A leading media expert has shared his dismal prediction on the future of Australian free-to-air television.
Following the recent cancellation of Network 10’s Gladiators, The Masked Singer and The Bachelor, founder of The Ideas Business Wade Kingsley believes Channel 10 will never be the same again.
‘My prediction is a sad one, we have to enter the possibility space here that there’ll be fewer publishers by the end of the year. There may not be Channel 10 in its current form, there may not be regional television and there may not be as many radio stations,’ he told the Game Changers Radio podcast.
‘We’re in a really weird time where there’s some structural decline in free-to-air media. We always hear about television suffering, and it is… it really is,’ he added.
Kingsley explained the downturn is due to a ‘record-decline’ in advertising revenue and radio stations will soon be affected.
He claimed Paramount, owners of Channel 10 are ‘trying to break up (the network) in the US’ which he said may lead to it being ‘sold’.
Kingsley also alleged that Channel Nine is in the midst of discussing job cuts.
It comes after Channel 10 has decided to axe yet another popular show amid ongoing concerns for the network’s future.
Following the cancellation of The Bachelors and The Masked Singer, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Gladiators will not be making a return.
Despite their success in the UK, both Gladiators and recently-canned The Traitors struggled to find a foothold.
The Australian reboot of Gladiators, produced by Warner Bros., launched with high hopes but failed to sustain its initial viewership.
Hosted by Beau Ryan and Liz Ellis, the show drew a substantial summer audience of 395,000 metro viewers for its premiere.
Unfortunately, the numbers plummeted to just 196,000 for the second episode.
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Critics on social media were quick to point out the lack of crowd presence, comparing it to shows filmed during lockdown, despite it being filmed under normal conditions.
When approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia, a Paramount spokesperson insisted the company continued to show strength.
‘We’re a strong media and entertainment company with a diverse content ecosystem spanning free-to-air TV with Network 10, broadcast video on demand with 10 Play, free ad-supported streaming TV channels with Pluto TV, streaming video on demand with Paramount+, as well as live events and consumer products,’ they said.
‘Our performance proves our success with 10 Play having its biggest month ever in April building on its success as Australia’s fastest growing BVOD in 2023, the biggest A-Leagues season ever reaching 5.72 million Aussies and Paramount+ has been the fastest growing streaming service in Australia for the past two years, to name just a few of our many achievements.
‘As a member of a global media company, we’re used to speculation about our business, but out multi-platform and diversified approach confidently positions us to continue to navigate the changing media landscape.’
10 will celebrate their 60th birthday this year.