The revival of Millionaire Hot Seat on Channel 10 has thrown the future of Deal or No Deal into question.
The official announcement today that Channel 10 will bring back Millionaire Hot Seat in 2026, with Rebecca Gibney as host, has cast fresh doubt on the long-term future of Grant Denyer’s Deal or No Deal.
Sources within the show’s production company tell TV Blackbox no new episodes of Deal or No Deal have been commissioned for 2026 at this stage, and until recently 10 had been reluctant to discuss the prospect of the show returning next year.
Currently 10 is only airing three new episodes of Deal or No Deal each week, with repeat episodes screening on Thursday and Friday nights. A move understood to ensure the existing stockpile of unaired episodes can last until the end of the year.
TV Blackbox understands the recent (unexpected) improvement in ratings since the show moved into the 7pm timeslot has however offered some hope of a potential quick ramp-up of production should executives reverse course and opt to extend the series.
When asked directly about the program’s status for 2026, a spokesperson for 10 told this website:
“There are no changes to Deal or No Deal.”
Filming for Millionaire Hot Seat is scheduled to commence this Wednesday, 24 September, at Docklands Studios in Melbourne — the same facility, and at a similar point in the year, where Deal or No Deal has previously been produced.
Based on ticketing and casting notices, more than 100 episodes of Millionaire Hot Seat are set to be filmed between 24 September 2025 and 21 January 2026.
The scale of production has led to speculation over how 10 will structure its early evening schedule.
The Millionaire Hot Seat format is considered costly to license, with significant prize money on offer and a high-profile host, making it likely the show will require a key 60-minute time slot to help ensure the network can recoup production costs.
This raises questions about whether Deal or No Deal can remain in the same schedule block, or if the network will need to choose between the two gameshow formats.
At present, Channel 10 has provided no indication how the two programs could co-exist, with industry observers now speculating the network might seek to air Millionaire Hot Seat between 6:30pm and 7:30pm in a move that would likely see the underperforming 10 News+ cut back to an express 30-minute format.
An alternative would be to axe 10 News+ entirely and air both gameshows between 6pm and 7:30pm in a move that might provide families some relief to endless depressing news content, though that would be a costly change of direction for the network given the number of long-term employment contracts currently associated with 10 News+
Confirmation of 10’s wider 2026 programming slate is expected at the network’s annual Upfronts, though a date for the event has not yet been announced.
Why don’t they do 6months each I love Deal or No Deal Australia and I would hate if this happens
I reckon hot seat will just end up being weekly
Connor Smith not going to happen
Do both……solved the problem
10 needs new to Australia game shows that 7 and 9 Previously have’nt done Locally.
Bring back Sale of the Century Network 10, you might actually have a ratings hit.
Keep deal or no deal on
10 is never going to gain big numbers simply cause people aren’t watching tv as much anymore as traditionally years ago. People have way more choice and sources of entertainment. The industry need to accept that fact.
Scott Mitchell even years ago – decades actually – 10 has struggled to compete against 7 and 9. That fight is much harder these days.
Bring back Wheel of Fortune with Baby John or Catch Phrase
Seriously the best show and a true showmen grant is
It’s a dead show since Andrew left
Should have left it at 6 o’clock not at 7 o’clock the same time as Home and away
Bring back Wheel of Fortune the way it used to be not the newest version they had
What was the point of axing the Project then?
Knew the new line up wouldn’t work! Game shows are better on earlier.
With 100 episodes of Hot Seat set to be filmed, it is now quite apparent that this is going to be a five-night-a-week show, which certainly gives Ten some options for addressing their 6pm to 7:30pm problem. Since Deal or No Deal has seen an increase in ratings in the 7pm timeslot when new episodes are on (when repeats are on, the opposite is true), it should be allowed to continue producing new episodes even as Hot Seat comes on the scene. Pairing all of this with Ten News Plus’ continued poor performance makes the idea of running only game shows from 6pm to 7:30pm very attractive. But the long term contracts Ten has in place for News Plus make eliminating it anytime before June 2027 challenging at best. With Neighbours coming to an end soon, I wonder if Hot Seat will end up at 4pm or 4:30pm. The 5pm news ratings are down at the moment. Hot Seat as a lead-in could help turn that around, and fill the soon-to-be vacant timeslot.
They stuffed Deal with the stupid time change – putting it up against Home and Away? I always watched Deal and haven’t since the change of time.
Sue Bellamy same, we watch A current affair.
Sue Bellamy same
I love Deal or no deal. Grant is a wonderful host. I wouldn’t watch Hot Seats
Bring back deal and no deal to 6pm
Get rid of ten news extra . Slove the problem
Nah take 10 news + off put millionaire hot seat on at six and Deal on at 7
I preffered the original Deal or no Deal and the original Who Wants to be a Millionare.
They ruined deal or no deal when they changed the time, I used to watch it until then
No!!! Im in the USA and I look forward to a new episode Deal or No Deal Australia