TV Blackbox
Australia-focused TV industry news and ratings/distribution.
OzTAM Launches New Streamscape Dashboard as TV Viewing Dominates
OzTAM unveiled an interactive Streamscape dashboard alongside its Q1 2026 Total Video data, giving subscribers a self‑serve tool to analyse broadcast, BVOD and streaming performance in one place. The new platform replaces static reports with customizable visualisations, streamlining metric comparison across devices and demographics. Q1 2026 figures show broadcast TV and BVOD still dominate, capturing 62.6% of all viewing, while TV‑set consumption stays at 86%. BVOD’s share nudged up to 10.8%, and digital streaming rose modestly to 37.9%.
HBO Reveals Season Three Premiere Date for HOUSE OF THE DRAGON
HBO announced that the third season of House of the Dragon will debut on Monday, June 22, 2026, exclusively on HBO Max. The eight‑episode run will air weekly, concluding with a finale on August 10. A new teaser trailer shows...
Foxtel Expands VEVO Channels with 80s Addition, Reshuffles Line Up
Foxtel is expanding its music offering by adding a dedicated Vevo 80s channel, slated for launch on May 5, and reordering its Vevo lineup for easier decade‑by‑decade navigation. The refreshed suite places Vevo 2K on channel 810, Vevo 90s on 811, the new Vevo 80s on 812,...
Dr Chris Brown Next to Face the Music on Seven’s CELEBRITY INTERVENTION
Seven Network’s comedy‑reality series "Glenn & Mick’s Celebrity Intervention" will spotlight TV host and renovator Dr Chris Brown on Monday, May 4 at 7:30 pm. The episode features regular panelists Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy, with guest co‑host Denise Scott, and brings in Brown’s friends...
Middle East Tensions Hit Saudi Plans on FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
ABC’s Foreign Correspondent examined Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 amid escalating Middle‑East conflict. Reporter Matthew Doran returned during a fragile cease‑fire to assess whether the war sparked by the US and Israel’s actions against Iran threatens the Kingdom’s multi‑trillion‑dollar diversification plan....
SPA’s Matthew Deaner to Open SCREEN FOREVER 40 with Focus on Reform
Screen Producers Australia chief Matthew Deaner opened SCREEN FOREVER 40 on the Gold Coast, using the keynote to celebrate Australia’s new streaming‑content regulation that took effect on 1 January. He framed the rules as a landmark that brings certainty to local...
Screen Producers Reveals Finalists for 2026 Screen Diversity Award
Screen Producers Australia and the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network have announced the six finalists for the 2026 Screen Diversity & Inclusion Award. The shortlist features projects such as That Blackfella Show, The Assembly Season 2, and Lesbian Space Princess, highlighting...
Wednesday VOZ Ratings | MY RENO RULES Picks up a Win Against Weak Competition
Wednesday’s Australian TV ratings show Seven’s renovation series “My Reno Rules” pulling an average 693,000 viewers, outpacing Nine’s “Events that Changed Australia” at 637,000. In later primetime, Nine’s new crime drama “Outback Murder Highway” debuted with 530,000 viewers, narrowly beating...
KIIS SYDNEY Does Better than Expected Despite Loss of KYLE and JACKIE O | RADIO RATINGS
The latest Survey 2 radio ratings show KIIS 1065 in Sydney holding steady at third place with a modest 0.3 percentage‑point dip, despite the high‑profile exit of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O. 2GB reclaimed the breakfast lead at 16.8 % share, while smoothfm and 2GB tied...
Paramount+ Australia Sets Debut for Gripping Drama THE GRAY HOUSE
Paramount+ Australia will launch the eight‑episode limited series The Gray House on Thursday, 30 April. The drama, which debuted in the United States on Prime Video in February, dramatizes the true story of four women who built a covert espionage...
ESPN Unleashes Wall-to-Wall 2026 NFL DRAFT Coverage
ESPN will deliver three days of uninterrupted NFL Draft coverage from Pittsburgh, beginning Friday April 24 and running through Sunday April 26. The network’s lineup features veteran host Mike Greenberg, analyst Mel Kiper, and former players Booger McFarland and Louis...
SEN Unveils Star Team for SOCCEROOS World Cup Calls
Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) announced that veteran commentators Simon Hill and former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich will front its live Socceroos coverage for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The duo, joined by a roster that includes Archie Thompson, Adam Peacock, Brenton...
BACK ROADS Uncovers Mission Beach’s Wild Secrets Tonight
ABC’s Back Roads heads to Mission Beach in Far North Queensland, where the Wet Tropics rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. Host Lisa Millar, accompanied by marine scientists Adele Pile and Stuart Alexander, explores the region’s unique wildlife, including the...
Annabel Crabb Lifts Lid on HISTORY OR HOARDING? Podcast
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has debuted a new eight‑episode podcast, “History Or Hoarding?”, hosted by Annabel Crabb and produced in partnership with the State Library of New South Wales. The series takes listeners into the library’s underground stacks, revealing that...
Albo Put to the Test as THE HUNDRED WITH ANDY LEE Returns for 2026
The Hundred with Andy Lee returns for its ninth season on Tuesday, April 28, airing at 7:30 pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. The launch episode puts Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the hot seat, testing whether 100 everyday Australians can recognize...
THE CHEAP SEATS Returns Tonight as 10’s Comedy Standout
Network 10 launches the sixth season of "The Cheap Seats" on Tuesday, 21 April at 8:40 pm. Hosted by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald, the news‑based comedy revisits off‑beat headlines and cultural quirks, with Mel Tracina returning as Cultural Correspondent. The series,...
CLARKSON’S FARM Season 5 Set for June Return
Jeremy Clarkson’s farming reality series returns to Amazon Prime Video with Season 5, slated to debut on June 3, 2026. The eight‑episode run will be released in three batches across June, following a staggered drop schedule. The new season follows Clarkson and his...
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? Back for Season 14 on 10
The Australian news‑quiz show "Have You Been Paying Attention?" returns for its 14th season on Channel 10, premiering Monday, 4 May at 8:40 pm. Hosted by Tom Gleisner, the series brings back regular panellists Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang, while rotating comedians join...
SUNRISE Kicks Off All-Day ANZAC Tribute on Seven Network
The Seven Network will deliver an all‑day ANZAC Day broadcast beginning at 4:20 am AEST on Saturday, 25 April, starting with a live Sunrise segment from the North Bondi RSL dawn service. The schedule expands through midday with 7NEWS covering Gallipoli and...
Is Sam Pang Ready for GLENN & MICK’S CELEBRITY INTERVENTION?
Sam Pang is the focus of the latest episode of Channel 7’s comedy‑reality series Glenn & Mick’s Celebrity Intervention. The duo of Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy, joined by co‑host Lawrence Mooney, put Pang’s acting choices and wardrobe under scrutiny. Guest appearances...
Pacific Drug Probe Deepens in Part Two on FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
The ABC’s Foreign Correspondent aired a second‑part investigation revealing that the Pacific is morphing into a major drug‑smuggling corridor. Reporters traced cartel tactics from South America to the Solomon Islands, where narco‑subs ferry massive cocaine loads. In Tonga, the episode...
Karla Grant Returns Tonight for 2026 Season of NITV’s LIVING BLACK
NITV’s Living Black returns on April 20 with 14 new episodes, marking its 23‑year run as Australia’s longest‑running Indigenous current‑affairs series. Hosted by Walkley‑Award‑winning journalist Karla Grant, the season opens with a conversation with Richard Frankland about the Royal Commission...
Australia’s ADHD Boom and Diagnosis Gaps Examined on FOUR CORNERS
Four Corners aired a report presenting Australia’s first national map of adult ADHD, showing diagnoses have surged over the past eight years, especially among women. The map pinpoints suburbs where treatment rates far exceed estimated prevalence and regions where up...
Fox Sports Locks in Australia’s Tour of Bangladesh
Fox Sports, through its Kayo Sports and Foxtel platforms, has secured exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2026 Bangladesh home cricket series. The agreement covers ODIs, T20s and Tests featuring Bangladesh against New Zealand, Pakistan and later Australia. Live coverage begins...
Shaun Micallef Explores Australia’s Betting Habits in GOING FOR BROKE
Australian comedian Shaun Micallef hosts a three‑part ABC documentary, Going For Broke, that dives into the nation’s entrenched gambling culture. Over three episodes he places his first bet in decades, travels the country and interviews casual players and those affected...
Mark Wahlberg, Riz Ahmed Film NETFLIX Thriller The Big Fix in NSW
Netflix is set to film the high‑stakes thriller *The Big Fix* in New South Wales, with principal photography beginning in Sydney this month. The production, starring Mark Wahlberg, Riz Ahmed and a multinational cast, is directed by Baltasar Kormákur and...
First Look at 2026 Season of FARMER WANTS A WIFE AUSTRALIA
Seven Network has unveiled a first look at the 2026 season of Farmer Wants A Wife Australia, now entering its sixteenth installment. The reality dating series will feature five new farmers from Queensland and South Australia, with host Natalie Gruzlewski...
MasterChef Australia Lands MEGHAN MARKLE for Guest Judging Stint
MasterChef Australia announced that Meghan Markle will appear as a surprise guest judge in season 18, filming her segment during her current Australian visit. The Duchess’s cameo follows previous royal appearances, such as King Charles III’s 2015 kitchen visit, and is...
Tuesday VOZ Ratings | AUSTRALIAN IDOL Finale Sweeps the Night for Seven
Australian Idol’s Season 11 finale on Seven attracted an average of 1.09 million viewers, outpacing the network’s other primetime offerings and securing the night’s top rating. Seven also led the primetime market with a 29.7% share of total TV viewership, while Nine...
Carrie Bickmore First Target in GLENN & MICK’S Celebrity Intervention Series
Seven Network launches a new primetime comedy, Glenn & Mick’s Celebrity Intervention, on Monday, April 20, 2026. The series opens with radio and TV personality Carrie Bickmore as the first guest, where comedians Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy confront her with...
Nine Special Examines Prince Andrew in THE DOWNFALL OF A PRINCE
Nine Network aired the hour‑long documentary “Andrew: The Downfall of a Prince” on April 15, 2026, revisiting Prince Andrew’s rise from a Falklands‑war pilot to a controversial royal figure. The program combines interviews with former naval colleagues, diplomats, journalists and...
David Robinson Joins 7 NEWS QUEENSLAND in Dual Newsroom Role
David Robinson has rejoined Seven’s 7 News Queensland in a dual newsroom role, serving as Assistant Supervising Producer and on‑air presenter for early‑afternoon and late‑night updates from the Maroochydore studio. The seasoned producer and former Network 10 and ABC presenter returns after...
Countdown Begins as Seven Eyes Big GLASGOW 2026 Games Coverage
Seven Network announced it will broadcast the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games live, free and exclusively on its main channel and the 7plus Sport streaming platform from July 24 to August 3. The ten‑day event will showcase 10 sports, including a...
Caleb Wins AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR 2026, Malaysia Locked as Next Location
Caleb Beeby, a Victorian truck driver, was crowned Sole Survivor of Australian Survivor: Redemption, claiming the $500,000 AUD prize (approximately $330,000 USD). After 45 days in Samoa, he won a grueling four‑hour final Immunity Challenge and voted out his closest...
Is AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR Gearing up for a Big TV Comeback?
Australian Ninja Warrior is on the brink of a revival, with a deal expected to be signed within weeks to move the series from Nine to Network 10. Potential filming locations include Dreamworld on the Gold Coast and Melbourne, each offering...
Inside Fiji’s Growing Drug Trade on FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
ABC’s Foreign Correspondent aired a two‑part investigation revealing Fiji’s emergence as a major transit hub for methamphetamine and cocaine bound for Australia. The program, based on intelligence and naval access, shows how vast oceanic routes enable traffickers to move large...
Jim Jefferies Hosts Flirty New THE 1% CLUB AUSTRALIA Singles Special
Australia’s comedy quiz show The 1% Club returns on Seven and 7plus on April 19, 2026, kicking off with a Singles Night special hosted by comedian Jim Jefferies. The episode features 100 single contestants competing for a $100,000 prize (≈US$66,000)...
YouTube Boosts Creator Economy Focus at 2026 AUS CHILDREN’S SUMMIT
YouTube has joined the Australian Children’s Content Summit in Coffs Harbour as a Major Partner, marking its first formal involvement in the nation’s dedicated kids‑content event. The four‑day summit, running 24‑27 August 2026, will showcase leading family‑friendly creators alongside producers,...
Nine Picks up Social First Micro Reality Series FLEX for 9Now
Australian broadcaster Nine has acquired the social‑first micro‑reality series FLEX from Ronde Media. The show follows seven young hustlers navigating Bondi’s high‑priced lifestyle, delivering 1‑2 minute vertical clips on Instagram and TikTok while 9Now streams full‑length 22‑25 minute episodes weekly. The first...
Black Saturday Fires Revisited in EVENTS THAT CHANGED AUSTRALIA
The Nine Network’s new documentary series “Events That Changed Australia” returns with an episode on the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009. The program blends never‑before‑seen archival footage with first‑hand interviews from survivors, first responders and journalists. It revisits the Royal...
10 Brings New Chat Show THE CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN SHOW Down Under
Australian Network 10 has acquired the UK chat‑show The Claudia Winkleman Show for local broadcast. The series will debut Thursday 16 April at 8:30 pm, following Gogglebox Australia, and occupies the slot previously held by The Graham Norton Show. Produced by So...
Friend’s Relentless Search for Celine Cremer on AUSTRALIAN STORY
Australian Story aired a two‑part feature on the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer, who vanished during a solo hike in north‑west Tasmania in June 2023. Her best friend, Justine Ropet, relocated from Belgium to Tasmania and spent seven months...
FOUR CORNERS Presents BBC Exposé on Social Platforms Driving Outrage
Four Corners is broadcasting the BBC’s investigative documentary “Rage Machine,” which uncovers how social‑media platforms deliberately design algorithms to provoke outrage and maximize user engagement. The film features more than a dozen whistleblowers and leaked internal documents that detail a...
TV Highlights | 2026 Week 16
TV Blackbox’s Week 16 guide outlines Australia’s broadcast and streaming lineup as the first‑quarter reality‑show cycle wraps and networks pivot to new Q2 offerings. Highlights include the finale of Married At First Sight on Nine, Australian Idol’s Grand Final on Seven,...
Seven Kicks Off Live AUS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Coverage Today
Seven Network launched live, free-to-air coverage of the Australian Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park, streaming on Seven and 7plus Sport. The three‑day meet crowns national champions and doubles as a selection trial for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. A...
Ricki-Lee Talks Idol Return and Radio Grind on BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
Better Homes and Gardens aired a special episode featuring Australian pop star Ricki‑Lee Coulter, who discussed her upcoming return to Australian Idol and the demands of her radio hosting duties. The interview highlighted her two‑decade journey from Idol contestant to...
Nine Launches BBC News Channel on 9NOW to Boost Live News Offering
Nine Entertainment has added the 24‑hour BBC News channel to its free streaming service 9Now, expanding the platform’s live‑news portfolio. The move builds on a suite of BBC FAST channels launched in late 2024, including BBC Comedy and Top Gear. Executives...
10 Sets Premiere Date for THE CHEAP SEATS 2026 Return
Australian comedy news show The Cheap Seats is set to return for its sixth season on Channel 10, premiering Tuesday 21 April at 8:40 pm. Hosts Tim McDonald and Melanie Bracewell reprise their roles, delivering the program’s trademark off‑beat take on the week’s most bizarre...
Growth at Risk as SCREEN AUSTRALIA Report Flags Industry Capacity Crunch
The Screen Australia‑commissioned Olsberg SPI Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) 2026 reaffirms Australia’s reputation as a world‑class hub for high‑value film, TV, animation and games, but flags four pressure points—business scalability, skills gaps, unclear career progression, and infrastructure constraints—that...
WATCH | Stan Drops First Look at Richard Gadd Drama HALF MAN
Stan has released the first trailer for Half Man, a six‑part drama created, written and executive‑produced by award‑winning comedian Richard Gadd. The series pairs Gadd with BAFTA‑winner Jamie Bell to portray two brother‑like men whose lives intertwine over three decades of...