Block producer blames Consumer watchdog
Scrutiny from Consumer Victoria over the reserve prices for The Block was to blame for properties being passed in according to Producers.
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Scrutiny from Consumer Victoria over the reserve prices for The Block was to blame for properties being passed in according to Producer Julian Cress.
“It was an absurd investigation in the first place and I’d think today they’d be taking a long hard look at themselves,” Cress said. “On Sunday night they would have watched TV and realised the reserves were set well within the range the agents had been discussing.”
News of the investigation emerged on the day of the anti-climax auction. Couples fell well short of previous seasons in terms of sales, with last year’s winners walking away with as much as $305,000.
But despite the criticism, a spokeswoman yesterday said they were still monitoring the remaining properties.
“While the auctions have been completed, the sales campaign continues for the properties that were “passed in, and Consumer Affairs Victoria will watch the outcome with interest,” they said.
Meanwhile the previous owners of the properties had paid just $24,500 for two of the terraces in 1977, and doubled up their portfolio before all four terraces passed in at auction for $2.85 million on November 27 last year.
One day later they negotiated a settlement with Watercress Productions, selling for an additional $800,000. Add $198,000 in stamp duty and each house, pre-TV makeover, had to sell for $900,000-plus just to break even.
“It’s important to remember it’s a competition between four couples but only one couple is guaranteed an outcome. Over the years others have also made a profit, but that has been a bonus,” Cress said. “I have become good friends with all these couples and the one thing to remember is this: the Nine Network doesn’t forget its friends.”
Source: The Age, Herald Sun
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22 Responses
Just compensate those poor people who worked so hard all those weeks for nothing. What a disgrace, what a rip off!
@jaye – some very eloquently put points. BTW who pays 900k for a knock down, spends 100k (and the rest – we’re not that stupid ch 9) and puts it on the market for 850k?
Just another case of a television production company thinking it can publicise it’s way into a profession it knows nothing about. Who were the real estate, design and building consultants behind the scenes on this show? Nobody. It’s demeaning to those professions, sends the wrong message to the general community and treats the contestants like canon fodder. The auction showed just what happens when they are not in total control of the “script”. Can’t wait for the 2012 season. Bravo.
Have to agree that the slap dash committment to getting it done to meet weekly television deadlines rather than setting a “real” time line focussing on quality workmanship is hardly an advertisment for attracting above market prices.
@Brad I was wondering what those block of flats were. One or several of those really over look Rod and Tanias living room and backyard. I also noticed that a double story house right over looks another backyard. Their balcony is so close to the backyard you’d have no privacy.
I would still worry about the quality and finish. Especially when Keith was commenting on various faults etc.
As much as I love The Block, would anyone pay that much money for a house that was rushed in 8 weeks………. I think not!!!!
Once upon a time I bought a very run down old house. Probably in worse condition than the ones on The Block. You know how long it took to me to fix it? Over two years. Why? You cannot shortcut the restoration of a 100+ year old home. They demand respect, research, skill, dedication…and lots of money.
These houses were full of shortcuts, only an idiot would pay a million bucks for one.
The producer needs to pull his head in and realise buyers expect far more than happy meal quality for caviar prices.
What a surprise, you over-capitalise a house and it doesn’t sell for what you want.
Richmond is an in-demand suburb but these houses were a long way from being in the best part of Richmond (Richmond Hill off Lennox Street); they were near Housing Commission flats. I’m not surprised no-one wanted to part with $1M+ for the houses. The glamor of having a house that was on TV will soon fade; the mortgage with the bank will live on!!
agian i say would u pay that sort of money for a house built in 9weeks no way
Agree Jezza. Disappointed.
Yup, it was the consumer watchdog’s fault. Nothing to do with the property market. Was it also the consumer watchdog’s fault on the previous series, or when the owner’s of these four houses couldn’t sell them at auction either (and for a lot less)? And then you come along the next day and pay above what the market had already set? Take a step back and get some perspective.
@Steven, I wasn’t referring to the ratings, which to me are inexplicable, but the opposite of a debacle. I was referring to the damp squib ending with three of four properties not selling (25% clearance rate = disastrous) and the current Melbourne property market which has been in a downward slump for some time. Those factors are the debacle to which I am referring. If the producers want Melbourne again because of the high viewership of the Melbourne market,by all means they are welcome to.
If anything it was a Sydney style of auction. Pre-registered bidders, austion held offsite in another suburb…
@Allie
You could not be any more wrong if you tried. Ch9 has taken this series to a new level in the ratings due to the success Melbourne viewers have tuned in because it was their own city. Some how the “debacle” you refer to got 3m viewers and added drama. I don’t think ch9 are the losers here
Block is in Melbourne again in 2012.
Uh, LOL.
Blaming someone else is what happens when you don’t want to look at yourself. 😉
Instead of saying “OMG, it was so totally their fault! If it weren’t for them, then everything would have been fine! *sadface*” they should look at the reasons why people might have been hesitant to bid high enough in the auction to meet reserve.
It couldn’t be simply be that, maybe, the show’s expectations were set too high on the houses and that they thought they were better than what they were?
Never. What show would think that? 😉
“The Nine Network doesn’t forget its friends” ?? lol!
Yeah just ask Jessica Rowe, Matty Jones and Jim Waley.
well I still think that Nine and Cress produciton still has to compensate the other couples who did not make a single cent from the auction!
Loyalty in television? I wonder how many friends the producers would have if this show flopped and they were left holding a seriously over rated property portfolio that makes absolutely no sense in a commercial environment. Previous owners are the real winners based on these figures. Chump t-shirts for the block’s producers.
always someone else is to blame ay?
It was a huge anti climax. I think the producer is wrong, the Melb property market has been slowing down for a few months now, clearance rates barely scrape 58 per cent. I think the reserves may have been slightly high, hence the result. However it is not realistic to set reserves at 600k and give away loads of cash.
Sundays show rates as one of the all time lame season finales, a total anti climax. High rating but totally crap.
Looks like it’s back to Sydney for The Block. This absolute debacle guarantees that Melbourne will not be used again.