If a Bachelor hands out his final rose but no one is watching, did it ever happen?
Rumours are swirling that Channel 10 will be forced to axe The Bachelor franchise for good after Sunday night’s finale plummeted to record-low ratings.
The dating show’s conclusion, starring Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe and Thomas Malucell, aired to just 358,000 in the five-city metro, making it the lowest-ever viewed finale in Bachelor history.
Rumours are swirling that Channel 10 will be forced to axe The Bachelor franchise for good after Sunday night’s finale plummeted to record-low ratings. (Pictured L to R: the bachelors Felix Von Hofe, Jed McIntosh and Thomas Malucelli)
The result is down a whopping 38.6% from the last Bachelor finale, which aired in 2021.
It marks the end of a devastating ratings season for the beleaguered program, which averaged a mere 291,000 metro per episode.
The series also premiered with its lowest ever launch on January 9, earning only 309,000 metro viewers.
The dating show’s conclusion, starring Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe and Thomas Malucell, aired to just 358,000 in the five-city metro, making it the lowest-ever viewed finale in Bachelor history. (Pictured: Bachelor franchise host Osher Günsberg)
This was 18,000 fewer than ratings-starved program The Project which broadcast immediately beforehand.
While in its 2018 heyday the matchmaking show boasted almost a million metro viewers per episode, this season saw episodes regularly falling below 300,000.
Meanwhile, critics have called for The Bachelors to be axed following Sunday’s finale, with many calling out producers for favouring drama over genuine love stories.
Meanwhile, critics have called for The Bachelors to be axed following Sunday’s finale, with many calling out producers for favouring drama over genuine love stories
‘Time to shut up shop after this season. Don’t need to state the obvious but it was a total flop,’ one complained, while another agreed: ‘I’ve always loved this franchise but this season was so bad. It’s time to retire it to the archives.’
Someone else added: ‘This was a terrible season. It was more about drama and less about love’.
Nevertheless, Channel 10 bosses revealed on Saturday they are happy with the show’s performance due to its streaming numbers, reported TV Tonight.
Meanwhile, critics have called for The Bachelors to be axed following Sunday’s finale, with many calling out producers for favouring drama over genuine love stories
Daniel Monaghan, Senior Vice President, told the publication: ‘What we’re really encouraged by is our biggest start to 10Play ever.
‘The Bachelors is the number one commercial program on BVOD since its launch, with a growing 100 million minutes viewed.
‘The Bachelors has proven its utility on every platform by dominating younger demos on broadcast, growing 55% with the addition of 7 day catch-up audiences, being the most watched commercial BVOD show, and stealing conversations on social.’
Nevertheless, Channel 10 bosses revealed on Saturday they are happy with the show’s performance due to its streaming numbers, reported TV Tonight. (Pictured: The Bachelors’ contestants)
Monaghan went on to say the network is happy with how the show has trended and engaged with the younger online audience.
However, The Bachelors has screened double its usual episodes a week this summer, leading to speculation Channel 10 was trying to get through the season quickly to focus on other programs.
The prime time show once commanded about a million viewers a night when the NRL’s ‘Honey Badger’ Nick Cummins drew in 940,000 fans in the capital cities alone.
Daniel Monaghan, Senior Vice President, told the publication: ‘What we’re really encouraged by is our biggest start to 10Play ever
But the franchise and Ten have been in rapid decline ever since.
Last year’s premiere was branded a disaster when it only attracted 482,000 metro viewers.
Now the recent figure of 309,000 could prove terminal, as they slumped even more on the second night, down to just 273,000.
The prime time show once commanded about a million viewers a night when the NRL’s ‘Honey Badger’ Nick Cummins (pictured) drew in 940,000 fans in the capital cities alone, but the franchise and Ten have been in rapid decline ever since