Does Home & Away have a future in the UK?

[James Martin]

...and before anyone shouts "lifetime deal" nobody signs a contract they can't ever get out of somehow, not even on their wedding day.

We've all tried to spin it positively, but for the show to come off a main PSB for the first time since its UK launch in 1989 can't be spun anyway other than a demotion in the cold light of day.

My worry is Channel 5 will then cite the low figures on 5 Star, where it's getting - what, a hundred thousand or so on a good day? - as an excuse to declare the British market has lost interest in the programme and begin negotiations.  A good solicitor could broker an "out" of any supposed "lifetime" contract; it's what they're paid non-trivial sums of money to do!  I refuse to believe they're permanently locked in with no exit.

Does anyone else think this is the beginning of the end?

[Gerard]

I don't think I've ever seen an explanation of the "lifetime deal", and whether it really means C5 are obliged to buy the show for as long as 7 want to produce it. Even if that was the deal, I'm sure it could be renegotiated. It is strange though that C5 gave up on Neighbours, but continued on with H&A, when it was less popular.

I can't see how axing H&A from the main channel can be a good thing, but perhaps figures for the lunchtime slot were so low that the number watching on 5Star or On Demand are enough to make it profitable. As they're still buying the show, I don't know how dropping it from the main channel could save them any money, unless they think it will drive more viewers to the On Demand service, which I assume they make a profit from through advertising. H&A must cost C5 less than what it makes in advertising revenue. If it was losing them money (as they said Neighbours was, if I remember correctly) then surely they would look for a way out of the contract ASAP.

The beginning of the end? Hard to know. It does push H&A further out of the mainstream. If this change means that total viewing figures fall, I could see that as leverage to negotiate a cheaper contract. I'm sure H&A will continue for a few more years at least, as no doubt they'll want to celebrate the 40th anniversary in 2028, and surpass Neighbours in terms of longevity. Having said that, for some reason H&A doesn't seem to celebrate milestones any more.

Edited Friday at 19:23 by Gerard

[adam436]

Would H&A still be able to run in Australia without UK backing? Neighbours couldn't, but H&A is internally produced by 7 and has generally always performed better in the ratings.

Would another UK network pick it up if Channel 5 dumped it? I guess that would depend on the level of financial investment required.

[hapitoby]

6 hours ago, adam436 said:

Would H&A still be able to run in Australia without UK backing? Neighbours couldn't, but H&A is internally produced by 7 and has generally always performed better in the ratings.

Would another UK network pick it up if Channel 5 dumped it? I guess that would depend on the level of financial investment required.

Yes Home and Away generally has performed better than Neighbours in Australia. Same in Ireland. So perhaps if Channel 5 dumped it, thereby losing their agreement, RTE perhaps would take over funding? 

I'm not sure how it does in NZ compared to the others, but I think we'll enough. Perhaps NZ would invest in it too 

[630si]

I'm sure the first Look figures are closer to 300k and is the only thing that rates like this on 5star. (looking at thinkbox ratings reports) and as per the ratings on 5 which were around 250k mark (we know only 80k ish were live at 13:45)I would  bet my bottom dollar that 5 are hoping to nudge the first Look ratings to closer to 500k in getting the ones who normally pvr the lunchtime to either switch to streaming (presumably this will count towards the ratings of the 5star ep) and/or record the 5star showing instead to count towards the +7 day ratings there. 

This would also put it comfortably ahead of hollyoaks as the ratings wouldn't be split so much. However, let's see. I'm not sure how many people are capable of doing it. Generally people are reluctant to change, particularly habitual viewing, and ive already seen comments online line like "I can't get 5star" even though we all know that if you can get 5 you can get 5star. 

 

It's going to take a few weeks for people to find the show this year I reckon. 

[CaptainHulk]

Yes. Costs less than its rival which even a fricking billion dollar company couldn't afford in the end (Bastards!)

Plus the Irish wouldn't stand for it being given the chop!

 

 

Edited yesterday at 10:37 by CaptainHulk

[James Martin]

3 hours ago, 630si said:

I'm sure the first Look figures are closer to 300k and is the only thing that rates like this on 5star. (looking at thinkbox ratings reports) and as per the ratings on 5 which were around 250k mark (we know only 80k ish were live at 13:45)I would  bet my bottom dollar that 5 are hoping to nudge the first Look ratings to closer to 500k in getting the ones who normally pvr the lunchtime to either switch to streaming (presumably this will count towards the ratings of the 5star ep) and/or record the 5star showing instead to count towards the +7 day ratings there. 

This would also put it comfortably ahead of hollyoaks as the ratings wouldn't be split so much. However, let's see. I'm not sure how many people are capable of doing it. Generally people are reluctant to change, particularly habitual viewing, and ive already seen comments online line like "I can't get 5star" even though we all know that if you can get 5 you can get 5star. 

 

It's going to take a few weeks for people to find the show this year I reckon. 

Point of order: it's not carried in "Freeview Lite" areas.