Ten’s Blind Date returns to screens with 487,000 viewers
Ten’s revamped version of the 1960s show, Blind Date, managed to attract just 487,000 metro viewers on its premiere episode.
The program, which ran at 7:30pm, was unable to gain as much traction as Nine’s The Block, which achieved 1.003m metro viewers, and Seven’s Emergency Call and Border Security: Australia Front Line, which averaged 579,000 and 513,000 respectively.
Mike picked Contestant #3 Mel, but he secretly wanted Contestant #1 Sarah. So what did he do? Messaged Sarah after his date with Mel, of course 😂 #BlindDateAU @LadyJmo pic.twitter.com/4Co2gjPNGC
— Blind Date (@BlindDate_AU) October 15, 2018
Nationally, Blind Date grew to 646,000, but Nine’s The Block swelled to 1.424m and Seven’s Emergency Call and Border Security captured 910,000 and 781,000 viewers.
Blind Date originally aired in the 1960s on what is now known as Network Ten, after the format ran as The Dating Game on the US’ ABC. Over the years since, it has aired on Seven and Ten as both ‘Blind Date’ and in a revived tweaked format known as ‘Perfect Match’, which ran in the 1980s and again in the 2000s.
When Mumbrella spoke to head of entertainment and factual programming, Stephen Tate, he refuted the idea the show would be compared to other dating shows on television, such as Nine’s Married at First Sight and Ten’s Bachelor and Bachelorette programs. He also said the show was a sizeable investment for Ten.
On Twitter, the reviews were mixed.
I hope #GoggleBoxAU have added #BlindDateAU to their watch list!!! 😂🤣
— Reality Bites | OG CHEEMS SOLANA (@RealityNoms) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/fiddy_kay/status/1051762101365043206
Is this an appropriate time slot??? I am so uncomfortable #BlindDateAU
— ALISON McNAMARA (@alyUCMA) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/AngelWhite2015/status/1051758551633293312
Watching #BlindDate on #Channel10. More diversity than #BachelorAU and #BachelorretteAU combined. Good one, @channelten. Costs less too (just a thought). Love #JuliaMorris as host as well
— ❈ ꧁ Minx ꧂ ❈ (@MinxChique) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/SamBelcher15/status/1051771990678204416
The show placed fourth in its time slot, also beaten by 7:30. However it did appear third in the 16-39 key advertising demographic.
Ten’s 8:30pm offering, Have You Been Paying Attention, delivered a strong result, at 769,000 metro viewers. It also placed second across all key advertising demographics, which include the 18-49 and 25-54s.
The show ran up against Seven’s Wanted and Nine’s Serial Killer with Piers Morgan, which achieved 455,000 and 388,000 respectively.
Also more popular than Blind Date was Ten’s The Project 7pm, with 564,000 metro viewers. From a news battle perspective, the night was won by Seven – at 1.014m metro viewers – just beating Nine News’ 956,000. Seven News led in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth while in Sydney and Melbourne, Nine News took the lead.
Despite all efforts to revamp programming, Ten lost out to ABC on Monday evening, placing fourth among the main channel shares. Nine finished the evening at 20.2%, ahead of Seven’s 18.1%, while ABC came in third on 13.8%. Ten’s share was 13.7% and SBS’ was 5.2%. However, when adding in the multi-channels and looking at total network, Ten nabbed a win off ABC. Nine Network’s share was 28.5% while Seven Network finished on a 26.5% share. Network Ten’s share was 20%, ABC Network averaged a 17.9% share and SBS’ share was 7.1%.
Stephen Tate said the show was a sizeable investment for Ten.
Bollocks!
It was cheaply made, rushed to air, low quality and amateurish production and graphics.
And Julia Morris is overused.
Hold on, maybe I am being too harsh about a sizeable investment, after all it is the job cutting Network! Next move is bringing in the voice coach to lift the ratings.
CBS please start getting involved and stop leaving it with amateurs.
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This is the first ever comment I’ve ever made. Sorry channel 10. The advertising campaign just makes every part of the show look extremely smutty. Sorry Julia but wow doesn’t make you appear very nice . Can’t see channel 10 on a winner with this one.
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