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Rumours on Neighbours’ future

On the eve of celebrating its 6000th episode, the rumours on the future of Neighbours are flying thick and fast.

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On the eve of celebrating its 6000th episode, the rumours on the future of Neighbours are flying thick and fast.

This week the show slipped to as low as 534,000 viewers on Thursday.

There has been some speculation TEN could shift Sports Tonight to early evenings, but TEN publicity has dismissed the idea as part of regular rumour-mongering that periodically rolls around.

Another whisper is that the soap could switch to TEN’s new digital channel next year.

But under current regulations, TEN would win no drama points for doing so. Drama must run on primary channels first in order to qualify.

“There’s certainly a lot of speculation in the landscape, and, somewhere amongst all this, will be the truth, and the truth will be known when we’re ready to announce something,” Programming Chief David Mott tells the Sunday Telegraph.

“Neighbours does need some work, and we’re hoping we can get there on that. I can say that Neighbours will be part of the TEN family going forward, and there’s a deal we’re talking to Fremantle about at the moment.”

Cast and network will celebrate both the 25th anniversary and 6000 episodes with a party later this month – a record for an Aussie drama.

Source: Sunday Telegraph

56 Responses

  1. @ the Steph storyline …

    Here’s my take (for what it’s worth) 😉

    No one had any reason to be suspicious in the first place,
    so the secret should have stayed with Steph & Toadie … until
    just before Carla was leaving … then they could’ve had some medical reason
    for the baby’s real father being known.

    Would’ve made more sense … and no so drawn out like now.

    Just my 2 cents worth 😉

  2. I watch it but I don’t know if I can stand it much longer. I know it’s a soap and soap viewers can be forgiving but enough is enough. Storylines which have 16 year old boys coordinating major events at a hotel complex are beyond belief. We have university students teaching in schools after only 6 months of being in university. A stupid and unbelievable pregnancy storyline. C’mon shake it up!! Give me something to watch. I want to feel more than just frustration and annoyance.

  3. I don’t like how some say ‘do us all a favor.. and get rid of it’ as just because they don’t have an interest in it, it doesn’t mean no-one else does. I’ve been watching it for the last 18 or so years. I don’t think it is the greatest show of all time, but it is something I continue to pay attention to.

    Also.. even if it were to happen and go… I really wonder what 10 is supposed to put in place? I don’t think anything is going to really outrate Today/Tonight or A Current Affair, they’ve just become the thing to watch for many after the news. Though saying that I wouldn’t be too disappointed if it moved to some other slot, just don’t think it should go.

  5. Neighbours needs to improve the story lines. The sexy Libby having an affair or Libby trying to kill steph. Some of the people writing the storylines need to write better or be sacked.

  6. A big problem at the moment is the current storyline about Steph’s baby has
    been drawn out to coinside with the 6000th ep, which means fans have had
    to wait over 6 months for the big secret to come out. That’s just too long. You
    really can’t blame viewers for losing patience, especially after so many false
    alarms.

  7. I’ve watched since the very beginning when it was on ch 7.
    What it needs is new writers, better storylines.
    Then the ratings might actually improve!!

    Having said that, I hope they can fix it & not axe it.
    I do actually like the show. 🙂

  8. I generally agree with what is being said, the most important change to make is to get rid of Susan Bower, any other change will be totally pointless if you dont make that 1 change first.

  9. Ive stopped watching Neighbours for over a year now – the storylines have all been crap and boring. Anti climatic. Also there arent any familys anymore.

  10. I am sensing a real change it what audiences are expecting from Australian drama, and they have outgrown this genre in particular. Ten’s slate feels so energetic and modern that the old-fashioned Neighbours sits uncomfortably on their sked. I vote for letting it go out with some dignity – instead of watching those figures decline until its embarassing. Fremantle has lost its way – that is for sure.

  11. Neighbours has to have a Big Bang in it.. like libby trying to kill steph and like one of the characters becoming a stalker and stuff like H&A had… it might help.

  12. I know this has been said many times but get rid of Susan bower. With her direction and storylines it was only a matter of time before neighbours experieced ratings erosion. I have watched neighbours for over ten years and continue to do so even though its at its lowest point in terms of quality ever. Maybe it should be moved to a ten thirty time slot and allow it to have more engaging storylines and characters with more layers. And after all surely it couldn’t rate any worse than it is now. Bottomline neighbours needs a new executive producer and writers.

  13. Just axe it already. Terrible show, and it really hurts their ratings. If they’re not gonna axe it they at least should move it to 4.30. Or move it to 6, have 7PM Project at 6.30 to compete with the crappy current affairs shows, then Masterchef back to 7.

    But axe is what i’d choose.

  14. I’d love a move to a later time slot… it seems Bold & The Beautiful gets “meatier” storylines @ 4:30pm, whilst Neighbours has to stay G rated at 6:30pm. Also, you can see murder, bloodshed and nudity on the 6:00 news services, but not half an hour later? Bizarre.

  15. Time for Susan Bower to leave, it has been so bad since she stepped in… I stopped watched a few months ago when I just could not tolerate another Zeke or Donna storyline. Watching a random episode the other week showed that they have truly stuffed up the Declan character.

  17. I am a big and loyal fan of Neighbours and I have been disappointed by the quality of the show this year. However, I would never want to see the show be axed at this moment. I just hope the writers get themselves together and produce high-quality episodes, which we do get in every once in a while.

  19. Neighbours has been on for a very long time and certainly deserves the accolades it has received.

    It’s a problem always facing long running serials though – how to stay fresh and appeal to a new audience?

    If it hadn’t been for its sales to places like the UK etc, it would have ended long ago.

    Whatever happens, to last 25 years is a remarkable achievement and will certainly go down in the record books for that alone.

  20. I think TEN needs to listen to a lot of the online forums dedidated to Neighbours. There’s an overwhelming voice of people who are calling for Susan Bower to be axed as executive producer.

  21. the best thing for too do with this show is. axe it. it’s way past its used by date and it has been a rubbish show for a good 10 years now

  24. I watched part of the higher rating Packed to the Rafters last week and the acting was at the same level as Neighbours and Home & Away. Baffles me why all three programs are still on Australian television.

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