champions in her family; namely our own Hartnell and the immortal Suave Dancer.
