Reality TV

The Challenge Australia: Ratings disaster sees it dropped

All the 'celebrity' names couldn't save it
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It’s the reality TV show that features “Australia’s most talked about celebs” but it appears no one is talking about, or more importantly watching, the very first season of The Challenge Australia.

After three weeks on air and failing to attract a decent viewership Network Ten has bumped The Challenge from the Channel 10 platform, with the rest of the season now going to air on multichannel 10 Shake.

The show was brought to Australia for the first time in 2022, with it based off the US version which sees celebrities compete with athletes in a series of elimination games.

The ‘star’ line up of contestants failed to impress

(Credit: Channel 10)

The show wasn’t off to good start before it even began airing, as the announcement of the so-called ‘celebrity’ cast was met with disappointment.

The cast of reality TV stars from shows including The Bachelor, Love Island and Married At First Sight failed to get viewers excited.

‘Australia’s most talked-about celebs? Who are 95% of these people?’ was one Twitter users reaction to The Challenge line-up.

With personalities like Cyrell Paule (MAFS), Jack Vidgen (I’m A Celeb) and Cirran Stott (Bachelor In Paradise) the promotional trailers for the show promised drama.

Unfortunately it didn’t translate to people tuning in.

The show is hosted by Brihony Dawson

(Credit: Channel 10)

The Challenge brought in just 257,000 metro viewers for it’s first episode, that aired November 14th.

And from there it only got worse, as they changed tactics this week and pushed the show to a double episode viewing, which saw 96,000 tuning in for the 8.30pm viewing and dropping further for the 9.30pm slot – receiving only 72,000 metro viewers.

With a slew of failed reality-TV shows that Channel 10 introduced this year including The Real Love Boat and Traitors, Network 10 will be holding out for the upcoming season of The Bachelors to lure viewers away from streaming services and back to traditional TV.

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