If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
That appears to be the case for most of Australian TV networks, who continue to recycle a host of stars across multiple shows and platforms.
From Karl Stefanovic and Osher Gunsberg to Sonia Kruger, Hamish Blake and Manu Feildel, former TV executive Rob McKnight has revealed why these familiar faces are given more opportunities on TV.
Karl Stefanovic, Sonia Kruger (ABOVE), Hamish Blake, and Manu Feildel: Why networks reuse TV stars across multiple shows – which makes it ‘very hard for new talent to get a gig’
Australia’s three main commercial networks compete year-round for ratings and advertising revenue, so it’s no surprise they do everything they can to attract, and keep, viewers coming back to their programs.
And one way to keep audiences invested in their programs is to use famous faces people are familiar with, trust and are entertained by.
Rob McKnight told The Daily Telegraph: ‘Making television costs a lot of money and executives become risk adverse which is why they use the same presenters over and over again.’
‘It is very hard for new talent to get a gig because producers tend to go with the people they know, people they trust to deliver the goods,’ he added.
Repeat offender! Osher Gunsberg is one star that is busy filming throughout the year, hosting The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, The Masked Singer, and also voices Bondi Rescue. He also filled in for Jonathan LaPaglia on the season finale of Survivor Australia due to coronavirus
‘Producers tend to go with the people they know, and trust to deliver the goods’: Nine’s Today show host Karl Stefanovic also appears on This Time Next Year and 60 Minutes
Osher Gunsberg appears on multiple shows on Channel 10.
The former Channel V star hosts The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, The Masked Singer and also voices Bondi Rescue. He also filled in for Jonathan LaPaglia on the season finale of Survivor Australia due to coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Nine reinstated Karl Stefanovic this year when viewers began to tune out of the Today show after he was replaced by Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight.
He also appears on This Time Next Year and 60 Minutes.
As the host of Nine’s ratings hit Lego Masters, Hamish Blake has long been favoured by the network with a host of his own Hamish and Andy comedy shows.
Rebecca Maddern is on the following Nine shows: The Footy Show, Australian Ninja Warrior, Weekend Today
Judge: Chef Manu Feildel appears on Seven’s My Kitchen Rules and Australia’s Got Talent, and is expected to host new show Plate Of Origin
Fan favourite: As the host of Nine’s ratings hit Lego Masters, Hamish Blake has long been favoured by the network with a host of his own Hamish and Andy comedy shows
Sonia Kruger, who recently moved to Channel Seven to host Big Brother, has also appeared on the network’s Australia’s Got Talent, Sunrise, The Morning Show, and its old version of Dancing With The Stars.
It’s believed the cross promotion of talent ensures networks gets the most out of their large salaries.
In the past, incomes of some of Australia’s famous TV hosts has been rumoured to be up to $2million annually.
Familiar face! Angie Kent has appeared on four reality programs (Gogglebox, I’m A Celebrity, The Bachelorette, and Dancing With The Stars) on Channel Ten in the past two years
And it’s not only TV hosts and journalists who get the opportunity to work across multiple shows on a given network.
Popular reality TV stars are often given secondary roles to further their profiles.
Angie Kent has appeared on four reality programs (Gogglebox, I’m A Celebrity, The Bachelorette, and Dancing With The Stars) on Channel Ten in the past two years, while Survivor star Lachlan ‘Locky’ Gilbert has been chosen as the 2020 Bachelor.
From the jungle to the mansion! Survivor star Lachlan ‘Locky’ Gilbert has been chosen as the 2020 Bachelor