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Screen Forever 2024: Australians don’t like betrayal TV

They are leading to hit shows overseas, but Australian audiences aren't hot for shows built on deception.

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Network execs attending Screen Forever last week were asked about current international trends in TV and whether these might ripple through Australian television.

Nine’s Head of Production and Development Adrian Swift said the biggest trend overseas at the moment is The Traitors -but he wasn’t necessarily convinced shows with similar gameplay could succeed locally.

“Traitors is one show I think it’s really revolutionised what’s happening in the UK. We had an Australian version, which I thought was very well made. 10 had two goes at it but it never really rated here. But it’s a massive trend in Europe and the UK. There’s a fundamental problem with that though, I actually don’t think those shows ever work here,” he said.

“With the possible exception of Survivor, Australians have never really taken to shows of deceit and betrayal. It’s not what we do. We like to paint walls and put flowerpots in and occasionally disappoint our spouses,” he continued.

“So many Australian shows from Idol to The Voice to The Block are about tangible things where Australians achieve things, often against odds. They’re all three-act plays in their own way. I don’t think we like those shows of betrayal and conniving and betraying our fellow contestants.

“The problem with that is, it’s all I’m getting pitched, or different versions of The Traitors.”

Swift went on to describe Australian Survivor on 10 as a “beautifully-made show.”

“Australians should be very proud of that. I think it’s at least as good as the US show, and it’s another example of what Australians do really well which is, dare I say these words, competition reality,” he said.

Swift also referred to another show hoodwinking its participants in belgian format Destination X. The show sees contestants board a bus with black-out blinds who are fooled into arriving to a destination other than what is apparent when they alight.

“It’s a kind of treasure map guessing game. That might be the future of these things. But if one more person pitches me a show about betraying the contestants …. I’m going to scream.”

14 Responses

  1. Yes, Traitors didn’t rate but there could be a myriad of reasons for that. Is there data (e.g. market research) to say that this was the reason or is this just his own opinion based on rating patterns? Is he just frustrated by how much he gets pitched this concept? By his own admission, Survivor does well and the Traitors is similarly, if not less, cutthroat. Is that not evidence that this kind of show can work? Why does he think Survivor can make it work but nobody else can?

      1. International cache and brilliant production isn’t unique to Survivor. And endurance is one part of it for sure, but in practice, the main action and storytelling in the actual show (and commentary from fans, podcasts, Talking Tribal, etc.) is in the tribal politics, the shifting alliances, the blindsides and yes, the betrayal. The challenges only matter because of the leverage it gives the winners and the impact on the above.

  2. I saw something today that mentioned that long forms of entertainment such as movies and even television shows no longer appeal to teenagers and even people in their 20’s who prefer to watch short things that only last a few minutes on their phones. So if this is true maybe as we get older our tolerance or amusement at people being awful to each other wanes hence our reluctance to watch betrayal based entertainment. Of course I still say the biggest fault with traitors was at its core, it was a rubbish strategy game.

  3. I’m not sure I entirely agree. I mean, the original run of the Mole did well. As did the Weakest Link. Admittedly, both of these didn’t do well when they tried to bring them back.
    Personally, I loved the Traitors, but I think the Australian version needed some fixing.
    Get rid of the celebrities. It seems like Australians prefer Celebrities when the show is marketed as such. (IACGMOOH and DWTS)
    Cast like the UK, find a group of people who play social deduction games.
    Make the rules clearer, especially around the recruitment of extra traitors.
    Keep Roger, he was amazing and hilarious in the role.

    That being said, and I am sticking my neck out here, but I’ll be curious to see how an Australian version of The Genius would rate. With several versions being made more recently across the Globe, I suspect it’s only a matter of time before we see an Australian version.

    2. I agree with everything in your post. The celebs are a problem with The Traitors. I’m currently watching the US Series 2 which is all celebrities (a mix of US Big Brother, Real Housewives, Survivor etc…) and it’s a mess. Cliques by show are forming and they all just know too much about each other. UK was better with strangers who had no knowledge of their pasts, jobs or their skills, allowing people to hide aspects of themselves for the gameplay.

      10’s (over-)scheduling might have also been a factor in the success of The Traitors here.

    3. I’m familiar with The Genius having watched a few seasons of the Sth Korean version which I enjoyed and I think there’s a UK Version with David Teninat involved coming soon.

      It’s an elimination game show where each week the group plays a series of overly elaborate games – including board games, card games, strategy games, math and word games.

      It’s compelling and great in its own way (great casting with creative gameplay and very stylish editing) but honestly think The Genius is a bridge too far for Aussies – I can’t see a general audience sit down at 7:30 on FTA and watch 60-90 minutes to watch an over-elaborate board game night, where each game needs a 3 minute explanation of intricate rules.

      Maybe there’s a world where it’s a streaming show and it finds the game-oriented audience willing to watch (which I include myself), but it’s never gonna be on FTA prime time

  4. I personally like the Traitors concept, but was disappointed with the casting as were many others it seems. I do enjoy shows that have a game play element to it such as the Traitors, Survivor and Hunted. I have no interest in Idol, the Voice or the Block, but I seem to be in the minority.

    As ilovetv has pointed out, the Traitors does have a cult following and seems to be fairly low budget, so perhaps it could work on a streaming service. If the producers get the casting right, it could grow its audience over time.

  5. I really hope that Traitors gets another shot on a streamer (Stan, P+ or Binge) even if mainstream appeal isn’t there, there fanatical fan base is there who would seek out this type of show.

  6. “ With the possible exception of Survivor, Australians have never really taken to shows of deceit and betrayal.”…. I’m intrigued if he’s ever seen MAFs?… the highest rating show.

    I think the problem here for The Traitors was the production. It lacked the warmth in setting that the UK version has, the “celebrity” contestants should have never of happened and I’m not entirely convinced the character host Roger played was right. I also wonder if it was on say Ch9 after the tennis, if it would of been a big success…

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