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TEN defends Neighbours ratings

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Network TEN insists it is happy with the ‘new look’ Neighbours and how it is performing in the 6:30pm timeslot.

Figures for the soap, are only 3% higher than before the much-publicised, expensive relaunch in July.

“The changes to Neighbours already on-air are the first of many; the most significant will be apparent in the new year and include the upgrade to high definition production,” Ten’s head of programming Beverley McGarvey told the Daily Telegraph.

“We expected it would take time for the audience to build, are happy with progress so far and are fully committed to Neighbours.”

Last week the drama averaged only 686,000 viewers. The week before was 702,000.

It is widely known that the on-going production of Neighbours has continued due to the UK interest in the show. This year the show was the winner in a broadcast tussle between the BBC and Channel Five, which eventually paid handsomely for the rights.

RTE in Ireland has also snapped up the show ina FremantleMedia deal package that includes The Bill and Shortland Street.

But if the show was broadcast earlier than 6pm in Australia it would not attract much-needed local drama quota points for TEN.

Sources: Digital Spy, Daily Telegraph

10 Responses

  2. I am a Neighbours fan, but it is just becoming too predictable with the same scenarios over and over. I absolutely hate the Parker family. I have hated Ned since day one and the introduction of more of them has annoyed me a lot more. Ned’s kid is annoying as hell as well and why Janae is with him is unbelievable. Scrap the Parkers and think of something new to write in to the script. I’m sick of seeing the hospital and the police in what seems like every few scenes.

  3. I didn’t say that there weren’t any memorable episodes post-2004 as there certainly are a few. Despite the cliched nature of the storyline, the whole Izzy/Karl/Susan feud was fun to watch, however the show has been stuck in a rut for quite a while now, and I honestly can’t see the show improving anytime soon unless they make some casting changes and fire some of the producers and wrting staff.

    This show has essentially became a parody of itself. And it would be funny too if I hadn’t known that they were taking themselves seriously.

  4. I’d beg to differ with silly ghostly in that there have been a hanful of memorable eps since the ’04 season Lassiters fire cliffhanger. There was when Carl finally found out about Izzys lies in July “05, when Izzy returned briefly early this year and gave birth to Carl’s baby ( Nat Bassingthwaight is sorely missed)and Janelle & Steigers wedding, before they were regretfully written out. But I do agree that the once loved show is crap now…bland and boring!

  6. The problem is that there was no “change” in the first place apart from the opening credits. The show still looks cheaply done, the new family is EXTREMELY unlikeable, and the dialogue is (still) ridiculously contrived and predictable.

    They could also boot off Ned/Zeke. I’ve wanted them booted off since they both entered the show. The writers have made blatantly pathetic attempts to make them more “likeable”, but their “characters” are so poorly written and acted that it only makes me hate them that much more.

    There hasn’t been a single memorable episode since the Lassiters fire, and that was what, three years ago? The plane crash eps weren’t too bad either.

    They REALLY need to get their act together if they expect the show to improve in terms of both ratings/quality. The show is as bad, if not worse than ever.

  7. exactly right…Neighbours needs to stay right where it is
    the real issue here is that Ten builds up a fair audience for their 5pm News, but then lose most of it to Seven & Nine….Neighbours has no help at all from Simpsons repeats, and with a lead-out like Futurama, what can you expect?

    As for sets & characters – well sets should change evry so often, plus some aditonal ones…i know you cant add too much to Ramsay St,but still…plus sum actors r leaving soon, so xpect some more change instore

  8. Having been a fan of the show since day one I am really finding the show quite bland at the moment. We didn’t need to have a major drama with the Parkers before we have even warmed to the characters. And the story line with Jane Hall and the father of her sons was really hazy and unclear. We never saw him do anything bad, yet he wasn’t allowed a relationshop with his own sons. Even though they have brought Valda back, and Libby is coming back, the show just dosn’t excite any more. The impending loss of Janelle is another sore point. It was also more colourful on videotape, so havn’t warmed to the new style of fiming either.

  9. moving it to 7 o’clock would put it squarely up against H&A which would be ratings suicide – which it almost was the last time the two shows went up against each other (1992) and Neighbours had to retreat to the 6.30 timeslot.

  10. I love neighbours, but im starting to get bored of the same scenes. the hospital needs changing, they need to loose a few characters and have more action. plus the show should be at 7 oclock instead of 6.30 and follow it up with a good show

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