There are many question marks on Seven’s programming for next year. With My Kitchen Rules consistently beaten by Married at First Sight in 2017 and 2018, House Rules faltering and new show Dance Boss a ratings flop, where is the next big reality franchise for Seven? It can’t be the return of Zumbo’s Just Desserts surely.
Seven’s drama line-up is quite thin apart from Home and Away. There are Ms Fisher’s MODern Murder Mysteries and The Blake Mysteries but both are period dramas with small number of episodes. Seven needs a modern drama to replace 800 Words.
Seven’s inability to fix its Thursday ratings will remain an issue if it cannot reduce the number of Home and Away episodes broadcast each week. It will require rewriting the supply contract with Channel 5 UK but someone has to do it.
It will be interesting if Seven’s pick-up of cricket rights can fill holes left by the loss of Australian Open tennis and Melbourne Cup Carnival. The network will increasingly rely on AFL to promote its line-up for most of the year and may request the league to play more Thursday night matches. Will Seven drop more sports (e.g. NFL, Sydney to Hobart yacht race) to save costs?