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Report: Idol out for 2010

Channel TEN will reverse its decision to air Australian Idol this year according to a feature story in today's media.

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Channel TEN will reverse its decision to air Australian Idol this year according to a feature story in today’s Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper claims the show will be “rested” this year despite it being announced as part of the network’s 2010 line-up.

“TEN is going to rest Australian Idol for 2010. They will make a decision towards the end of 2010 as to whether it will return in 2011,” an unnamed source said. “They have asked Fremantle for ideas on how to relaunch in 2011.”

Last year was Idol‘s softest year on record with Sunday night figures barely cracking the 1m margin.

1.47m viewers tuned in to see Stan Walker crowned the show’s winner, down from 1.6m in 2008. The show’s peak era was when Casey Donovan pipped Anthony Callea in 2004 when 3.34m tuned in.

In October Australian Idol was featured as part of the network’s 2010 Programme Launch. While there has already been speculation about who may or may not return as part of the Idol franchise, TEN has refused to comment on the report.

None of the judges have been renewed for the show yet.

In a poll on TV Tonight, 17% of readers voted to replace Jay Dee Springbett, 6% Marcia Hines and just 2% for Andew Gunsberg and 1% for Dicko.

But while 10% voted to get rid of them all, a whopping 63% voted to get rid of the show entirely.

Some readers have suggested a return to a rejuvenated X Factor, which allows for different groups rather than solo singers. Yesterday the Seven Network also announced the 4th season of Australia’s Got Talent.

The reality show has been a “tentpole” part of the network’s programming for seven years. The loss of Idol to TEN will create a major hole to the network’s Sunday programming, particularly after the added exit of Rove. Complicating matters, this year’s Commonwealth Games also falls in the middle of the traditional Idol season, but the boost from the Games may in turn become part of the solution to the network’s final quarter.

As MasterChef proved in replacing Big Brother, major change also brings opportunity. Could TEN move Junior MasterChef to Sundays to make up the difference?

Source: Daily Telegraph

78 Responses

  2. I can’t believe how may people are singing Kyle Sandilands praises. This low life was not the reason Idol declined in ’09. It has been a gradual decline ever since the second season ended. Kyle was horrible on that Idol, all he did was comment on how fat people were on stage and their bad dress sense. Is that what makes an Idol judge? I think not.

    His experience in the music industry is dubious other than the fact he is a shock jock. He even tried to start a record label with his girlfriend as the star client? Didn’t she have a fantastic career? In case you didn’t get the sarcasm the answer is no. It was a good move to dump Kyle from Idol, and its a good idea to dump idol because the format is stale.

  4. This is a couple of horrid seasons overdue, what a rubbish show. How shows like this keep getting air-time when ridiculously great shows like Mad Men, 30 Rock and Studio 60 get shown on 3% stations, terrible time-slots or not at all is beyond me. Standards have fallen so so much, people dont know what good shows actually are any more. Time to get the old box sets of West Wing and Studio 60 out instead of having Ten programmed into my TV.

  5. Thank goodness Idol has gone (for the time being at least)
    2009 Idol was a yawn, embarrassing to watch, boring judges, untalented contestants and worst of all that truly dreadful format …Ugh

  6. I think resting Idol is the best thing to do this year. Maybe for 2011 they could have the cut off age at 31. So the people who turn 30 this year don’t miss out.

  7. I am sad that Idol won’t air this year. However I hope that it returns stronger and better than ever in 2011, perhaps a shift to the start of the year, biggest loser middle, and storm home with masterchef? New Judges are a must. Being able to vote free online is also needed.
    I really hope Micallef gets a Parkinson style show for Sunday nights…

  10. Timmuh : I feel this argument is not going to win you over but crane a look at the current series of Survivor that’s showing. That’s a show that still delivers drama and excitement in the genre.

  13. PS: I don’t think this was a new decision. I think showing it as part of the 2010 promo package was so as not to have “Idol is over” headlines before the series ended, which has a history of hurting ratings as a show comes to an end.

  14. So Ten no longer have: Big Brother; Thank God You’re Here; Idol; Rove.

    What do they have left? Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation. That’s a great show, but it’s a huge fall from former heights.

    I do not envy them their 2010.

  16. @Avid – I doubt Nine would spend the big money needed for BB to air it on a channel with such a small audience. Personally I think its only hope would be if Ten decides to revive it in the future (2011 maybe, if they are desperate). I don’t think Nine is interested and Seven simply doesn’t need it.

  17. There were reports after Big Brother ended in 2008 that Nine was looking at it (albeit in a different format). Wouldn’t this be the perfect addition to GO!? Fits their demos and they have plenty of hours that need to be filled.

  18. Alot of the success from these shows come from the judges – not just the contestants.

    Look at Simon Cowell. Look at Sharon Osbourne. Look at Piers Morgan.

    Hell, look at Dicko or Kyle. Even bloody Mark Holden (as corny as he was, the touchdowns were a big part of the show).

    It’s not just about the raw talent any more, it’s about the whole experience.

    Sorry, but Marcia and Jay Dee should go. Zero personality, useless commentary. You want judges that are going to say things, you need viewers wondering to themselves “what are the judged going to say/do this week?”. That is what makes the viewing experience.

    The public don’t want the same thing over and over again and there is only so much you can do the format. It is the judges that the most changing.

  20. over 50 comments and not one person seems they will miss it. i think we can judge that they made the right decision. but why would they return it? how many shows in the last decade have ‘taken a year off’ and actually returned. whatever replaces it cannot do much worse than idol so i’d say that we have seen the last of it.

    it’s just a shame they didn’t say this before season 7 ended. it could have gone out on big ratings if it was promoted as the last ever episode.

  22. That’s one less annoying promo that will saturate every ad break on 10. Current and usual suspects are Biggest Loser ..er…first look, that annoying rhythm of life so you think you can dance. What is it with 10 and just being so annoyingly repetitive with their stock music and ads. If looks could kill (Ah yes, the 2010 theme tune), then please look directly at me so I don’t have to hear that song ever ever again.

  23. Didn’t TEN say they were going to revive Big Brother in 2010? And also didn’t they say they were going to be launching a new ‘big entertainment’ format in the next year? I’m going to assume that their plans to fix up their Sundays with the loss of Rove and Idol is a new show paired up with a relaunch of Big Brother.. Kinda like how the Biggest Loser and Dance have been paired up. It might do good to give Idol a break, and then in 2011 actually get some Life into the show. Bigger stage, maybe move the show to Melbourne, better judges, and get Andrew and Ricki-Lee’s roles better organised for them. This year they were getting there, but it still felt pretty sloppy between the two of them.

  25. you got to laugh when people bag other people for bagging their favorite show. maybe if those people should take off those rose coloured glasses and realize how bad their favorite show is.idol is terrible

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