The Block sales sky high but ratings down
Less focus on the outcome and more drama during the series may just save The Block from a further dip in audience numbers after Triple Threat had a ratings decline.
Despite handing out record prize money, the finale of The Block was down some 10 per cent across all three segments compared to the corresponding show in 2014 - Fans v Faves.
Not only did the finale shed viewing numbers but so did the entire series which seemed to drag on forever after it started in late January - two weeks before official ratings began.
Already co-creator of The Block Julian Cress has told AAP of changes to the format for the next series which is in pre-production in Melbourne.
The 11th season will have fewer episodes, which will run for only be an hour and not 90 minutes in length, and no eliminations.
However, there’s other factors that may be hurting the Nine Network franchise and that’s over exposure and too many reality renovation shows on TV.
The Block screens twice a year and the 11th season will air in a matter of months, while spin-off series Reno Rumbles starts Tuesday and is up against the Seven Network’s House Rules.
Cress flagged the changes to the 11th season following a 31 per cent dip in the overall ratings of The Block Triple Threat which rarely cracked a million viewers on OzTAM’s overnight ratings.
Overall, The Block Triple Threat averaged 978,000 viewers, on consolidated figures which includes catch-up viewing, compared to 1.421 million for The Block Fans v Faves.
It finished on top of the ratings on a few occasions although it only won one head-to-head battle with My Kitchen Rules which relies more on the drama than the finale to excite viewers.
Even though MKR is a reality cooking show, it’s viewed as a yearly soap opera which re-sets with a new cast each year.
The finale of the cooking series is on Monday and its ratings are expected to top The Block Triple Threat grand final by a long margin.
The Block Triple Threat finished on a high of 2.027 million viewers when Dee and Darren Jolly were named the winners, yet it was about seven per cent down on the same segment of Fans v Faves.
While Nine plans to refurbish The Block, it remains to be seen if viewers invest in the next season as much the buyers did in the Triple Threat apartments.
The Block Triple Threat/Favs v Faves Grand Final Ratings
Grand final segment:
1.645mill/1.893 mill (down 13 per cent)
Auctions segment:
1.97 mill/2.156 mill (down 9 per cent)
Winner Announced segment: 2.027 mill/2.180 mill (down 7 per cent)
Source OzTAM (overnight five metro ratings)
