In television perception is everything. You could be doing really well but if it’s PERCEIVED you’re in trouble, then that narrative is hard to change.
And that’s exactly where Channel 7 is right now.
Despite the fact it dominates at breakfast, morning, daytime, afternoon and early evenings (7 News is often the #1 show of the night), the network is facing a PR problem over the massive headache that is My Kitchen Rules.
Once a darling of the network that seemed unstoppable, this year MKR is a total flop and it’s doubtful we’ll see it back again next year.
That has led to multiple articles about its troubles and the troubles of the network.
But as Channel 10 knows, one hit can turn that perception around. After a shocking start to 2019 the network rolled the dice on The Masked Singer and it paid off big time. Gone was the chatter about coming fourth behind the ABC as the network regained its mojo. That success gave the programming team a belief in their own strategy of launching I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here on January 5 (much earlier than ever before) and using Survivor: All Stars to launch its ratings year.
A total success!
While they never dreamed of beating Nine’s Married At First Sight, even the execs at 10 must be surprised at how Survivor has crushed My Kitchen Rules.
And while that’s left egg on the faces of the team at Channel 7, the truth is they are only one hit away from turning everything around.
Next week the network will launch Pooch Perfect starring Rebel Wilson and I believe this will be the show that changes everything.
Pooch Perfect is a rollercoaster ride of lol’s and I can’t get enough of it. The casting of Wilson is pitch perfect (see what I did there) and her co-host Russell The Brussel will steal your heart. In fact, the dynamic between these two is one of the greatest comedy acts of the year.
And families will love it!
My whole family watched the first episode and they are desperate to see episode 2 (which we will be watching tonight). This is the kind of entertainment that moves away from bitchiness and focuses on achievement. It’s a mix of The Great British Bake off and Lego Masters combined.
Now, the importance of this show to Seven cannot be understated. They have programmed it in the safest spot possible – 7.30pm Thursday up against RBT (Nine) and Ambulance Australia (10). If the show can’t perform strongly here then it won’t work anywhere.
But this has hit written all over it! And that’s good for Seven who can use the success of this show to change the current narrative. Their focus can move on from the disaster that is MKR and focus on the positive success of Pooch Perfect. It will give execs breathing room to plan for Q2 and beyond, without having to worry about daily negative headlines.
Success breeds success and it’s important for Seven’s psyche to look like winners.
At the end of the day, it’s all about perception.
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Many viewers will have seen all they need to see with the relentless flogging twice in every ad break on every Seven channel of Pooch Perfect. I’m completely over it, as with MKR, I’m sure other viewers are too.
Insufferable how they force feed the audience this dribble.
I think it will be unbearable to watch! Plus, one show and on a Thursday night won’t save Ch7 right now. Seems blatantly obvious they need new producers in that network, plus they should read the room and take notice of what the audience likes and dislikes. No doubt Rebel produced herself and it’s quite obvious it’s bake off but with dogs. Not sure I’m interested to tune in. Yawn.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Rebel produced herself, would you trust the dud producers to do it? Since they’re ripping off bake off, they may as well of had dog’s actually baking cakes…. that might be more entertaining!
If nine are clever that could just schedule an extra ep of MAfS on Thursday this week and pooch perfect will be Dead on arrival .
I can’t imagine Pooch will be groundbreaking innovative content. But I agree, pop MAFS on and it will get slaughtered. I definitely won’t be watching.
So not excited at all about this show. This is the best they’ve got to present? Wow. Following an existing format is just lazy.
Rebel Wilson is the Kiss Of Death.