Channel 9 held its 2023 Upfront presentation in Sydney this week and while the focus was on the new titles coming to the network, TV Blackbox was left curious about existing shows missing from the presentation…
TV Blackbox can confirm after six seasons, Australian Ninja Warrior will not be returning to Channel 9 in 2023.
The format which was once a ratings powerhouse for the network has felt increasingly predictable for viewers in recent times. A new hosting line-up of Leila McKinnon and Jim Courier failed to help the program in the most recent season.
TV Blackbox can also confirm Lord Alan Sugar will have no need to travel to Australia in the near future with Celebrity Apprentice Australia no longer proceeding next year. 2022 appears to have been the year viewers voted against cheap reality shows filled with D-Grade celebrity casts.
The Sophie Monk hosted reality series Beauty and the Geek has also been given the chop after two seasons on Nine. The aging dating format proved to be a poor match against Masterchef Australia this year.
While networks are reluctant to ever use the word ‘axed’ preferring terms like ‘hiatus’, a spokesperson for Channel 9 did confirm to TV Blackbox;
“Beauty and the Geek and Australian Ninja Warrior aren’t currently in the schedule for 2023.”
The network appears to have also made the decision not to proceed with an additional season of the observational prison series Australia Behind Bars which was presented by Melissa Doyle.
Unsurprisingly, lacklustre quiz format The Weakest Link with Magda Szubanski has also been shown the door by Nine’s programming team.
A decision is yet to be made regarding if the network will proceed with an additional season of drama series After The Verdict. Despite good ratings and positive reviews, the network will need to see if it can secure international sales before it invests in additional episodes.
While the Australian Open tennis and reality juggernaut Married At First Sight consistently deliver Channel 9 a blockbuster start to the year and The Block can always be relied upon to deliver big audiences, the network has been left struggling to find consistent programming for the midyear period.
Details of Channel 9’s new lineup of programming for 2023 can be found here.
The Block should be axed for 2023, dismal failure
– Ninja Warrior used to be watchable back. As years came by, they brought back a few same contestsnts over again. I just felt that this show have lost its appeal.
In fact, most of Channel 9’s programming has become unwatchable these days – repeats of RBT, MAFS, Celebrity Apprentice, Lego Masters, The Block, Love Island, Beauty and the Geek. Nine continued spewing up a lot of boring reality shows. I feel that the Gordon Ramsay cooking show will flop.
Hi SC – and yet, with the schedule you describe, Nine are in a winning position this year…