Channel 10 fires back at reports of The Bachelors’ ‘record-low ratings’

Channel 10 has hit back at reports this year’s season of The Bachelor – dubbed The Bachelors for its three-suitors-instead-of-one plot twist – was a ratings failure.

A network spokesperson said the dating show was a huge digital hit for Ten, drawing impressive BVOD numbers despite failing to make a dent in the metro ratings.

While the spokeswoman refused to be drawn on rumours of a new season starting production next month, she said The Bachelors was Ten’s ‘number one program on BVOD during its run’.

It was also the ‘top entertainment program in key advertising demographics’.

In industry terms, BVOD refers to broadcast video on-demand platforms such as ABC iview, 7plus, 9Now and – in Channel 10’s case – 10 Play.

The spokeswoman concluded by saying all programming decisions will be revealed at Ten’s Upfronts presentation later this year. 

The strong backend viewership wouldn’t have come as a surprise to Ten executives as more viewers switch from live TV to on-demand services. 

It follows rumours Ten placed an advert for a production crew featuring red roses, the tell-tale sign of the Bachelor franchise.

According to TV pundit Rob McKnight this week, the network put out an ad for crew to work on a ‘returning large-scale reality dating show’.

A network spokesperson said the dating show was a huge digital hit for Ten, drawing impressive BVOD numbers despite failing to make a dent in the metro ratings 

‘[We were] was sent a screenshot of an ad from looking for crew for a “returning large-scale reality dating show”. At the bottom of the post are two red roses on either side,’ he said in an article published on his TV Blackbox website.

McKnight speculated it could be a spin-off of The Bachelor or simply a ‘misdirection’ from the network.

Ten is said to be looking for associate producers based in Sydney to start at the end of April through to June.

The Bachelor has struggled in recent years to develop a strong live TV audience, with The Bachelors launching in January to just 309,000 metro viewers

The finale had a five-city metro audience of just 358,000 viewers, making it the least-watched finale in Bachelor history.

Back in its heyday, The Bachelor would draw almost a million metro viewers per episode.

Back in its heyday, The Bachelor would draw almost a million metro viewers per episode. (Pictured: 2018 Bachelor Nick Cummins and finalist Brittany Hockley)