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Ten unveils plans for new Australian version of Survivor amid fuller 2016 programming slate

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Network Ten is bringing back a local version of long-running US TV show Survivor, 14 years after it aired on Nine.

The reality show is among six new shows scheduled by the network for its 2016 programming slate, with All Star Family Feud, the Peter Brock mini-series, a new comedy drama series called The Wrong Girl starring Jessica Marais also on the list.

While Survivor has been running for 32 seasons in the US it failed to get traction in its only appearance on Nine in 2001.

Ten’s programming director Beverley McGarvey told Mumbrella she believed it would work if it has high production values, pointing to the network’s success in adapting overseas reality formats The Bachelor and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here as their guide to success.

Beverley McGarvey

Beverley McGarvey

“It’s one of the best and purest reality formats the grandfather of the current slate of reality TV. We think it is the sort of show that should be made in Autstralia and Australian audiences will be able to relate to them,” she said.

She added; “There is big awareness of the format and make sure we do it as well as we can. The production value is really important, we want it to be as shiny as the American version – we’re talking Masterchef levels of production – I think that’s important to Australian viewers.

“People in the street won’t talk about production values but they know what they want to watch, you can’t do it on the cheap it has to be shiny.”

Another new show hitting screens is  Long Lost Family, reuniting people with their relatives and hosted by Chrissie Swan and Ahn Do.

McGarvey said: “It is powerful and uplifting and we wanted to put something on the slate people will really engage with. Ahn Do is really interesting in that mix, and now we’ve seen a few of the reuinions it’s going to shape up really well for us.”

 

This year's Bachelorette Sam Frost

This year’s Bachelorette Sam Frost

While I’m a Celebrity, The Bachelor and Bachelorette, Shark Tank and Gogglebox will all returnWhile The Biggest Loser is currently missing from the slate.

McGarvey said there is “nothing sinister about that” insisting no decision had been made about the show which is currently on air and finishes in mid-December.  The show has seen audience decline in its last two seasons and struggled against its rivals in the 7.30pm slot.

“It is not our intention to throw away brands and be frivolous with shows we’ve spent a lot of time and money building up over the years. It’s too early yet to make a call,” she added.

 

The Bachelor and The Bachelorette will both return next year after enjoying phenomenal growth this year, with interest in The Bachelorette driven by the star being Sam Frost, the jilted winner of the previous season of The Bachelor.

McGarvey admitted that helped build audiences for both franchises this year, but said there would still be “upside” for the shows because of their increased interest.

She added they were looking at the possibility of bringing back some of the previous contestants as The Bachelor and Bachelorette, but insisted no decisions had been made and there was likely to be an announcement around March on that.

 

The headline international show is the return of The X-Files after a long hiatus.

McGarvey confirmed that would be fast-tracked, but insisted shows like NCIS did not fall into the same bracket and could be delayed before they air.

Asked whether US shows were less important now McGarvey admitted: “Some of the shows still do well, NCIS for example, so it can’t be discounted. Obviously it doesn’t have the same impact it used to but then nothing does.”

While Ten enjoyed decent ratings growth, albeit from a low base, this year McGarvey was reluctant to be drawn on their ratings targets for next year, saying only they planned to be “north of where we are now”.

ten primetime growth

And as previously announced Ten is bringing back one of its biggest shows Offspring for a sixth season for 2016.

Masterchef will return with Nigella Lawson as the guest chef, while I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here which aired in February this year will be shifted into a ratings period, and will also have a spin off companion show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now  hosted by Joel Creasey, and Heather Maltman from The Bachelor Australia, which will air on Eleven and stream on TenPlay.

 

Asked about the co-production of Gogglebox with Foxtel’s Lifestyle Channel McGarvey admitted its popularity was “kind of a surprise” but added “we were hoping that would work for all of us and it did, it was a nice surprise”.

Alex Hayes

NEW LOCAL CONTENT

Australian Survivor

Part docu-soap, part competition, part human drama, Survivor is the world’s most talked-about television program. It is the show that launched the mainstream reality genre of television programming and it continues to be the centrepiece of broadcasting schedules around the world. Coming to TEN and tenplay in 2016, Australian Survivor will be set on a remote tropical island overseas. Produced by Endemol Shine Australia in association with format creator Castaway Television Productions, Australian Survivor will be big, noisy and exciting family entertainment across all of Network Ten’s media platforms.

Long Lost Family

Hosted by Anh Do and Chrissie Swan, Long Lost Family is an uplifting factual series that reunites mothers, fathers, daughters, sisters and brothers after years of separation. Moving and real, Long Lost Family will take viewers through the complex, emotional and often painful process of reuniting people who have been lost to each other, sometimes for decades. This extraordinary new series is based on the highly successful, award-winning UK format and will be produced by WTFN.

The Wrong Girl

From production company Playmaker Media, the maker of House Husbands, The Code and Love Child, and from the writers of The Secret Life Of Us comes the story of Lily, the producer of a successful cooking segment on a daily morning television show. Lily and her flatmate Simone are taking a sabbatical from men, but Lily falls in love with Jack, the show’s gorgeous new chef. Based on the best-selling book by Zoe Foster Blake, The Wrong Girl stars Jessica Marais (Love Child, Carlotta, Packed To The Rafters) as Lily and a stellar supporting cast.

Brock

A champion on the racetrack and a hero to generations of Australians, Peter Brock was loved and admired by many. But his life off the track was complicated and controversial. The King of the Mountain’s story will be the television drama event of the year. The title role will be played by one of Australia’s finest actors, Matthew Le Nevez (Offspring, The Society Murders), with an outstanding supporting cast that includes Steve Bisley, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Brendan Cowell and Ella Scott Lynch. Brock is created by the team behind INXS: Never Tear Us Apart and Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door and produced by Endemol Shine Australia.

All Star Family Feud

It is Australia’s most popular game show, delighting viewers six nights a week. Now Network Ten is giving viewers more fun, more laughs and more family entertainment with All Star Family Feud. Hosted by Grant Denyer, the new series will run in addition to the regular Family Feud and will feature everyone from politicians and pop stars to football players and fashion icons competing for cash prizes for their favourite charities. All Star Family Feud will be produced by FremantleMedia.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Now

One of the most talked-about television series of 2015 returns in 2016, with a brand new companion show. Hosted by the crown prince of comedy, c, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Now will run each night after the main show on ELEVEN and streamed live on tenplay. It will give viewers behind-the-scenes action from the jungle, updates about their favourite celebritiesand exclusive news and gossip. Like the main series, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Now will be broadcast from South Africa and produced by ITV Studios Australia.

 

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