The Block’s ratings decline as viewers desert the once record-breaking reality show
Channel Nine’s flagship home renovation program The Block is losing the ratings war as frustrated viewers switch to competing reality shows.
The reality show, hosted by Scott Cam, has lost 20 per cent of its viewers in its current 19th season, losing the top spot to Seven’s My Kitchen Rules.
Meanwhile, the Manu Feildel-hosted cooking show scored 622,000 metro viewers on Wednesday, comfortably beating The Block’s comparatively small 526,000.
An industry insider told The Daily Telegraph these numbers were a bad omen for Cam’s show.
Channel Nine’s flagship home renovation program The Block is losing the ratings war as frustrated viewers switch to competing reality shows. Pictured: Host Scott Cam
‘The collapse of The Block is seriously bad news for Nine, as it was one of their biggest shows and the bookend to the year for them,’ they said.
They added that dating show Married At First Sight was one of the few successful reality shows Nine still had, following a string of underperforming programs.
However, it should be noted The Block is known to experience a mid-season ratings dip before surging up for the finale, so critics shouldn’t write off the show just yet.
The Scott Cam hosted reality show has lost 20 per cent of its viewers in its current 19th season, losing the top spot to Seven’s My Kitchen Rules. Pictured: Queensland contestant Leah
It comes amid reports viewers have branded this season of The Block as ‘toxic’ and ‘disturbing’ thanks to the constant squabbles and bullying among the Blockheads.
And contestants have now become upset with the way they’ve been portrayed on the show, new reports claim.
Speaking to Yahoo! Lifestyle, an insider said several stars have been left ‘devastated’ by their on-screen edit, adding: ‘The tension which keeps building as the series goes on has also shocked the contestants.’
Seven’s My Kitchen Rules scored 622,000 metro viewers on Wednesday, comfortably beating The Block’s comparatively small 526,000
‘What happened during filming isn’t matching most of the contestants’ ideas on who would be popular with viewers. I’d say it is almost in reverse,’ they added.
The source warned that an ‘all out war is brewing’ between the contestants, many of whom were apparently cast specifically to cause drama.
Meanwhile, dedicated viewers have complained that the Block has become a ‘downer’ by focusing too much on ‘drama’ and not enough on home renovations.
Taking to Reddit to air their grievances, viewers have thrown shade on the new episodes calling it a ‘soap opera’ and comparing it to MAFS.
The low ratings is just over half the million plus viewers The Block used to attract in 2018
An industry insider told The Daily Telegraph these numbers were a bad omen for the renovation show: Pictured: The Block judges Neale Whitaker, Darren Palmer, Shaynna Blaze and Marty Fox
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