Channel Ten ‘delays MasterChef Australia premiere’ until after Married At First Sight finale airs to avoid ratings clash
Married At First Sight is no doubt a ratings juggernaut for Channel Nine, consistently out-performing its competition on rival networks year after year.
But it seems Channel Ten is playing the scheduling game with strategically with their runaway ratings hit of 2020, MasterChef Australia.
According to TV Blackbox, the culinary reality TV show is set premiere against the new season of Nine’s Lego Masters, on Sunday April 18.
TV games: Channel Ten will defer MasterChef Australia’s premiere for Sunday April 18 until after Married At First Sight’s final week, according to TV Blackbox. Pictured judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen
This indicates that Married At First Sight is expected to conclude in the week of April 11, which is the first week of ratings after the Easter break.
The publication speculated that Nine could solidify their large stake of the audience by concluding with a dramatic final on Sunday.
This move would force 10 to premiere MasterChef on the Monday after in order for the show to get a shot at a strong start for its season.
Ratings hit! This indicates that MAFS is expected to conclude in the week of April 11, which is the first week of ratings after the Easter break, potentially solidify their large stake of the audience. Pictured MAFS stars Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven
Taking over: MasterChef is set premiere against the new season of Nine’s Lego Masters, on Sunday April 18, which will likely take over the MAFS timeslot on Sunday. Pictured is Lego Masters host Hamish Blake with judge Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught
Channel Seven are also expected to go head to head with their free-to-air competitors, around the same April 18 and 19 period.
They are set to debut their new entertainment offerings – the reboot of Dancing With The Stars and Big Brother, the publication reported.
In recent days, Married At First Sight’s episode on Tuesday bolstered the show’s ratings hit streak.
It was the most-watched entertainment show of the night, with 1.026 million metro viewers tuning in to watch the intruder weddings and honeymoons, Mumbrella reported.
Bringing back a favourite: Channel Seven are also expected to go head to head with their free-to-air competitors, around the same April 18 and 19 period with their Dancing With The Stars special. Pictured is the 2021 cast
Coming soon! The new season of Big Brother, hosted by Sonia Kruger (pictured) could also premiere on Channel Seven at over that period, the publication reported
Married At First Sight has performed well in 2021, and many viewers have noted the eighth season is an improvement on last year’s.
The 2020 season saw multiple cast members leaking stories and setting up paparazzi photos, which resulted in a dip in ratings.
What’s more, Nine has stressed this year’s participants are ‘more genuine’ than some of the brides and grooms from past seasons.
Making true love: Married At First Sight has performed well in 2021, and many viewers have noted the eighth season is an improvement on last year’s season. Nine has stressed this year’s participants are ‘more genuine’ than some of the brides and grooms from past seasons