Since its launch, 10 News+ content has notched up more than 40 million views across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. On internet-connected TVs equipped with the YouTube app, where Ten’s news channel aggregates content from all its news-based programs, the number of hours viewed jumped by 135 per cent compared to last year.
Last week, the program averaged 144,000 viewers: its best result in almost two months.
“Game shows have had a bit of a revival lately, so perhaps this is a chance for Ten to make the most of it.”
Commercial TV executive
And 10 News+ is the youngest-skewing nightly news program, with 42 per cent of viewers under 55, compared to 35 per cent on Nine* and 28 per cent on Seven. (Needless to say, the total number of younger people watching Nine and Seven is significantly larger, simply because their bulletins attract bigger audiences.)
“Obviously, we do a lot of research,” White says. “While viewers like our content, they say it could benefit from being a bit pacier. The central theme was that while viewers love the depth of our stories, they’re not always interested in a six-minute report.”
White promises not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. If a story deserves a longer segment – or even an entire episode – it will get it.
With 10 News+ trimmed to 30 minutes, the program’s reporters will have more time to break stories.
Of course, when people think of half-hour current affairs series on commercial television, two programs spring to mind: Nine’s A Current Affair, and Seven’s now-defunct Today Tonight. White insists 10 News+ will maintain its points of difference.
“There are two big things we’ll keep doing,” he says. “We’ll be breaking down and explaining the big stories of the day, as well as trying to lead the news cycle with original reporting. Approaching things with insight and heart is the goal.”
White admits constant rumours about the imminent demise of 10 News+ are frustrating.
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“The team are regularly reading about the show being cancelled – but it’s not being cancelled,” he says. “We’re investing in the show by making it half an hour because we think it will work better. We’re not getting rid of it; we’re in this for the long haul.”
White might be surprised to learn his rivals agree.
A few months ago, one news executive from another network told this masthead that while 10 News+ had potential, “the show is far too bloody long”.
“People don’t want to sit down and watch an hour of news at 5pm, then another hour of news and current affairs at 6pm – especially on Channel Ten, which has always promoted itself as a light entertainment alternative to the other networks,” he said.
The executive believes 10 News+ launched at a particularly difficult time, with wars raging in Europe and the Middle East; mass shootings and violent protests in the US; a cost-of-living crisis in Australia; and a surge in violent attacks and home invasions, especially in Victoria.
“It’s all pretty depressing stuff,” the executive said. “Obviously, it’s important – I became a journo because I know just how important this stuff is – but sometimes, people need a break. They don’t want to be assailed with endless stories of horror while they’re cooking dinner for their kids. Game shows have had a bit of a revival lately, so perhaps this is a chance for Ten to make the most of it.”
*Nine is the owner of this masthead.
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