The Block NZ just got postponed - is the Australian version next?
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We have some bad news for fans of The Block. According to recent reports, the long-running renovation reality show has just been postponed in New Zealand – and there's speculation this could mean the series will soon meet its demise here in Australia, too.
Warner Bros has just announced that The Block NZ will not be returning for an 11th season as planned in 2023. The company cited a 'challenging housing market' as the reason behind the postponement, saying it wants to give contestants the best possible chance of success.
In a statement released to the media, Vicki Keogh, Senior Director of Production at Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ, said: 'Every year, we want to give contestants the best possible chance of success while also delivering an exceptional product for our partners.'
'We've been monitoring the housing market very closely, and due to the ongoing challenges that are occurring, we have made the tough but necessary decision to postpone The Block NZ until 2024,' she added. 'This will provide contestants and our partners with more certainty during these challenging times.'
So what does this latest cancellation mean for us Aussies? Is our beloved TV show also headed for extinction? Well… maybe not quite yet. Here's what we know so far about the future of The Block Australia:
First things first: let's not panic just yet! While there is no denying that times are tough at the moment (especially when it comes to housing affordability), Channel Nine says they have no plans to cancel the much-loved reality TV series any time soon.
'The Block was the second most-watched reality series of 2022, and more than 2.6 million Aussies tuned in to see our Block winners crowned — the highest non-sports program of the year,' said a spokesperson.
Phew! We can all breathe a big sigh of relief – at least for now…
But there is no denying that things are looking pretty dire for the future of The Block. According to some reports, the show is in 'financial trouble' and facing its 'worst series yet'.
So what's the problem? Well, it all comes down to money. You see, in order for The Block to be financially viable, the properties being renovated need to sell for a certain price. But with the current downturn in the property market, that's proving to be harder and harder.
For example, the most recent season of The Block (Season 15) was filmed in Melbourne's Bayside area. The properties were purchased by a company owned by Channel Nine for $14.3 million, equating to roughly $2.86 million per property.
However, industry experts say the properties are only worth around $1.55 million each, which means the producers and teams are already $7 million behind the eight-ball. Yikes!
Of course, this is just one example, and it's impossible to say for sure what the future holds. But we'll be sure to keep you updated with any new developments.
What are your thoughts, members? Are you a regular watcher of the television series? If so, do you think it deserves to have another season? Let us know in the comments!
Warner Bros has just announced that The Block NZ will not be returning for an 11th season as planned in 2023. The company cited a 'challenging housing market' as the reason behind the postponement, saying it wants to give contestants the best possible chance of success.
In a statement released to the media, Vicki Keogh, Senior Director of Production at Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ, said: 'Every year, we want to give contestants the best possible chance of success while also delivering an exceptional product for our partners.'
'We've been monitoring the housing market very closely, and due to the ongoing challenges that are occurring, we have made the tough but necessary decision to postpone The Block NZ until 2024,' she added. 'This will provide contestants and our partners with more certainty during these challenging times.'
Warner Bros has postponed the 11th season of The Block NZ due to the 'challenging housing market'. Credit: Facebook/The Block NZ.
So what does this latest cancellation mean for us Aussies? Is our beloved TV show also headed for extinction? Well… maybe not quite yet. Here's what we know so far about the future of The Block Australia:
First things first: let's not panic just yet! While there is no denying that times are tough at the moment (especially when it comes to housing affordability), Channel Nine says they have no plans to cancel the much-loved reality TV series any time soon.
'The Block was the second most-watched reality series of 2022, and more than 2.6 million Aussies tuned in to see our Block winners crowned — the highest non-sports program of the year,' said a spokesperson.
Phew! We can all breathe a big sigh of relief – at least for now…
But there is no denying that things are looking pretty dire for the future of The Block. According to some reports, the show is in 'financial trouble' and facing its 'worst series yet'.
So what's the problem? Well, it all comes down to money. You see, in order for The Block to be financially viable, the properties being renovated need to sell for a certain price. But with the current downturn in the property market, that's proving to be harder and harder.
Is the Australian version of The Block next on the chopping block? Credit: Facebook/The Block.
For example, the most recent season of The Block (Season 15) was filmed in Melbourne's Bayside area. The properties were purchased by a company owned by Channel Nine for $14.3 million, equating to roughly $2.86 million per property.
However, industry experts say the properties are only worth around $1.55 million each, which means the producers and teams are already $7 million behind the eight-ball. Yikes!
Of course, this is just one example, and it's impossible to say for sure what the future holds. But we'll be sure to keep you updated with any new developments.
What are your thoughts, members? Are you a regular watcher of the television series? If so, do you think it deserves to have another season? Let us know in the comments!
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