Analysis: Shiny floor talent show audiences tumble while renovations hold firm
Audiences for ‘shiny floor’ talent shows have been among the worst hit of the reality TV franchises this year, with The Voice and The X Factor posting double-digit audience declines compared to their 2013 runs.
However, some reality shows like House Rules, Masterchef and The Block have enjoyed a renaissance, posting strong audience growth this year, an analysis of consolidated OzTam ratings of the sought-after 16-54 demographic by Fusion Strategy has shown.
The oldest of the formats, Ten’s The Biggest Loser, lived up to its name, shedding 45 per cent of its viewers in the demographic in its run this year. However, Ten’s Masterchef was the biggest winner, rising 31,91 per cent compared to last year.
The figures, which show X Factor dropped 19.97 per cent and The Voice 13.64 per cent in the demo, led Fusion’s principal Steve Allen to suggest Seven and Nine may find it hard to “do a Masterchef” and reinvigorate those formats. “We don’t think their formats will ever be dead, but when it comes to the talent shows there are very few levers you can pull that make a substantial difference,” said Allen.
Surley the choice of 16-54 as a demographic is too large an age range to be useful.
It also seems to be obscuring what intuiton would tell us is the obvious reason for this:
a) Pop talent shows are aimed at a younger demographic have the IT skills to watch whatever they want in the world, whenever they want it add-free and thus are disengaged from free to air.
b) Renovation/Food Yuppie shows are aimed at an older demographic who are (usually) not as tech-savvy and thus cannot avoid free to air.