The local version of international streamer Paramount+ has removed a number of Australian original series and other titles from their service yesterday, in a surprising move for subscribers.
Viewers were quick to notice the changes, with key titles removed without warning from the service and leaving some fans to take to social media posts from the streaming service and a popular Facebook fan group for the service to query what was happening.
Among a number of series which have now disappeared, recent Australian Original drama series One Night starring Jodie Whittaker, Nicole da Silva and Yael Stone which had only premiered in September last year has been removed from the service, in a further blow for local Australian drama.
A number of other dramas which have disappeared include dramas The Secret She Keeps which also premiered it’s first season on 10, ahead of the second season premiering on Paramount+ as an exclusive series and later included a second window airing on the free-to-air network, as well as Spreadsheet (funding was announced for a second series which never materialised) as well as teen drama More Than This which ended with just one season.
Other local original series also removed include a local adaptation of the Showtime series Couples Therapy, which aired for 2 seasons, and reality series The Bridge Australia narrated by Hugo Weaving which aired for one season in 2022, which also had an outing on Channel 10 as a preview for the first episode and then in full when MasterChef was delayed for a week following the sudden passing of judge Jock Zonfrillo last year.
Another title that was expected to return, following reports it had been unofficially commissioned for another series, was The Betoota Advocate Presents from the team behind the website of the same name, which covered some of Australia’s most polarising news stories including The Cronulla Riots, Hillsong Church and the Super League war.
Also removed was Undressed with Kathryn Eisman which aired for one season in 2022, the first Original film commissioned by the service Six Festivals also aired in 2022, as well as the failed local adaptation of The Challenge Australia which aired for one season on Channel 10 in 2022 and was later available for streaming on the service.
The original four-part sporting documentary Sky Blue: Inside Sydney FC, narrated by by Golden Globe winner and Sydney FC fan Anthony LaPaglia, which complimented Paramount+ / Network 10’s suite of Football content has also been removed from the streaming service.
Paramount+ also acquired the rights to stream all 7 seasons of Offspring in late 2022, which had formerly aired on Channel 10 from 2010 – 2017 and later streamed locally on Netflix for some time, is another casualty of the cost cutting exercise.
International titles which have disappeared include UK Original Series No Escape based on Lucy Clarke’s best-selling novel of the same name, which also filmed in Australia as well as featuring some local actors. Other UK series which were only recently added to the platform include comedy series Big Boys, and The Burning Girls, both now removed.
The news of the series disappearing from the service follows a number of reports over the last few weeks about job and content cuts within Paramount globally, as well as the news that President of Broadcast and Studios for International Markets Maria Kyriacou who oversaw international operations including Network 10, was set to leave the company.
When contacted for comment about this story, this site was directed to a recent US based article that indicated that the streaming service would remove some International Original series which you can read more about here.
Upcoming local titles on the service include Season 2 of Last King of the Cross and The Inspired Unemployed: Impractical Jokers, as well as new commissions for 2024 which include a reboot of Top Gear Australia, Geordie Shore spin-off series Aussie Shore and new drama series Fake starring Asher Keddie.
Updated: This story previously indicated that Five Bedrooms had been removed from the service, and while not showing as available at the time of publication, it has since been confirmed that the show will remain on Paramount+.
Paramount+ was next on my list of streamers to get for a month or two, but it turns out half of the shows I wanted to watch have just been taken off.
What the hell ? Bunch of bloody idiots. I’m sure they lose punters. 👎
Just cancelled my Paramount + subscription through Amazon. Absolute joke.
I literally took up the one year prepaid subscription to Paramount last month to watch Offspring. Feeling very deceived.
Please can we have One Night back?! Only 2 episodes to watch, left in the lurch here
A lot of great stuff removed. I saw most of what I wanted but I missed out on No Escape. I saw the first episode of No Escape then no more. Bring these shows back please.