In the first of its “intimate 2024 Upfront presentations” this month, Network Ten revealed strategic programming moves in an effort to boost its falling audience share.

MasterChef will get a makeover, with Melissa Leong no longer one of the hosts.

Then there is wildlife warrior and zoo keeper, Robert Irwin, 19, who has been chosen to pair up with Julia Morris to co-host the 10th anniversary edition of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

Gold Logie winner and racing car driver Grant Denyer will replace troubled host Andrew O’Keefe to take the wheel of revamped Deal or No Deal, almost 10 years after it finished on Seven.

It will go into a prime-time position between an hour-long 5pm news bulletin and before The Project at 6.30pm.

But the biggest news was that UK talk show king, BAFTA winner and master of the couch conversation with the world’s most interesting celebrities, Graham Norton … will host Wheel of Fortune Australia in prime time.

Really.

“I’m beyond excited to be bringing such an iconic American show to Australia with Network 10. Hosting game shows is brilliant fun and even more so when you have a giant wheel to spin,” he said in a Ten statement.

“This show has it all, mixing skill, luck and lots of surprises and I hope the Australian audience loves it.”

The line-up comes as Network Ten is expected to deliver its worst ratings since OzTAM ratings began in 2001, according to TV Blackbox.

The network is sitting on a lowly 15.9 per cent (-0.7 per cent) share nationally compared to the ABC on 16.4 per cent, Nine on 27.5 per cent, and Seven on 31.5 per cent, according to TV Blackbox.

“Right now, Ten is all but guaranteed fourth overall for the year in ratings share for primary channel and network, and that’s a diabolical place for a commercial free-to-air network to be,” television expert Steve Molk tells The New Daily.

Graham Norton could boost Ten’s free-to-air audience share. Photo: Ten

Not all doom and gloom

However, Molk says Spanish Australian chef Miguel Maestre (The Living Room) returning to host Ready Steady Cook is a “good move”, as is the return of the celebrity edition of The Amazing Race Australia.

“A pleasant surprise and yet a certainty given it has, and is performing reliably for Ten this year,” he tells TND.

“I struggle to see how Norton will go hosting a reboot of Wheel of Fortune given his (excellent) talk show is getting smashed on Sunday nights … and yet it may surprise us all.”

Molk expects the series will be filmed entirely in the UK, using expat Aussies as contestants, just like British comedian and TV host Stephen Fry is fronting the Australian version of Jeopardy.

It is a cheaper way to make television than flying celebrities across the world for several weeks.

“Robert Irwin is good talent,” says Molk, revealing producers had auditioned several possible co-hosts for I’m a Celebrity.

“I trust them that they think there’s a connection, which is vital to hosting I’m a Celebrity … again, the proof will be in the pudding and I’m keen to see this one deliver.”

The Betoota Advocate Presents, over four episodes, some clever narration and editing on some of the biggest news stories of the past 20 years. Photo: Paramount+

Meanwhile, Ten’s parent company, Paramount Global, this week introduced new subscription tiers to its streaming platform.

‘Smarter game’

Molk reckons Ten is playing “a smarter game”, with Paramount+ commissioning content primarily for the subscription streamer, and then at its leisure sharing it with the free-to-air network.

He cites the examples of The Betoota Advocate Presents and Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers, and says picking up Top Gear Australia as a streaming exclusive “could work very well”.

“The introduction of two new tiers … might broaden their appeal also … but the premium tier is pricey for a moderate, yet growing library.

“It’s also doing its job, which is drawing viewers away from free to air to its offerings, but the benefit for 10 is it is all under the same ‘tent’,” he said.

The real challenge for Ten is “reliability in the 7.30pm time slot, and the fluctuating performance of The Project”.

If they can solve those challenges the network could “go well on their way to really competing”.

Foxtel and SBS schedules to come

Nine delivered its slate in September, and the Seven network followed with its program agenda last week.

Next up is Foxtel, which will be “drama heavy”, according to Molk, with Binge continuing to commission “great original content”.

“SBS will have its usual grab bag of surprises with high-quality buy-ins for dramas and documentaries … with some new local commissions, more Aussie drama and food shows,” Molk said.

“They take their responsibility as Australia’s multicultural broadcaster very seriously and we always see that reflected in their Upfront offerings.”