It may have lost the rights to one of its summer jewels – The Big Bash – however, Network Ten is promising a fight to its rivals this summer, announcing a slew of programming to commence in mid-January.
With Seven’s cricket pitted against Nine’s tennis, Ten is playing the entertainment card to coax viewers less interested in sport this January.
Heading Ten’s schedule will be the return of Dancing With The Stars to be hosted by Amanda Keller and Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer (pictured above).
Other shows planned include Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway and Changing Rooms. There’ll be a new season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! and another round of Bachelor In Paradise.
The line-up will also include all-new episodes of The Project, The Living Room, Pointless, Hughesy We Have A Problem and Show Me The Movie!
The shiny new summer and first-quarter smorgasbord kicks off during the first half of January 2019 and runs until Ten’s trump card – MasterChef Australia – returns for its 11th season in February.
Network Ten CEO, Paul Anderson, said: “We told you we were committed to investing in original local content with broad appeal and we weren’t lying.
“Australians want local stories and local content. That’s why we have launched more than a dozen new domestic shows this year across multiple genres, and the new content we are revealing today for 2019 will build on that momentum.
“Ten has always been different. Without summer sport, we now have an incredible line-up of new and returning entertainment favourites that are perfect for live family viewing – as we promised!,” he said.
Ten’s chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “Today’s announcement is a key part of our plan to give viewers and advertisers 50 weeks of first-run, locally-produced shows every year.
“Our summer and first-quarter content has something for the whole family and will offer a compelling alternative to what else is on offer.
“We are thrilled to introduce the new-look Dancing With The Stars. Hosting duties will be superbly handled by Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer and this show will certainly add a little sparkle to your summer evenings in a dazzling live entertainment event,” she said.
“Changing Rooms is the show that reinvented the renovation genre on television and we are going to take it to a new level with multiple room reveals in every single episode.
“And in more good news, Julia and Chris will return to the jungle for the new special event season of the LIVE family entertainment hit I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!,” McGarvey said.
“When they have finished tormenting celebrities in Africa they will return to Australia as the fun continues with an Aussie spin on the UK smash hit family entertainment show – Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway – which will be the perfect mix of laughs, chaos and unpredictable live fun.
“And Osher will be back with a second season of the TV and social hit Bachelor In Paradise, wrangling a new line-up of some of our most memorable Bachelor and Bachelorette stars as they seek a second or even a third chance to find their Mr or Ms Right.”
Network Ten’s chief sales officer, Rod Prosser, said: “We know Aussies love entertainment television and this summer, we’re kicking off a schedule which will give advertisers more opportunities than ever to engage with our shows and audiences.
“There is a huge untapped opportunity for brands to integrate into premium entertainment shows over summer and we are filling this gap with the launch of Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway, Dancing With The Stars and Changing Rooms, plus the new seasons of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! and Bachelor In Paradise. We’re going big with these highly-integratable formats across all our platforms and can’t wait to share them with audiences.”
