TV Blackbox
Australia-focused TV industry news and ratings/distribution.
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, and the premiere of Euphoria season 3 on HBO Max. The schedule also flags several must‑watch titles such as DTF St. Louis finale (HBO Max) and Clarkson’s Farm season 4 (Nine). Across the week, traditional free‑to‑air channels and subscription services compete for viewers with a mix of reality, drama, and documentary programming.
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...
Comedian RHYS NICHOLSON Tapped to Host 2026 SPA Awards
Australian comedian and TV host Rhys Nicholson has been confirmed as the master of ceremonies for the 24th Annual Screen Producers Australia (SPA) Awards, scheduled for Thursday 30 April 2026 on the Gold Coast. The ceremony will cap off the...
EXCLUSIVE | 10 Scraps Planned Back to Back AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR Shoot
Network 10 has abandoned plans to film a second Australian Survivor season back‑to‑back, reversing a December announcement. The decision follows a steady decline in linear overnight ratings for the twelfth season, despite growth in streaming viewership. Host David Genat, who...
Ticker Announces New Entrepreneurship Series THE FOUNDERS METHOD
Ticker, the global news‑streaming platform, announced the launch of its original entrepreneurship series “The Founders Method.” Hosted by memobottle co‑founders Jesse Leeworthy and Jonathan Byrt, the show dives into the decisions, challenges and systems that shape modern startups. The debut episode...
10 Unpacks Reality TV’s Wildest Moments in New Clip Series THE GREATEST
Network 10 is launching "The Greatest," a clip‑show series that revisits the most shocking moments in Australian reality television. The program, originally slated for a late‑2025 debut, will now premiere on Sunday 12 April at 8:10 pm, featuring a rotating panel of...
Harlan, Kalani and Kesha Secure Spots in AUSTRALIAN IDOL Grand Finale
Australian Idol announced its Top 3—Harlan Goode, Kalani Artis and Kesha Oayda—after a live vote on Tuesday night, eliminating John Van Beek, Jacinta Gulisano and Trè Samuels. The episode opened with the remaining six contestants delivering a group rendition of Adele’s “Set...
Prime Video, Foxtel, ABC Commissioners Set for SCREEN FOREVER 40 Panel
Screen Producers Australia announced a State of Play panel at SCREEN FOREVER 40, moderated by journalist Virginia Trioli, featuring commissioners Alexandra Gilbert (Prime Video), Daniel Monaghan (Foxtel) and Jennifer Collins (ABC). The discussion will focus on tighter commissioning, evolving audience...
Gather Round Returns to CHANNEL 7 with Packed Weekend of AFL Action
The Seven Network will broadcast the 2026 AFL Gather Round live and free across its channels, delivering every Round 5 match from Thursday, April 9 through Sunday in South Australia. Thursday night kicks off with the Adelaide Crows hosting Carlton, followed by...
FOUR CORNERS Revisits Updated PBS Investigation Into Iran Nuclear Claims
Four Corners revisits PBS Frontline’s updated documentary "Strike on Iran: The Nuclear Question," which examines the aftermath of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Emmy‑winning journalist Sebastian Walker returns to Iran with partners including The Washington Post, Evident Media and...
Saturday VOZ Ratings | BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Is a Lifestyle Winner
TV Blackbox published the Saturday VOZ ratings for 4 April 2026, introducing updated overnight and consolidated measurement methods. The new metrics count unique viewers who watch at least one minute of broadcast TV or 15 seconds of BVOD and calculate national audience averages...
CASTING | Home Cooks Wanted for New Aussie Food Series
Producer i8 Studio is casting everyday Australians for a new unscripted cooking series that will spotlight personal recipes and the stories behind them. No professional chef experience is required; participants simply need a dish that brings people together. Filming is...
Queenslanders Mitch and Shaz Named First Team on MY RENO RULES
Seven Network has unveiled the first competing team for its upcoming renovation series *My Reno Rules*: Queensland newlyweds Mitch and Shaz. The show, hosted by Dr Chris Brown and judged by Neale Whitaker, Simon Cohen and Julia Green, will pit four teams against...
Celebs Face the Music in Seven’s Glenn & Mick’s CELEBRITY INTERVENTION
Seven Network is launching a new primetime comedy series, Glenn & Mick’s Celebrity Intervention, on its broadcast channel and streaming platform 7plus. Hosted by veteran comedians Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy, each episode places a well‑known Australian celebrity in a...
Beloved THE TREEHOUSE Books Head to ABC in New Kids Series Adaptation
Australian public broadcaster ABC announced a new television adaptation of Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s bestselling children’s series The Treehouse. The project, produced with Werner Film Productions, is part of a $50 million Australian‑dollar (about $33 million USD) federal funding package aimed...
Range of Projects Backed in $20.4m New SCREEN AUSTRALIA Funding Slate
Screen Australia announced a US$13.5 million investment (AU$20.4 million) across 91 narrative projects, spanning film, TV and digital formats. The slate includes the fifth season of the children’s series Little J & Big Cuz, Lucy Durack’s romantic‑comedy series The Funeral Singer, and the first batch...
Seven Packs Easter Long Weekend with AFL, Surf, Racing and Stawell Gift
The Seven Network is rolling out an all‑day sports marathon for the Easter long weekend, featuring live AFL matches, the World Surf League’s Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, and premier horse‑racing carnivals with roughly $16.5 million USD in prize money. The schedule also...
Unbeaten Sports Channel Launches Exclusively on FETCH TV
Fetch TV announced the exclusive launch of Unbeaten, a 24/7 sports channel owned by Inverleigh, adding global competitions, emerging leagues and under‑represented codes to its lineup. The channel is bundled with the Vibe Pack (AU$7.99 ≈ US$5.30 per month) and...
Susie Jones Honoured as SPA’s Commissioner of the Year 2026
Susie Jones, head of Documentary and Specialist at the ABC, has been named Screen Producers Australia’s Commissioner of the Year 2026. The peer‑voted award recognises her leadership, creativity and close collaboration with independent producers across a slate of factual series...
Premiere Date Revealed for MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA 2026
MasterChef Australia Season 18 will premiere on Sunday, 19 April 2026 at 7 pm, streaming free on Network 10. All four original judges return, joined by high‑profile guests such as Jimmy Barnes, Robert Irwin, Maggie Beer and Curtis Stone. The competition will feature 24 amateur...
ABC, NITV Back New Season of Kids Favourite LITTLE J AND BIG CUZ
ABC and National Indigenous Television have green‑lit a fifth season of the award‑winning children’s series Little J & Big Cuz, with a launch slated for 2027. The renewal is backed by Screen Australia, VicScreen, Screen Tasmania, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and other partners....
Wil Anderson Returns as GRUEN Heads Back to ABC for Season 18 This April
Australian broadcaster ABC is reviving its long‑running advertising satire series "Gruen" for an 18th season, debuting on Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 8 pm. Wil Anderson returns as host, guiding a panel that dissects TV, online and print ads with its...
Monday VOZ Ratings | A Big MAFS Challenge Brings a Big MAFS Audience
Monday’s VOZ ratings show Nine’s reality hit Married At First Sight Season 13 leading primetime with an average 1.82 million viewers, outpacing other commercial shows such as Australian Idol and Survivor. Across the five major metros, Nine captured 36.7% of total TV...
DRIPFED.TV Launches with Homegrown Push Into Social First Series
Sydney‑based Fat Poodle has launched Dripfed.TV, a premium vertical‑studio streaming service built for mobile and social platforms. The platform delivers daily episodes under 90 seconds across Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, blending scripted and unscripted short‑form series. Its debut slate includes...
Cameras Roll on Season 3 of Nine’s Pet Docuseries FOR THE LOVE OF PETS
Season 3 of Nine Network’s pet docuseries "For the Love of Pets" has begun filming in Queensland, spotlighting RSPCA Queensland and the QVS Pet Emergency Hospital. The series now totals 24 one‑hour episodes across three seasons and continues to stream...
Ireland’s Unlikely Surf Hotspot Revealed on FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
ABC’s Foreign Correspondent aired a feature on Ireland’s west‑coast village Mullaghmore, showcasing it as an emerging big‑wave surf destination. Winter storms generate North Atlantic swells that produce waves the size of multi‑story buildings, attracting thrill‑seeking surfers from around the globe....
First Look and Premiere Date Revealed for New Sketch Comedy Series URZILA
Comedian Urzila Carlson is set to star in her first sketch comedy series, Urzila, which launches on ABC TV on 29 April at 9:25 pm, with the full season streaming on ABC iview. The eight‑episode show mixes Carlson’s stand‑up material with fast‑paced character...
Nick, Kate and Joel Face Off in TIPPING POINT Celebrity Special for Charity
Australia’s long‑running game show Tipping Point is airing a celebrity charity special on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Hosted by tennis legend Todd Woodbridge, radio and TV personalities Nick Cody, Kate Langbroek and Joel Creasey will compete for...
Mal Leyland’s Life and Dementia Diagnosis on AUSTRALIAN STORY
Mal Leyland, the 81‑year‑old co‑star of the iconic "Ask the Leyland Brothers" series, appears on ABC’s Australian Story to discuss his dementia diagnosis and a final outback convoy. The month‑long trek marks the 60th anniversary of the brothers’ 1966 coast‑to‑coast...
TV Highlights | 2026 Week 14
TV Blackbox’s Week 14 guide outlines Australia’s mixed broadcast‑and‑streaming lineup, spotlighting high‑profile premieres such as the Disney+ finale of “Paradise” and the season‑two launch of “Your Friends and Neighbors.” The schedule also features a live Socceroos‑Curacao match on Ten, a slate...
Saturday VOZ Ratings | BLUE MURDER MOTEL Does the Number Again for Aunty
Saturday VOZ ratings for 28 March 2026 show ABC’s drama “Blue Murder Motel” again topping the charts, capturing the highest overnight audience across all networks. The release introduces OzTAM’s new metrics, which count viewers who watch at least one minute of broadcast...
NITV to Broadcast Farewell and Week Long Tribute for RHODA ROBERTS
National Indigenous Television (NITV) will air a live broadcast of Rhoda Roberts AO’s funeral on March 31, followed by a seven‑night tribute series titled *Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy*. The programming runs from March 31 to April 6 and...
Chris Uhlmann Fronts SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA Deep Dive on Fuel Crisis
Sky News Australia will broadcast a one‑hour special titled "Australia’s Fuel Crisis" on Sunday 29 March at 7:30 pm AEDT, hosted by veteran journalist Chris Uhlmann. The program will dissect soaring fuel prices, shrinking emergency stockpiles, global geopolitical instability and long‑term...
European Football Returns to Aussie Pubs in New Broadcast Deal
Foxtel Business has signed an exclusive agreement with beIN SPORTS to distribute its three linear channels across Australian pubs and clubs, ending a six‑month blackout of major European football and top‑tier tennis. The package restores live rights to LaLiga, Serie...
Where to Stream the PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE 2026 in Australia
ESPN has secured exclusive rights to broadcast the 2026 Pakistan Super League across Australia and New Zealand, delivering all 44 matches live on Disney+ and through Foxtel, Kayo, Fetch TV and Sky NZ. The T20 tournament features a host of Australian...
Stan Rolls Out Red Carpet at Perth Film Premiere for WHALE SHARK JACK
Stan rolled out the red carpet in Perth for its original feature *Whale Shark Jack*, previewing the film at Luna Leederville before its national debut on April 2. The event gathered the cast, directors Miranda and Khrob Edmonds, screenwriter Kathryn...
HBO Max Drops Trailer for Long Awaited HARRY POTTER Television Adaptation
HBO Max unveiled the first teaser for its eight‑episode Harry Potter television series, adapting the first book, *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*. The show stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron, with...
Stan Unveils Cast for Twisty New WA Set Crime Drama TWO BIRDS
Australian streaming service Stan announced the six‑part crime drama Two Birds, starring BAFTA‑winner Sheridan Smith alongside Judy Davis and Stephen Peacocke. The series is a co‑production with UK broadcaster ITV and will be filmed on location in Western Australia, marking...
Seven Reshuffles News Ranks as RAHNI SADLER Takes 7 News Spotlight Reins
Seven Network has appointed veteran journalist Rahni Sadler as Executive Producer of its flagship current‑affairs program 7NEWS Spotlight, succeeding Gemma Williams who will become Managing Editor of 7NEWS. Sadler returns to Seven after a senior producer stint at the ABC,...
ABC Brings Back YOU CAN’T ASK THAT with Fresh Perspectives
ABC is reviving its documentary series You Can’t Ask That for an eighth season, marking its return after a 2022 hiatus. The show, led by creator Kirk Docker, will again feature unfiltered conversations with marginalized groups, tackling topics from AI‑driven relationships to...
Sydney Special Taping to Pilot New Interview Show with TOMMY LITTLE
Tommy Little is set to host a one‑off interview‑show pilot taped on Friday, 27 March, at Network 10’s Pyrmont studios in Sydney. The secretive taping follows a limited‑seat audience call‑out and mirrors the interview style of Sam Pang Tonight, which has been absent...
Top 8 Locked in After Harry and Wanwue Depart AUSTRALIAN IDOL
Australian Idol’s Tuesday episode featured a double elimination, sending Harry Lamb and Wanwue Tarpeh home and cementing a Top 8. The show has now shifted entirely to public voting, removing judges from the final decision‑making process. The remaining contestants—Charlie Moon, Harlan...
MIFF 2026: Early Bird Applications Open for 37°South Market
Early‑bird applications for the Melbourne International Film Festival’s 37°South Market are now open until 13 April, with discounted rates for producers seeking financing. The four‑day market will take place in August in Melbourne, offering one‑on‑one meetings, pitch sessions, and roundtables that...
SPA Taps Former Matchbox Exec SAMANTHA TURI for Commercial Role
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has appointed Samantha Turi, former Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Matchbox Pictures, to lead its newly created commercial strategy role. Turi brings over a decade of experience negotiating rights and structuring deals across scripted...
10 Brings Perth Weekend Bulletin Home with NARELDA JACOBS
Network 10 announced that veteran journalist Narelda Jacobs will return to Perth to anchor a reinstated local weekend bulletin, replacing Georgie Tunny. The bulletin, launching on 18 April at 5 pm AWST, will be presented from Perth while sport and weather segments...