All these shows are like this. Producers orchestrate the filming and what goes on. Judges on any of these shows are just props.
It’s a pretty competitive market these days, they go to market with some fairly big projections to advertisers, no way management would want to take the brakes off and let any organic sort of dialogue come from the judges.
Well Royston wasn’t the best singer of the group. It seems the same thing happened in the US too.
Sob stories winning the show not the actual talent.
Seems like it has always been like that though. The public are voting for the singer they like the most not necessarily the best vocal artist. It can be influenced by song selection and music style.
I can still remember Adam Lambert’s season when he came second despite being (IMO) the best singer. However the country preferred an admittedly good artist Kris Allen to Adam’s performances. It was a controversial win at the time that some media described as an upset with the usual conspiracies - that was 2009.
In most cases the best singer doesn’t always win. Jessica Mauboy (who finished runner-up to Damien Leith in 2006) and Matt Corby (runner-up to Natalie Gauci in 2007) are perfect examples.
Also very few have what it takes to be successful. It’s not just about being a good singer. They also need to have the mindset and commitment to work hard, spend time away from family, live a public life, have a generally likable personality etc.
Oh please. People will complain that anything is rigged if they aren’t happy with the result. Just like with Eurovision how a lot of Finland fans are being very sour on social media over the result.
At the end of the day with talent shows like Idol that are 100% viewer votes, why would producers intentionally choose to announce someone a winner that less people wanted to win? It doesn’t even make sense.
I agree that he wasn’t the best singer of the group but I always thought he was a strong chance of winning because he connected with a lot of viewers. That doesn’t mean it was rigged.
Without a doubt, Guy Sebastian would have to be our most successful Idol given what he has achieved in the two decades since.
Not just that, he has also done plenty of community work too, most recently walking from Wagga Wagga to Sydney for charity.
If it runs against MAFS again, it will tank again, i think after MAFS could work - by that I mean it will probably average more than 443k and probably can push mid 500s & maybe low 600s.
Also looks like they have increased the age limit to 30yrs after it was 28yrs for last season
Perhaps they should be aiming for 4th quarter after the AFL finals when there’s nothing on at all.
Looks like Seven is giving the franchise a second (and possibly final) chance… let’s see if they learn their lessons from this season, next year.
However the fact they’ve opened auditions now gives an indication it could again air in the first quarter of the year, which could effectively be the death sentence for the show…
I’m not disagreeing with you at all, but what should Seven run at the start of the year against MAFS? You throw something against it that is a half-baked attempt and they are doomed to fail. Genuinely wondered this for years. Dammed if they do, crucified if they don’t (in the ratings!).
Dancing With The Stars seemed to hold its own in 2022 from memory. Capitalising on the older demographic.
MAFS will soften. Seven just needs to keep trying but Australian Idol isn’t the answer.
Surely Seven can’t just repeat what they did this year. Many loyal viewers who stuck through the season probably won’t return for a second season after all the disappointments.
If only I had a dollar for everytime we’ve heard that 
I think it already has softened. It’s just that compared to all the other competition it had, it’s still ahead by an entire lap of Flemington.
I’m sure there’ll be a format which can at least be a competitive second against MAFS but Idol isn’t it.
Ratings in general have softened, across all networks. MAFS is still WAY ahead of its competition though, cracking over 2 million for some episodes (after catch up numbers). Overnight ratings were double that of Australian Idol.
Maybe they have opened it up now to show the show is not cancelled? But the actual auditions might not happen until later (probably not)
Last year the auditions closed at end of August & judges were announced at end of September. If it’s a similar time again this year then it is most likely start airing Jan/Feb
I thought 7 did everything right this year, good promotion, good judges & hosts, high production value. It flopped because the audience just doesn’t have the appetite for it. I don’t think you can blame it all on MAFS. I dont know what can be done to turn it around.
This seems more like 7 committed to a 2 season contract than a merit-based renewal.
