We don’t talk about the official ratings year here at 10 because we program 50 weeks of the year, but because it still matters, it’s worth highlighting that as the official ratings year drew to a close early this month, we had achieved four consecutive months of year-on-year commercial share growth in under 50s, 16 to 39s, 18 to 49s and 25 to 54s. Across the year, we dominated entertainment programming for the under 50s and we had some of the fastest-growing prime time shows across all TV networks.
Our growth was driven by proven hits including Australian Survivor, The Bachelorette Australia, the Rugby World Cup and the Melbourne Cup Carnival, plus the breakout new hit of 2019 – The Masked Singer Australia.
Consistency is important for our viewers and advertisers: that’s why 75% of our key domestic 7.30pm shows from this year will be back in 2020.
Here’s what our boss, Network 10 chief executive officer, Paul Anderson, had to say about the year that was.
“Network 10 achieved a lot over the past year, from establishing a powerful new Sales team and investing in data and technology to make television advertising even more effective, to expanding our digital media assets and investing in great new content such as The Masked Singer Australia and the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“We are growing, across all our platforms. Our commercial share in under 50s and other key age groups is increasing. Our advertising revenue share is growing. Our digital platforms are posting record audiences.
“Our shows are engaging, innovative, noisy and connect emotionally with Australians like few others can. The GoFundMe page set up for Australian Survivor’s Luke Toki after he was voted out of the game and Waleed Aly’s monologue on The Project following the heartbreaking Christchurch massacre are just two examples of our ability to connect with people like no other network.
“Next year, for the first time in our history, we have a true 50-week schedule of known content – content that is familiar, brand-friendly and taps into the younger age groups who are very hard to reach at scale. As part of one of the biggest global content creators in the world, we are absolutely focused on making great content that creates conversations beyond the actual broadcast, across digital and social.”
Our chief content officer Beverley McGarvey added: “It’s been a big year for 10 as we bedded down our 50 weeks of entertainment programming strategy. It’s great to see strong momentum as we move into 2020, with year-on-year commercial share growth in under 50s and all key demos.
“We took some big swings this year and, in many cases, they paid off – 75% of our big domestic 7.30pm franchises are returning next year.
“Our entertainment programming performed strongly. 10 had the most shows of any commercial network in the top 20 entertainment shows of the year across under 50s and all the key demos.”
There were too many highlights of 2019 to cram into this story, so here are just a few. Across the year, we had:
- 10 of the top 20 entertainment shows in under 50s, including four of the top 10.
- 10 of the top 20 entertainment shows in 25 to 54s, including five of the top 10.
- 11 of the top 20 entertainment shows in 16 to 39s, including five of the top 10.
- 10 of the top 20 entertainment shows in 18 to 49s, including five of the top 10.
- Three of the seven prime time shows across commercial networks that saw year on year growth, including the fastest growing one, The Bachelorette Australia, which was up 25% year-on-year, including BVOD.
- Five of the top 10 new shows of the year in under 50s and 25 to 54s.
- Six of the top 10 new shows of the year in 18 to 49s.
- Seven of the top 10 new shows of the year in 16 to 39s.