The Bachelor’s ratings disaster: Why viewers have turned their backs on ‘unappealing’ Jimmy Nicholson – as Channel 10 could be forced to AXE the show
The Bachelor suffered its lowest ratings ever on Wednesday night, attracting an abysmal 360,000 metro viewers.
And the future isn’t looking bright for Channel 10’s flagship dating show, with leading TV commentator Rob McKnight predicting its days could be numbered.
McKnight, a former 10 executive who now runs industry website TV Blackbox, told Daily Mail Australia the format had become tired and new suitor Jimmy Nicholson had done little to revitalise it.
The Bachelor’s ratings disaster: The future isn’t looking bright for Channel 10’s flagship dating show, with leading TV commentator Rob McKnight predicting its days could be numbered. Pictured: new Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson
‘Viewers just aren’t connecting with The Bachelor this season. Yes, the franchise is getting old now and viewers are fatigued, but the record lows of this season would suggest Jimmy is not appealing to viewers,’ McKnight said.
‘Even the girls don’t seem to be into this guy, let alone the viewers,’ he added.
‘Casting is key with this show, especially when viewers are already starting to drift like they have in recent seasons.’
McKnight said The Bachelor’s spin-off shows – namely Bachelor in Paradise and The Bachelorette – had oversaturated the market and the viewers are ‘over it’.
‘Even the girls don’t seem to be into this guy, let alone the viewers’: McKnight (pictured), a former 10 executive who now runs industry website TV Blackbox, told Daily Mail Australia the format had become tired and new suitor Jimmy Nicholson had done little to revitalise it
Doomed? ‘Casting is key with this show, especially when viewers are already starting to drift like they have in recent seasons,’ McKnight said. Pictured: Jimmy Nicholson
‘They’re relying on the same shows year in, year out with no plans for the next big show. Just think about how many spin-offs there have been from The Bachelor. You can’t blame the audience for getting over it,’ he said.
McKnight added that there could still be hope for The Bachelor franchise, but only if 10 reduces its offering to just one season per year.
‘The key for 10 will be not killing it off too quickly. But the moment you start seeing multiple seasons a year will ultimately lead to its death,’ he warned.
Over it: McKnight said The Bachelor’s spin-off shows – namely Bachelor in Paradise (2020 cast pictured) and The Bachelorette – had oversaturated the market and the viewers are ‘over it’
Ratings nosedive: McKnight’s verdict comes after The Bachelor recorded its lowest ratings in the show’s history on Wednesday. Pictured: contestant Jay Lal kissing Jimmy Nicholson
‘There’s a reason Nine only runs Married At First Sight once a year: they’re smart enough to know they will kill it off if they saturate the market. Channel 10 still hasn’t learnt that lesson.’
McKnight’s verdict comes after The Bachelor recorded its lowest ratings in the show’s history on Wednesday.
The episode, which scored lower than any episode of The Bachelorette or Bachelor in Paradise, embarrassingly failed to crack the top 20 most-watched programs of the night, and was down significantly from last week’s already record-low premiere.
The Bachelor continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Will you be watching? The Bachelor continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel 10. Pictured: The Bachelor host Osher Günsberg
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