When a bachelor hands out his last rose but no one is looking, did that even happen?
That’s the question on TV executives’ lips this morning after the Bachelors finale aired Sunday night to record-low ratings and a lackluster social media response.
The Channel 10 show’s conclusion, starring Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe and Thomas Malucelli as the three leads, had an audience of just 358,000 viewers in five cities, making it the least-watched finale in Bachelor history.
Rumors are circulating that Channel 10 will be forced to scrap the Bachelor franchise for good after Sunday night’s finale plummeted to record lows. (Pictured L to R: bachelors Felix Von Hofe, Jed McIntosh and Thomas Malucelli)
The result is down a whopping 38.6% from the last Bachelor finale, which aired in 2021.
It marks the end of a devastating ratings season for the ailing program, which averaged just 291,000 subways per episode.
The series premiered on January 9 with its lowest start ever, garnering just 309,000 Tube viewers.
The conclusion of the dating show, starring Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe and Thomas Malucell, aired to just 358,000 viewers on the Five City Metro, making it the least watched finale in Bachelor history. (Pictured: Bachelor franchise host Osher Gunsberg)
That was 18,000 fewer than the low-rated show The Project, which aired immediately before.
While the matchmaking show had nearly a million Tube viewers per episode in its 2018 heyday, episodes regularly fell below 300,000 this season.
Meanwhile, critics have called for The Bachelors to be scrapped after Sunday’s finale, with many calling on producers to prioritize the drama over real love stories.
Meanwhile, critics have called for The Bachelors to be scrapped after Sunday’s finale, with many calling on producers to prioritize the drama over real love stories
“Time to close shop after this season. I don’t have to state the obvious but it was a total flop,” complained one, while another agreed, “I’ve always loved this franchise but this season was so bad. It’s time to move it back to the archives.’
Someone else added: “It’s been a terrible season. It was more about drama and less about love.
Still, Channel 10 bosses announced on Saturday they’re happy with the show’s performance based on its streaming numbers, TV Tonight reported.
Meanwhile, critics have called for The Bachelors to be scrapped after Sunday’s finale, with many calling on producers to prioritize the drama over real love stories
Senior Vice President Daniel Monaghan told the publication, “What’s really encouraging for us is our biggest launch to date at 10Play.
“The Bachelors has been the number one commercial program on BVOD since its launch, with a growing tally of 100 million minutes watched.
“The Bachelors has proven its usefulness on every platform, dominating recent demos on air, growing 55% by adding 7-Day catch-up audiences, being the most watched commercial BVOD show, and stealing conversations on social media.”
Still, Channel 10 bosses announced on Saturday they’re happy with the show’s performance based on its streaming numbers, TV Tonight reported. (Pictured: The Bachelor candidates)
Monaghan went on to say the network is pleased with how the show has evolved and appealed to younger online audiences.
However, The Bachelors has been showing twice as many episodes per week this summer, leading to speculation that Channel 10 was trying to rush through the season to focus on other programmes.
The prime-time show once drew about a million viewers a night when NRL’s “Honey Badger” Nick Cummins attracted 940,000 fans in the capital cities alone.
Senior Vice President Daniel Monaghan told the publication, “What’s really encouraging for us is our biggest launch to date at 10Play
But the franchise and Ten have since declined rapidly.
Last year’s premiere was branded a disaster when it only drew 482,000 Tube viewers.
Now the latest reading of 309,000 could prove definitive as it dropped even more sharply to just 273,000 on the second night.
The prime-time show once had about a million viewers a night when NRL’s “Honey Badger” Nick Cummins (pictured) drew 940,000 fans in the capital cities alone, but the franchise and Ten have since declined rapidly