EXCLUSIVE: The Bachelor is officially back for an eleventh season despite poor ratings – as Channel 10 begins casting male and female contestants
The Bachelor returns for an eleventh season.
Despite shocking ratings for last season, with three bachelors instead of one, Channel 10 has boldly – some might say stupidly – decided to give another shot at reviving the fading franchise.
Seemingly unfazed by the low overnight subway numbers, the network is said to be encouraged by the show’s performance on streaming platform 10Play.
Daily Mail Australia understands that casting for male and female contestants has already begun for a new season, which will air on Ten in 2024.
“Channel 10 is delighted with the streaming numbers and the new direction the show has taken,” a source said on Wednesday.
“They’re incredibly excited to bring it back for another season, proving that love conquers all — even low ratings!”
The Bachelor returns for another season. Despite the low ratings for the final season, with three bachelors instead of one, Channel 10 has decided to give it another shot at reviving the expiring franchise. (Pictured: Felix Von Hofe, Jed McIntosh and Thomas Malucelli)
The dating show, known for its hair-raising moments and rose ceremonies, has managed to survive thanks to its video-on-demand (VOD) audience, the insider said.
“It’s not just about how many people watch TV anymore, and shows like Love Island Australia are a good example of that,” they explained.
‘The Bachelor’s does surprisingly well on demand, and that’s what it’s all about in 2023.’
Seemingly unfazed by the low subway numbers, the network is said to be encouraged by the show’s performance on streaming platform 10Play. Daily Mail Australia understands that casting for male and female contestants has already begun for a new season, which will air on Ten in 2024
According to the insider, the upcoming season will probably have more than one lead, but a decision has yet to be made.
A message on the casting website reads: ‘We are hunting for single women and men between the ages of 21 and 50.
You must be willing and available to be filmed for the duration of the series. Filming will begin approximately July-August 2023 and could take up to 12 weeks.”
It comes after a Channel 10 spokesperson bragged: ‘The Bachelors wasn’t just the #1 program on BVOD [broadcast video on demand] during the run, as well as the #1 entertainment program in key advertising demographics.”
The Bachelors failed to please traditional TV viewers this year, even with the novelty of three leading men: Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe (pictured) and Thomas Malucelli
The Bachelors failed to capture traditional TV viewers this year, even with the novelty of three leading men: Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe, and Thomas Malucelli.
The finale had a five-city metro audience of just 358,000 viewers, making it the least-watched finale in undergraduate history.
That result represented a steep drop of 38.6 percent from the 2021 Bachelors final.
It also marked the end of a devastating viewing season, averaging just 291,000 viewers per episode.
During its heyday in 2018, The Bachelor would draw nearly a million subway viewers per episode.
Channel 10 will make an announcement about the show during its Upfronts in October.
The Bachelor once attracted almost a million viewers per night. (Pictured: Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins)