Screen Forever 2024: Network execs love Gogglebox inclusion

Having your show featured on Gogglebox is brilliant for marketing, network executives revealed at the Screen Forever conference.

And there is sometimes early access of previews for review.

Joseph Maxwell, Head of SBS Unscripted at SBS said, “I’m a big fan of getting a show on Gogglebox. There’s always the risk of course they might not like it. There was one episode where someone said, ‘Who would watch SBS? It’s so boring!’ and then at the end, he said, ‘That’s quite a good show!’ Yes, we got them!

“I think it’s fantastic. I watch it just to keep up with what’s going on. And yes, they get access about a week before the show or whatever. But I certainly really encourage it … I have very strong suspicions that it does lead to an uptick in some of the On Demand viewing.”

Susie Jones (pictured) Head of Factual ABC added, “We love it when our shows (are on). There’s one episode recently one of our science programs, and the audience was pretty damning, so it was actually really interesting to hear. It’s a reminder that audiences are more sophisticated than sometimes we give them credit for. I sort of took that as a very direct feedback.

“Recently ‘Gayrabia’ which is one of our Compass docos, was on Gogglebox and it was so moving. It was an opportunity for the participants on Gogglebox to talk about their own coming out stories. It was just incredible. And I’m sure there would have been a little bit of an uptick from that. Better Date Than Never featured recently as well.

“It’s more of a marketing publicity (question) as to whether they give them access early. I don’t think they do, because I think they have to keep it current with what’s coming out on air. But it’s a great publicity and feedback tool for us.”