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Why The Block has officially jumped the shark

Calls for Nine show to create affordable homes as producer's own words concede $5m-$6m pushes homes out of reach of viewers.

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It’s official.

According to The Block‘s own producers and creators, the show has now jumped the shark….

Homes selling at $5.6m are clearly beyond the reach of Nine’s own audience, which consequently pushes the show from renovation to property porn, joining the likes of Luxe Listings Sydney, Selling Sunset and Million Dollar Listings.

“If we were doing homes that were selling for $5m or $6m we would be jumping that shark”

Last year when Hampton homes were selling for $4m, executive producer Julian Cress told TV Tonight, “If we were doing homes that were selling for $5m or $6m we would be jumping that shark. But I think that doing five houses of three to four bedrooms with two car garages in a cul de sac, has been proven to be the Australian dream…”

Now in its 18th remarkable season, still dominating the ratings, the show aims for ‘aspirational’ Cress maintains.

“I think that the viewer of The Block wants to see renovations being done to a really high standard. They want to see people who’ve been given an opportunity of a lifetime to execute and to realise the best reward that they can get,” he explained.

“We’ve always chosen really aspirational places to make the show and those places are the ones where prices have increased more than everywhere else.”

This year homes well exceeded the $5m mark producers acknowledged would be ‘jumping the shark’ -a TV term which recognises the show is no longer following its original format.

Sunday night’s auction drew bumper ratings, and record prices, but has copped a barrage of comments on social media for being dominated by wealthy buyers with bottomless pockets, eccentric bidding (at one point consulting a dog) and rolling up in Lamborghinis.

Has the show’s constant “Biggest Block ever?” created a rod for its own back, constantly seeking to outdo earlier seasons in scale and price tags? That’s fine if the show wants to be Free to Air’s Luxe Listings, but it’s hardly attainable for viewers looking to weekend renovate with a bit of help from Bunnings, Freedom or Beacon Lighting.

“Creating $4 million-plus homes -outside the reach of most people- didn’t seem to affect The Block‘s ratings which were exceptionally strong all season,” TV critic Colin Vickery tells TV Tonight.

“But that ambitious price-point definitely caused havoc at the auctions. Apart from Omar and Oz it was a bit of a fizzer.”

Vickery believes scaling back might make the show more relatable, and could result in a final where viewers were effectively bidding at auction.

“Bigger and more expensive isn’t always better”

“Maybe it is time to recalibrate. Bigger and more expensive isn’t always better – particularly in a volatile market,” he said.

“Next year’s location is reportedly already locked in – East Hampton – but it will be interesting to see the size and price of the homes.

“I’d love to see a finale filled with younger couples – rather than wealthy investors and buyer advocates – enthusiastically bidding for more affordable dream homes.”

Andrew Mercado from Media Week added, “The Block is a show with something for everyone until the final night when it’s not. Give that loyal audience more affordable homes instead of these unattainable mansions.”

25 Responses

  1. I think the creative concept for these type of renovation shows originated in the UK, the idea was to buy by auction run down ex rental houses or properties that the owner had trouble selling and adding value by some basic reno and interior decorating advice. Improving kitchens and bathrooms was almost standard but the costs were always kept moderate.
    The more involved rebuilds were done for people down on their luck or in need of extra facilities due to medical issues with a family member, with shows like DIY SOS which has been made for 22 years. The Block had its origins in Backyard Blitz, a show which knew its limits and offered inspiration for viewers to follow, plainly The Block is now much more than that and needs to return to its grass roots without the angst and adversarial themes.

    1. The UK versions have generally been a documentary approach following people funding their own projects. Shows like The Block and a similar show around the same time flopped, but property shows following people doing their own renovations or building, such as Grand Designs which has run since the late 90s, still do well.

      There have been a couple of shows in the last year or so where producers stump up the investment, but on a low level (£100k or so) and they’re very much the participant does the work in the real world, rather than have a bunch of tradies on site and it being a reality competition. They’ve done OK but not spectacular and been a bit of blowback on the ethics of it in a spiraling housing market.

  3. Thanks David for the post – you hit the nail on the head.

    The overall ratings for the shows broadcast run tell the story ie it resonated with audiences and blew away any competition which is all Nine (and its advertisers) will care about and spruik until the cows come home. Why change the formula it’s working. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

  4. Just a point of clarification – I live round the corner from the next Block site. It ain’t called East Hampton or East Hamptons or whatever other fancy pants name people drop. It’s Hampton East. It’s also one minute from Moorabbin and the Nepean Hwy. That should keep prices comfortably under $3m, depending on the scale of the homes.

  7. The Block has rated well, crushed the opposition and they are advertising for contested for the next season. That fact that this seasons contestants didn’t make any money won’t deter people for applying. It’s bringing in lots of advertising and product placement income. Most of The Block’s audience is going to struggle to find somewhere to rent, that won’t stop them watching TV.

  8. all it is now is making reality tv stars of the people who are on it which is all we need ,more people who go on what is basically a game show and all of a sudden they are tv stars like all the other reality game shows . and really you could replay the first few seasons and its all the same stuff

  10. I used to like the Block, but also concur that the product placement, need for bigger and better homes, resulting in more ostentatious unaffordable houses and furnishings became a turn off.
    Compounded by the competition of multiple weekly challenges to win money and showcase the judges meant the renovation was a side feature despite the premise of the show.
    Also I found the unnecessary renovation of homes Some were recently renovated) in the Cul-de-sac Fans vs Faves was also a waste of existing resources
    I realise the East Hamptons suburb is the next to feature, but it would be great if a less expensive and more affordable area was featured. I realise that this will not happen due to the capitalist ethos. Where sponsors want to show case their high end products and Ch9 want to maximise profit to make the show financially viable.
    That is my view. I am glad lots of people enjoy the show and I was glad to hear that they focused on sustainability this year too.

  11. Over capitalised properties, judges Nick picking the first rooms that the cornices don’t match the heritage of the original homes…. meanwhile they’re building giant black boxes next to these homes that completely swamp them and make a mockery of the “heritage” and once again the judges overall winner is nowhere near the actual winner! Time for an overhaul indeed.

      1. Yes I think Scotty the people’s champion has spent too much time in the top paddock. How’s the tradie apprenticeship campaign going by the way ?

  13. I think The Block should go back to basics and have people renovate homes without having expensive furniture and decor. Sure, spend money on making the houses and landscaping look good and durable but there’s no need for things like $18,000 pianos or TVs worth around the $10,000 mark. You can make a home look nice with furniture that is far cheaper than what has been on the show for the last few years. Besides most new home owners will get of the stuff they don’t like, so why spend all the money on that.

  14. Very proud to say that I haven’t watched any episodes this year and basically the last 4 or 5 and will never watch again as it’s basically the same each year with a so called new coat of paint.

  15. When your finales are reliant on a millionaire superfan willing to buy his way onto the show, you’re beyond parody.

    The writing was on the wall for this after the last NZ season.

  16. This season couldn’t make up its mind as to what it was. 10 acre blocks, but with each house being close to each other. Contestants using the same (high street) sponsors while trying to make houses in the $4-5 million range. Vineyards next to kids bedrooms. Talking to how great the location while also showing it spent the whole time freezing cold, raining all the time and mud everywhere. Even going to the local ‘attractions’ of 1 pub, 1 hairdressers and a couple secondhand stores got everyone questioning moving out so far with nothing around them besides a small hill in the distance (it was nothing compared to the Dandenongs). That was all before the housing market crashed.

    What was even up with Scotty’s house? It’s not about you, Scotty !!! Let’s build a sixth house during a pandemic and supply chain issues!

    They need to get back to basics. Houses that are aspirational, but not completely out of reach filled with the most awkward product placement ever. A2 milk, anyone?

  18. Mitre 10 is a sponsor of The Block not Bunnings.
    The NZ version had the same problem this year where some 2 teams did not make any money 1 team won $100 & the winners won $4000 only.

  19. I made a comment on this site years ago that The Block was contributing to high house prices, and my comment was laughed at.
    This article helps prove my point. Thank you.

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