INSIDE MEDIA: Why Channel 10's The Project is facing the axe
You can watch a video version of this column in the player above.
Ouch.
While the budget has been reduced over the years, it is still one of 10's most expensive shows and delivers only a fraction of the audience compared to Nine and Seven.
Sarah Harris has been a welcome addition to the show – I'm a big fan (in fact I'm such a big fan I was the one who convinced her to leave Channel 9 and move across to host Studio 10). Sarah has added some much-needed balance to the show but even her charm and insights aren't enough to garner bigger audiences.
When you consider how much free publicity the show gets on news websites each and every day, the fact it can only draw in a few hundred-thousand viewers every night proves the show is failing to resonate.
It's left-leaning, patronising, woke agenda isn't even connecting with the younger audiences the network craves.
Literally just plucking a date at random, I've gone and had a look at the ratings for the show last Tuesday (21 May 2025). In total people The Project averaged 353,000, beaten by Sunrise on 406,000. In the 25-54 demo, the show attracted 143,000, easily beaten by The Chase and Tipping Point which air earlier in the day with less available audience. Tipping Point also beat The Project in the 16-39 demo.
The Project is the pet project (no pun intended) of 10's big boss Bev McGarvey. She has been a big supporter of the show since the very first pitch from Roving Enterprises around doing 'news differently'.
In 2017 CBS took over ownership of 10, after it went into administration, and when top brass went through the books they were shocked at the deal with Roving Enterprises. The company couldn't believe all of the news gathered by 10NEWS was freely given over to a separate company along with resources to put the show to air.
That was almost the nail in the coffin for the show, but it was saved by McGarvey.
Now, 10 is facing a major cost crisis. As I exclusively reported last week, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of here will be pre-recorded next year in order to reduce costs. Production crew will work through without days off to get the series in the can as soon as possible without lost time over weekends.
There's no doubt on any other network The Project would have been axed years ago, but when you've got no other content it's much easier to stick with what you've got.
IN DEFENCE OF ITA
The esteemed Ita Buttrose has come under attack recently over travel-related expenses at the ABC.
At issue is the $3625.79 she spent on luxury car hire in the 12 months between January 2023 and January 2024. To be honest I would have thought the Chair of the ABC would have spent a lot more than that.
I actually can't work out what all the outrage is about.
Now, I have become friends with Ita since I was her boss at Studio 10, but I would make this exact same commentary about new Chair Kim Williams.
I can't understand why staff and media don't think it's appropriate for the Chair to be taken to events in a car. No, she shouldn't be taking a taxi or an Uber – she is the chair of the ABC and that position comes with certain privileges.
I would bet stars at the ABC (and even some producers) would have spent more on taxis in the same 12 months. Having a reliable vehicle to take you to events is a must for someone in Ita's position.
Not to mention the fact she has serious back issues that require her to use a walking stick and wheelchair.
While the ABC has to endure transparency commercial broadcasters don't, this just seems to be low hanging fruit on the part of media trying to bash the ABC.
As someone who often holds the organisation to account, I recommend we hold the outrage for a real story – not 3 grand's worth of travel.
KILLER TV
How does a TV show make me want to see a serial killer succeed?
I've been watching Dexter New Blood on Paramount+ this past week and it always amazes me when I sit there on the edge of my seat hoping he doesn't get caught being a serial killer.
That's some good writing when you consider it goes against everything we believe in as a society. And that's the power of good writing, acting and producing. Creators can take a concept like a serial killer and make him the hero of the piece – someone we want to see succeed.
Amazing stuff.
And I'm going to throw this one in while I'm at it. I've only just discovered Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+ recently. It's been a long time since I've watched a show with a smile on my face the whole way through. There have also been moments where I've been in tears.
The story of Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds buying a Welsh football team. I'm not that into sports but this is way more than a sporting documentary – it's emotionally compelling.
While Rob comes across as the more genuine of the two, there's no doubt they have made a huge difference to the local community and helped Wrexham climb up the league table.
It's an amazing story and one that will hook you.
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