Survivor US is about to embark on a landmark 35th season.
But after just four seasons of the Australian edition, host Jonathan LaPaglia believes his version is ‘bigger and better,’ than the US production – at a quarter of the cost.
‘I admit I questioned how they were going to make it bigger and better than the US, but they have pulled it off,’ he told BW magazine this week.
‘Bigger and better than the US’: After four seasons of Australian Survivor, host Jonathan LaPaglia believes his version is ‘bigger and better,’ than the US production – at a quarter of the cost
His comments come days before Australian Survivor’s season four finale, with contestants Jericho, Tara, Peter and Michelle fighting it out for $500,000.
Jonathan cited quality of production and clever camera angles as a key reason for the Australian version’s superiority.
‘In America they have four times the budget and double the crew, but we make it look expensive because the shots of the island are almost cinematic,’ he said.
‘They pulled it off’: ‘I admit I questioned how they were going to make it bigger and better than the US, but they have pulled it off,’ Jonathan (L) told reporters this week (US Survivor host Jeff Probst pictured right)
‘We make it look expensive’: ‘In America they have four times the budget and double the crew, but we make it look expensive because the shots of the island are almost cinematic
Stephen Tate, who heads entertainment and factual programming for Network Ten -who broadcasts the Australian version – insists the show’s global production company are big fans of the localisation.
‘(Production company) Castaway are holding up the Australian series as an example of best practice,’ he said.
A lofty claim, given the fact the show is adapted in around 50 different regions around the world.
‘Best practice’: According to Channel Ten head of entertainment Steve Tate: ‘(Production company) Castaway are holding up the Australian series as an example of best practice’
Lofty! It’s a lofty claim, given the fact the show is adapted in around 50 different regions around the world
But for all its alleged superiority, the Australian version has never achieved huge success in the ratings.
‘It’s almost criminal Australian survivor is not getting the viewers it deserves’ Steve Molk of DeciderTV told the publication.
The fourth season hasn’t notched viewers over 700,000 thus far, with Australian productions generally striving for prime-time ratings in excess of 1 million.
The most recent episode, which aired on October 3, garnered 595,000 viewers, and was beaten handily by The Block, which notched 1,344,000 for rival network Nine.
Lost in translation? But for all its alleged superiority, the Australian version has never achieved huge success in the ratings, regularly getting beaten by Channel Nine rival The Block (pictured)