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Media analyst expert reveals the major sign The Project was going to be axed – after Ten confirms exciting new investigative show to take its place

BBG News

This week, viewers of the project were taken aback as Network Ten declared on Monday that their main program would be canceled in just three weeks.

According to Steve Allen, a renowned media expert at Pearman Media, indicators suggesting the decline of the news program have been apparent for quite some time, as reported by Daily Mail Australia.

On Tuesday, the television specialist stated that The Project was placed at risk as soon as its prominent host figures like Carrie Bickmore began to depart.

‘They lost some of those well-liked, well-admired names,’ Allen said.

The original three individuals who initiated ‘The Project’, among them was Carrie Bickmore, had already established reputations at that time.

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The show known initially as “The 7PM Project,” premiered back in July 2009, is set to conclude on June 27. It first took off with Carrie Bickmore and comedians Charlie Pickering and Dave Hughes steering it.

Throughout its approximately 16-year run, the program featured an array of well-known personalities who regularly changed places on the panel. This lineup included people such as Peter Helliar, Rove McManus, Lisa Wilkinson, Tommy Little, and many more.

At the peak of its success, The Project garnered numerous honors, with a total of 11 Logie Awards. Among these, two prestigious Gold Logies were awarded to its hosts, Waleed Aly and Bickmore, through viewer votes.

Several stars have departed from the program, resulting in Aly, Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton, Hamish MacDonald, Georgie Tunny, Susie Youssef, and Steve Price remaining behind.

Allen pointed out that although the present team is undeniably skilled, they lack the same “popular allure” or widespread public interest as their predecessor groups.

He stated that over the past ten years, they’ve attempted to revamp the show by incorporating various personas, but unfortunately, these efforts have not yielded success.

‘Waleed Aly, in particular, a few years ago generated a lot of publicity. 

He excels in his work, yet lacked diverse individuals nearby who had distinct charms to attract a larger audience and boost his popularity.

‘That was the problem. He was nearly last man standing,’ Allen added.

The Project exceeded more than a million metro viewers at the height of its success.

Initially, it started out as a thirty-minute show, however, as its popularity grew, it evolved into hour-long episodes instead.

Primarily filmed within the studios of Network Ten situated at The Como Centre in South Yarra, Melbourne, The Project gained recognition for its unique approach to current events, often infusing humor into serious news topics.

The program showcased various global A-list celebrities as well, providing a platform for any traveling artists, performers, and musicians from around the world during their Australian tours.

In a unique twist, The Project stands out by offering in-depth interviews to celebrities who visit Australia, as other networks like Seven and Nine tend not to provide extensive interview opportunities, according to Allen.

‘They had something different going for them.’ 

Over the past few years, the audience has been decreasing due to the departure of key personalities such as Bickmore, Hughes, and Wilson. No matter who we invited as a guest, The Project struggled to regain its previous popularity.

Just last week, The Project only attracted between 238,000 and 357,000 viewers nationally.

Instead of the figures presented, it’s important to note that our project’s evening news broadcasts typically draw a smaller audience compared to its rivals, Seven and Nine News, who consistently pull in over 2 million viewers for their 6pm newscasts.

It appears that Ten is gearing up for a comeback, with a fresh, thrilling series set to debut, taking over from The Project.

Overjoyed by the news that The Project was concluding its journey, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anticipation when Ten shared another update about a fresh, new talk show stepping into the primetime spotlight during our beloved evening hours.

A representative announced that Network 10 plans to unveil an updated schedule for their evening programs towards the end of this month.

The main aspect of these changes involves broadening the scope of Network 10’s successful news coverage. This will be achieved by introducing a fresh, one-hour national news, current affairs, and analysis program airing at 6 pm every weekday, in addition to the existing one-hour local news updates at 5 pm.

‘This reflects the successful growth in audiences to Network 10 local news bulletins and coverage. 

We remain committed to delivering additional content that resonates with our audience, who are tuning in more frequently on our free-to-air channels.

‘Deal or No Deal will move to the new time of 7pm,’ the statement finished.

More recently, Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace, who were recently poached (hired away), are anticipated to lead the upcoming evening news broadcast.

Martin White, Vice President of Broadcast News, is set to supervise the upcoming television program. We can anticipate the title and the formal release date to be unveiled in the coming week.

Previously, Daily Mail Australia had mentioned that Network Ten recruited several well-known reporters from Channel Seven to establish an elite team for their newly created investigative division.

The following individuals – veteran journalist Hitchcock, Bill Hogan from 7News Sydney, and a previous award-winning foreign correspondent named Brace – are rumored to lead the new television show.

Ever since I bid a tearful farewell to the Seven Sydney newsroom, my heart has been pounding with anticipation as I delve into my new role at Ten, starting just last Monday. In about two weeks, it’s Hogan’s turn to join us on this thrilling adventure!

As a diehard enthusiast, I can hardly contain my excitement as rumors swirl that Ten is gearing up to unveil its own prime-time news magazine show! This new offering is said to be aiming squarely at the juggernauts of 60 Minutes on Nine, Spotlight on Seven, and Four Corners on ABC. I simply can’t wait to see how Ten plans to shake up the landscape!

As a passionate devotee, I can’t help but share the thrilling news! The spokesperson for Ten has indeed verified the transformation to Daily Mail Australia. Here’s the scoop: ‘In light of the unceasing expansion and triumph of our news brand, 10 News, we are pouring resources into a dedicated investigative team that will be focusing on in-depth narratives.’

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2025-06-11 00:19

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