It’s been acclaimed by television critics and praised by viewers.
But Channel 7’s The Single Wives has continued to slide in the ratings, pulling in just 357,000 viewers for its second episode on Thursday night.
The drop comes after the show’s disastrous premiere pulled in just 375,000 viewers on Wednesday, making it the lowest reality TV series launch on a commercial network since audience measurement tools were introduced in 2001.
Tuning out: Channel 7’s The Single Wives has continued to slide in the ratings, pulling in just 357,000 viewers for its second episode on Thursday night
The only dating shows to perform worse are Undressed, which aired on public broadcaster SBS, and Love Island Australia, which was created for a niche audience on Channel 9’s secondary channel 9Go and their online streaming platform 9Now.
Despite the dismal viewer ratings, Channel 7 has vowed to stick by the series.
Speaking to the Townsville Bulletin, the network said that they won’t be moving the show from its prime time spot yet, insisting that it will screen at 7.30pm next Wednesday and Thursday as scheduled.
Flop: The premiere was the lowest reality TV series launch on a commercial network since audience measurement tools were introduced in 2001
The Single Wives has received praise from critics for ditching the usual contrived drama of the reality TV genre in favour of positivity and female empowerment.
TV Tonight reported that the series had a ‘friendly inclusiveness’, while The New Daily wrote that it ‘brings a touch of class to TV dating’.
‘It doesn’t rely on contrived stunts, rivalry or fake villains and drama,’ wrote The New Daily. ‘There were no bikinis in the first episode, no apparent drunkenness and no bitchiness.’
Breakout star! Controversial divorcee Sheridan has emerged as the breakout star of the series
Further adding credibility to The Single Wives is the show’s star-studded line-up, with Fifi Box hosting and ‘the world’s number one dating expert’ Matthew Hussey serving as a coach for the singletons.
The Single Wives isn’t the only reality TV dating series to bomb in recent years.
Channel 7’s Kiss Bang Love tanked in 2016, followed by Channel 9’s The Last Resort in 2017.
A-list: The Single Wives is hosted by Fifi Box, with ‘the world’s number one dating expert’ Matthew Hussey serving as a coach for the show’s singletons