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The Chase leads new game show battle on Tuesday

It's a game show war at 5pm. MAFS ahead of Australian Idol and Australian Survivor in national Reach.

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On Day 3 of the new-look National Reach numbers, The Chase has edged back in front of Tipping Point.

Now coded as a single figure (which it did not on Monday), The Chase reached 1.25m viewers, ahead of Tipping Point‘s 1.22m -none too shabby for a new game show offering.

Married at First Sight again topped the night reaching 2.42m viewers, comfortably ahead of Australian Idol‘s 1.56m with Australian Survivor at 1.04m.

Seven News at 2.22m reached more viewers than Nine News 1.9m on a day when the latter was forced to apologise over a photo edit.

7:30 was best for ABC at 1.17m then ABC News on 1.12m.

The Project, now coded as a single figure reached 839,000 for 10 but Deal or No Deal has slipped out of the Total People Top 30 after a day on air.

Official survey begins on February 11.

Total TV: Tuesday 30 January 2024

33 Responses

  1. As a long time fan of the UK Tipping Point, I was willing to give the Aus version a go. The promos, I thought, were very unflattering to Todd, but he has actually been quite good. Nowhere near as hyped as the ads suggested.

    However, the show has a really big problem allowing an audience in. Clapping after every correct answer? Yelling advice on which section to choose? Having a relative in the audience to give advice? All big no-nos that have made the show a poor cousin to the UK. If you really want an audience, make them be quiet until the end of each segment.

    A pity, because it still has potential, if they are brave enough to make changes.

  2. While I generally don’t watch any of the reality shows, I did tape the re-run of MAFS, but deleted it after the intro, once I realised it was going to be more of the same. Best not to go down that rabbit hole.

    I always feel sorry for Australian Survivor, because whenever I do dip my toe into that show, I am always impressed by the production values and the slight twists they bring to its American original. I hope it does well in the OS markets.

  3. Australian Idol is much better this year with Marcia on the judging panel. She brings some warmth to the show that was lacking last year.
    Unlike The Voice, the Auditions are the boring part of the format, so expect the ratings to improve when we get to the live shows.

  4. I’d still say the average figure is what should be reported – traditionally that has been the TV rating figure used worldwide through the last few decades, even if the methodology changes periodically. Its the most comparable figure to how ratings were reported last year.

    Reach is interesting, but needs the average to put it in context too.

  8. If you look at the margin between Chase and TP’s total average audience yesterday and considering the former’s previously well documented regional skew and both’s negligible bvod… That looks like a resounding win in five city metro for TP yesterday, wonder which market was the biggest factor, Melbourne? Instant hit I’d say. Well done Nine, Todd and team and a concern for Seven, Larry and especially HSV/Peter Mitchell’s news now I’d say (bonus for Alicia and Tom). But yes, only day 2, Ding ding!

  9. As for Australian Idol, you have to think that bringing back Marcia Hines for the judging panel was a masterstroke, she’s got this natural warmth about her that has always translated well to TV.
    Will viewers ever tire of MAFS? I guess not, especially the younger demographics.

    1. In the age of TikTok, YouTube and Spotify, Idol is barely relevant anymore. In contrast to The Voice, is actually more about the judges competing against each other than the contestants.

    1. Don’t sound so surprised. This is the standard operating procedure for virtually all game shows that don’t have carry-over champions. Game shows are also usually filmed in blocks, so, for example, the UK Chasers in the Australian version are more likely to fly down only a handful of times a year (maybe even just the once), film all of their episodes (I don’t know how many episodes they’d film in a day, but for half-hour game shows, they normally film a week’s worth per day), and then those episodes would be spaced out over the course of the season.

      Monday night’s episodes of Tipping Point and The Chase both had winners in the end, likely in a bid to one-up the other, and it’s also in Ten’s best interest to get audiences hooked early on with Deal with some of the bigger winners early on, and then burn off the less exciting episodes once that initial momentum wears off.

      1. Yep, am well aware of how game show productions work. Used to make lots of them at TCN9 back in the day. The excitement now seems to be over three shows on three channels. Used to have something like ten shows across three channels each day back in the 70s-90s.

  11. I thought Ruby Wax: Cast Away last night on SBS was interesting. I wouldn’t say it was the same humour that we were accustomed to with Ruby years ago, though it was still sardonic. Ruby is thought to be the UK’s favourite American expat or migrant.

    It was more of a transition into life’s next stages with new perspectives. It was more philosophical. It wasn’t a showbiz face as she claimed.

    I’d recommend viewing it on On Demand if you’re a fan of Alone or Survivor. It also features a cameo with Joanna Lumley.

  12. Completely agree, ‘reach’ is just embarrassing. Both figures should be reported. If not, we’re all playing a game of make believe- where we pretend to buy that hundreds of thousands more viewers are tuning in to the same TV shows that had far less impressive numbers last week, let alone last year.

  13. Deal or No Deal was great last night with the contestant having the two highest valued briefcases in play at the end – extremely rare!

    I’m surprised at how well Idol is doing. I really like the show and it’s nice to see Marcia again, but I had thought that it would do similar numbers to last year – even with AUS Survivor, with Survivor winning the demos.

  14. Just as a bit of reader feedback – as we are two days into this system, I would appreciate seeing both average viewership & total reach.

    I feel like seeing reach on its own (especially with the minimal amount (1 minute) required to be considered a viewer) means almost nothing.

  15. I still cant with the reach number is a joke. Click straight to see national audience now for a real reflection. Cannot believe Idol is beating Survivor. Shocking.

  16. All of this is fairly predictable. Not great numbers for Ten, but Australian Survivor usually picks up in ratings as they get down to the final 10 or so of the contestants. They really need another George like character this year, to get the vibe going on social media.
    Deal or No Deal – probably a bit early to make a rash prediction, but it looks like a turkey already. I watched a bit last night and despite the obvious enthusiasm of Grant Denyer, the format of the game is one that looks convoluted and hard to follow. How much longer before one of the commercial networks tries to lure Hard Quiz and Tom over to their stable?

    1. Deal will probably take some time to bed in and find its audience. In the industry this is referred to as a J Curve, where a show starts out with curiosity then drops away suddenly before slowly rebuilding. It is up against 6pm news after all…

      1. Let’s be real – Grant Denyer’s appeal in these formats has worn thing after a million iterations of Family Feud & other terrible game shows all with small audiences. The commercial for Deal was enough to put me off. Stop dancing, Denyer, I’m allergic.

        1. I guess your view is clear and that’s fine. You’re ignoring he has a loyal fanbase, with a popular voted Gold Logie, and several seasons of Feud. Agree the ads were played too much (as did he). The show is there to improve Project over and above what the 6pm news was doing.

          1. Improving the Project should be the show’s side effect, not the major reason for airing it.

            Prime time starts at 6pm –
            the 530pm lead in is for improving,
            the 6pm slot is where the real stuff is supposed to occur..

          2. Loyal fan base? Sure. But sizeable enough to be a long term solution to 10s 6pm woes? Doubtful.

        2. I’m a big fan of Grant’s, I like his enthusiasm and I really enjoyed the add for Deal or no Deal, especially Grant’s dancing. I really hope Deal or no Deal does well.

      2. David, that’s a fair response. They should give the program time to develop in that 6PM timeslot. While I’m not a Denyer fan, you can’t deny his enthusiasm and zest.
        Todd Woodbridge hosting a game show on Nine is a brave experiment. The ratings would indicate that the Chase is the winner in that battle, the frequent promos during the cricket season probably helped.

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