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Rumour: Five to renegotiate Neighbours

Will UK media tycoon Richard Desmond try to renegotiate a long-term Neighbours contract made by Five?

TV Tonight is hearing whispers that Five in the UK could seek to renegotiate its long-term contract with FremantleMedia over Neighbours.

The production company signed a long-term deal with Five that runs until 2017 after the original broadcaster, BBC One, dropped out of negotiations.

Until recently, Five was owned by FremantleMedia’s parent company, RTL Group. It was purchased mid-year by media tycoon Richard Desmond who is rumoured to be seeking to renegotiate the contract on Neighbours.

Five recently had a stand-off with Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine over the fee for Don’t Stop Believing in the UK and threatened not to pay after the show took a dive in the ratings.

In the end it paid up.

Desmond has previously spoken favourably of the Aussie soap, but the issue is likely to be one of the price agreed to before his arrival.

An executive from the UK is understood to have recently visited Neighbours to address production cost-cuts.

The long-running soap, which celebrated 6000 episodes mid year, will move to ELEVEN in January.

22 Responses

  1. Mark agree I use to love this show too but now they are changing it for the worse and some of the storylines are unrealistic and also the storylines drag out instead of getting to the point!

  2. Knowing Richard Desmond (famous for his cost-cutting at Express Newspapers), I think he’s probably trying to look at reducing costs and at renegotiating how much FIVE are paying for the show as opposed to completely expunging Neighbours from FIVE’s schedule.

    Neighbours often makes the Five Top 10 and brings close to three million viewer daily to FIVE, which is the UK’s lowest rating terrestrial channel.

  3. the world has changed since Neighbours first came a 6:30pm offering.Back in 1992 there was No FOX 8 cartoon offerings,No GO or Seven Two or Seven Mate Shows,No SBS 2 nightly food shows either.You either watched a Soap or that current affairs crap over at 7 or 9.

  4. Don’t give up on the girl yet, she has served as well over the years, many joys, laughter and many tears, Neighbours time is my zone, whenever i’ve been in life, it’s always been there, like the attachment to E-street and many soapies, i feel so sad about it all, but you know, the industry changed and evolves, if it can last on the uptake over summer and we all try our hardest to remember to watch despite life taking over, oh yes , bf is home, madness will begin, check Neighbours mail while he away, make sure no one is in the alley way, etc, being a good Neioghbour is not only about watching a show but learning about kindness and respect for your fellow human, its not that hard, and well Karl and Susan can’t be wrong, 3 flings, 3 bust ups, memory loss etc, Mold your own lives before you trash Neighbours! Keep the love alive for this glorious and twisted show!! Maybe recast a new Charlene, Scott and Harold……. or at least Harold to say goodbye before the Logies, lets hope it lasts till then!!
    Bless Channel 10!
    Bring back an updated Number 96 and bring Abigail out of hiding with a younger wilder daughter!

  5. The network is unravelling and the demise of Neighbours is inevitable. Ten has used Neighbours to meet their quota for years, but the drama game has evolved. Time for Ten to commission more drama for grown ups – but it costs serious money. Good luck with that issue Jamie Packer.

  6. Don’t stop believing took a dive in the ratings in the UK?

    Doesn’t look good for TEN. But i guess that was clear since TEN are STILL promoting auditions for the show!

  7. Ja’mie, TEN does not pay for the production costs, hasn’t for years. Overseas sales, and namely the Five contract in the UK effectively pays production costs. If Five in the UK were to cease buying the series, Neighbours would effectivley cease production if no other broadcaster in the UK picks up the rights at a healthy price.

  8. If Neighbours wants higher ratings in the UK, then it should continute to invest in the older, well-established characters, rather than making Neighbours about teens!

    Neighbours success partly lies in the older characters

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