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Channel Nine's savage response after Seven nabs The Voice
The Voice Australia will be moving to Channel 7 after the Network announced it had commissioned the popular entertainment show from ITV Studios Australia.
For the past nine seasons The Voice Australia has been one of the flagship entertainment programs on Channel Nine, but will move to the rival network for season ten in 2021, with viewer favourite Sonia Kruger returning as host.
CEO and Managing Director James Warburton said it was a “coup for Seven”.
“Adding The Voice to our 2021 program slate is another brick in the wall of our content-led growth strategy of using proven, power formats,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
“The Voice is a television megabrand that will deliver on our promise of more tentpoles, audience growth and consistency across the year.”
Originating in the Netherlands in 2010 the program airs in 180 countries across the world.
The nine seasons on Australian screens have included a host of superstar Coaches including Delta Goodrem, Keith Urban, Seal, The Madden Brothers, Ricky Martin, will.i.am, Kylie Minogue, Jessie J, Ronan Keating and Joe Jonas.
No announcement has yet been made on which judges will also be making the move alongside the show.
Director of Programming, Angus Ross said: “The Voice remains the biggest entertainment show in Australia averaging over 1.5 million viewers each week – delivering on broadcast, demographics and streaming.”
He added the network jumped at the opportunity to bring “this juggernaut” to Seven, but also hinted at plans to “supercharge the format”.
The 2021 series will be reimagined with a new tighter format adapted for latest viewing trends.
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“We’re accustomed to working with some of the best production studios in the country to deliver refreshed formats that have new life breathed into them,” said Angus Ross.
“We’ve done it with Big Brother and Farmer Wants a Wife this year – and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to responsibly reimagine the format for The Voice 2021.”
Channel Nine soon responded, clearly not worried about losing the hit show.
“Unfortunately due to the age of the show and declining demographic profile, The Voice had become by far the poorest financial performer on our slate. We wish 7 well in their quest to revive yet another Nine show,” a representative told the Daily Mail.
The Managing Director of ITV Studios Australia said this was a “significant day”.
“It is the beginning of a new era of The Voice in Australia which is still the biggest entertainment brand globally. Seven did not hesitate in securing the rights when this opportunity came up and we cannot wait to get cracking on the series for 2021… and to welcome Sonia back to the biggest entertainment stage on Australian television,” David Mott said.
The Voice Australia will appear across the Seven Network in 2021.
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