Ten bumps Biggest Loser to lunchtime after fortnight of ratings failure
Ten has dropped The Biggest Loser from primetime after a fortnight of dismal ratings.
The network will air the rest of the body improvement show at lunchtimes instead.
The low ratings for The Biggest Loser – which at times dipped below metro audiences of 300,000 and was even beaten into fifth place in its timeslot by overseas railway journey documentaries on SBS – forced Ten to make the move.
Losers: Ten struggled to find an audience
The Biggest Loser: Transformed was Ten’s attempt to reboot the decade-old franchise with an approach that included less overweight contestants and a move away from coaches Michelle Bridges and Steve “Commando” Willis. Presenter Hayley Lewis was replaced by Fiona Falkiner in 2015.
Ten did not immediately respond to Mumbrella’s request for comment. In a statement given to the TV Tonight website, Ten’s chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “Ten has had a great track record in recent years in terms of successfully launching new formats and revitalising existing formats. Success stories have included The Bachelor Australia, The Bachelorette Australia, Australian Survivor, Gogglebox, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Family Feud and Shark Tank.
“Obviously we are disappointed that The Biggest Loser: Transformed did not resonate with viewers as strongly as we had hoped it would. We are proud of the show – which will move into Ten’s daytime schedule from Monday 3 April – and proud of the great work done by Shannan Ponton, Libby Babet, Fiona Falkiner and the contestants.”
The show struggled against strong performances from Nine’s Married At First Sight and Seven’s My Kitchen Rules.
With six days of the rating week gone, Ten currently has a peak metro audience share of just 9.6%, compared to Seven’s 24.9% and Nine’s 19.3%
Ten moved a week ago to drop The Biggest Loser from Sunday nights, replacing it with episodes of US comedy Modern family, but continued to run it from Monday to Thursday.
Ten will now also run a mixture of new and repeat episodes of Modern Family on Monday nights.
Tuesday will see repeats of Jamie Oliver’s Superfood Family Classics.
On Wednesday nights, the network will air new episodes of British chat show The Graham Norton Show, which had previously been airing on Fridays. It is unclear what Ten will do about the Friday night hole – TV guides currently show the network airing the same Graham Norton episode on both Wednesday and Friday of this coming week, which would be an unusual move.
Thursdays will see Ten air new episodes of David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities.
The new lineup for Ten is likely to be for the next three weeks. The first period of the official ratings season ends on Saturday April 8, followed by two weeks outside of the offical outside ratings period to allow for the Easter holidays.
Ten has not yet confirmed a start date for the next series Masterchef, but given that promos are already airing for the popular cooking show, it is likely to be back on air for the resumption of the ratings period on Sunday April 23.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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So disappointed that the biggest looser is being moved to day time viewing.
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I really enjoyed the new format as well. Can’t watch day time Tele as I work, so putting repeats on of other shows has unfortunately lost another channel 10 viewer.
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You could still catch up on Biggest Loser on tenplay.
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Disappointed that the show moved to day time. I work and now cannot see it. Perhaps the show is not as “dramatic” due to no-one being very overweight. But it is interesting to see “regular” people lose weight. Put it back to evenings! Please.
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I thought this was an April Fool’s joke at first. I was thinking wow Ten has a good sense of humour taking the piss out of themselves and their bad ratings luck… But then it turned out to be legit…. eeeeek!!!
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This is unbelievable Biggest Loser has hardly started give people a chance to become invested. I love the new format of nutrition and working with the mind wake up Channel 10
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Only watch ch10 for particular programs and this was one. Bad move Ten, won’t be able to make it at lunchtime, as many others I’m sure. Ratings not going to be any different.
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Thanks for telling us about the move, missed an episode cause of the sudden move. Had to google what was going on. F U ten
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Turns out the show was eponymous. Could be a new genre.
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What are you thinking? It is the only reality show that is not demeaning and contrived. I detest all the cooking shows as it is more about egotistic contestants and very little cooking. Another 10 viewer gone. Your replacement shows are not even Australian.
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So disappointed. Apparently learning how to be healthy is less important than being entwined in a catfight mentality. Hats off to this year’s contestants for being so dignified. I guess it explains why they tried to create bad blood between contestants during elimination and weigh in.
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Very disappointed, and can’t believe that we were not told so I missed today’s episode!
Like everyone else said, bad move ch 10, plus you put on that horrible and old chapters of Family something! I can’t believe it.
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Can’t believe you would take Biggest Loser off nights and replace it with Modern Family, such a cowardly thing to do. I work days and now will miss it. So disappointed with channel 10, will be changing channels.
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Really disappointed you have changed the time slot. I work so cannot watch. Ratings will drop even lower. TBL is the only reality show I watch. Bad move channel 10. Guess I’m back to Netflix and Stan ?
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I am so saddened that Chanel 10 has moved this show. I have enjoyed it more this year then many before it. I will watch it on catch up but I am angry that the show that can make a difference in people’s lives has now gone. Very disappointed!!
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The show was revamped, don’t mess with the original, When Michelle Bridges and Commando were not involved thats it. Shannon is not a presenter why did channel 10 change the format, who’s idea was that
I knew from the first episode it was never going to work.
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Repeats of modern family , graham norton ,Jamie Oliver and David Attenborough , oh yeah certain rating winners 4 sure ! what an absolute pile of $hit …..no wonder I rarely watch channel 10
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Only decent channel 10 show. Always looked forward to watching at night now turn the tv off and read a book
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Very disappointed especially as I didn’t realise it was being moved. Love the new format and enjoyed the recipes. Bad move channel 10.
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Can’t believe you feel viewers would rather watch american crap or bitch fights.
Really disappointed 10. Australian tv is really disappointing.
Won’t be watching 10
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bad move, was enjoying this for the first time in years, lost a viewer, bring it back
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Im disappointed as i watch this to help motivate myself as well as listening to the tips. Now to watch it on ten play i watch through my phone and can’t get sound. Now im really annoyed.
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Why do we have to put up with all these ‘lifestyle’ programs? Cooking, losing weight, Batchelor, Batchelorette, love at first site, first kiss, farmer wants a wife etc etc etc, it just goes on and on. Know what? People are just fed up to the back teeth, with all of it. THAT’S what’s wrong…
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I was wondering what happened to the Biggest Loser. I am so disappointed it is not showing at night time. I love this show and love watching. I cannot always watch due to my shift work so that shows less in ratings. It’s not always that people don’t want to watch but maybe they can’t. Such a shame.
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