“We’re now in a death spiral”: Complete collapse of Channel Ten predicted
The future of Network Ten is in jeopardy, as the broadcaster continues to face dwindling ratings nationwide, while also juggling a turbulent ownership battle at its American parent company Paramount.
According to a report by news.com.au, the existence of the Network is in "total turmoil", after high profile shows such as The Masked Singer and The Bachelor have both been axed, leaving many wondering how long the broadcaster can stay afloat.
Queensland University of Technology Professor Amanda Lotz, who leads the Transforming Media Industries research program, told the outlet that it’s unlikely Australia will still have three free-to-air commercial networks in the near future.
“I would suspect by the end of the decade that we will have two commercial broadcasters,” Prof Lotz said. “It’s just math. We’re now in a death spiral. And eventually, it might be that we just have one.”
QUT Professor Anna Potter, an expert in digital media and cultural studies, agreed that the landscape for commercial TV in Australia is now so stretched that television businesses are dangerously unviable.
“I think there’s a big question too about whether Australia can support three television (commercial) broadcasters – and I’m not sure we can,” Prof Potter said.
A major part of Ten's toppling has been the ongoing defamation suit against the network, launched against Bruce Lehrmann.
While Ten successfully defended the suit, they hardly came out unscathed as the Federal Court criticised its handling of various matters related to the broadcast of The Project’s explosive interview with Brittany Higgins in 2021.
Daily headlines about the court case overshadowed many popular programs, many of which failed to deliver a significant ratings recovery.
As the network has consistently lost viewers over the past years, nationwide ratings have continuously put Network 10 behind its other commercial competitors, making parent company Paramount doubt how viable the business can be long term.
Media analyst and Pearman director of strategy and research Steve Allen said, “A new owner of Paramount Global is unlikely to see Ten as an asset worth retaining because the business is in serious turmoil.”
“There’s no programming momentum and they haven’t found a really solid anchor for prime time, their revenue looks steady but they can’t seem to significantly reduce overheads, and now there’s upheaval in terms of their US ownership."
“Network 10 is in a real pickle and I don’t see a way out for them.”
Image credits: Ten