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TEN cancels Don’t Stop Believing

EXCLUSIVE: TEN stops believin' in the musical genre and pulls the pin on its all-singing, all-dancing series planned for 2011.

EXCLUSIVE: Network TEN has pulled the pin on Don’t Stop Believing, its all-singing, all-dancing spectacular that was due to launch in 2011.

The Glee-inspired production was originally planned to kick off the ratings year for TEN, but was recently pushed back by several months amid network uncertainty.

TEN has since decided not to proceed at all, despite a lavish production number staged before sponsors at its 2011 launch in Sydney and Melbourne.

The cancellation of the Shine-produced series follows its failure in the UK, hosted by Emma Bunton.

TEN has also been watching the performance of The X Factor, which is belatedly beginning to pick up steam. But the money paid for the show has not met market expectations. While TEN is working in a changing environment under shareholders Jamie Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, it is determined to start the year off from a strong position.

Don’t Stop Believing brought together vocal groups of varying sizes and ages in a live performance designed to capitalise on the success of shows such as Glee, High School Musical and Hairspray. It was also including a resident troupe of singers and dancers. Without Australian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and Don’t Stop Believing, TEN is now without a local performance show in the musical genre.

TEN commissioned the production before the UK series began, where it fell victim to falling ratings after being moved from its timeslot due to sporting commitments by Five.

David Mott, Chief Programming Officer had previously said of the show, “Don’t Stop Believing is a joyous format and a perfect fit for the big entertainment, feel good direction TEN has been heading for the last few years.

“We have had incredible success in identifying and airing excellent high impact performance shows and this is bigger and better than any we have ever undertaken.”

TV Tonight, which broke the news on the series being commissioned in July, understands auditions for vocal acts was advanced but no performers had yet been attached to the series.

62 Responses

  1. I didn’t watch x factor at all, it just looked like an Idol rip- off and watching other ppls talents in Only singing and dancing is becoming ZZZzzzzz! Over it! .It’s time for some comepletely New talents to be showcased.. Like amateur Comedians and their quest to become good, a new type of big brother (some of us actually enjoyed that show- but some ppl stop watching only cos its such a full on commitment to watch more than 5 half shour shows a week). Or yeah, we are really overdue for another tonight type show/ a sketch comedy thats as funny as fast forward (get that dude who plays chopper and some other good comedians together) or a sitcom that appeals to all Aus (not just bogans.. like maybe more about modern aus life in the city and suburbs).. Ok thats all for todays ideas lol

  2. Well…what will chanel 10 make of the X Factor now?. The viewing figures must be masive, I know we all tuned in. A second show must run and be even bigger next year.

    Will chanel 10 now think about putting on a musical, entertainment show? Bring back So You Think You Can Dance or put on Don’t Stop Believing, people are not sick of seeing these kind of shows if they are done right, just sick of sob stories and hard luck stories. We want true entertainment and I think with Altiyan, a star is born.

    Still think Shine and Ten can do an all round better job of entertainment, they need to get back to the executive rooms, around the tables and get in to talks. Just my opinion 😉

  3. Continued!!

    Also, DSB was put on Chanel 5 in the Uk and at 8pm. Then moved to 5-45pm because of sports commitments so it was bound to lose viewers. The “Super Group” had a total of 30 members, far too many to be able to enjoy any performance and they were not all that strong in vocals either. I know Australia can do so much better.

    Chanel 10 really does need to have a rethink as to what their entertainment will be for next year. Sick of watching Biggest Loser and Master Chef. Just my opinion 😉

  4. Yeh, your right David. I know it has been cancelled. My post was wanting them to get it right by putting it back on the viewing plan for 2011 and making all the changes needed to make the show a hit. The UK could not have got it more wrong. Glee is Not as big in the UK as it is here so that should tell chanel 10 something.

    1. TEN and Shine would have delivered a far better show than the UK because they have more experience in big events than Five. But they have sensed audience fatigue in the genre and there is considerable uncertainty within the network right now. Those factors combined have spelled the death knell for DSB.

  5. Mary Rose,

    I couldn’t agree with you more, your post was so well said about the show. You sound like you have done your homework and understand what the show is/was all about. Too many people have not even heard of it in Adelaide where we are from. Lets hope they do get it right and put on a spectacular show for young performers.xx

  6. Don’t Stop Believing will be a great hit because it follows a different format to SYTYCD, where a sob story was the most important qualifier, and X-factor and Idol where the talent was thin on the ground and one particular judge was unwatchable.
    Australians want to see talent without tears, so hopefully not many members of the competing groups will get a chance to talk.
    Also, there is a supergroup of professionals – we would love to see them!!
    Wake up James and Lachlan – this show is a sure hit! Just as we love Glee, we will love this show.

  7. bring back Idol.

    in 1-2 years the somehow steam from the X Factor will die off just like every other reality show. after a year off i think Idol can definitely bring the same ratings as X factor has for sure.

  8. Hmmm, well looking at the uk version I can totally see why this was cancelled. Most of the UK don’t even watch or haven’t even heard of Glee. However, if 10 thought the same way about Master Chef, we wouldn’t have that to enjoy now would we? I personally was looking forward to seeing this show as 10 were going to make it more spectacular and I do believe them.

    I think the group auditions were handled all wrong. They should have held them in the cities like they did for So You Think You Can Dance and watched them perform in the flesh. When recording voices and performances with bad sounding and lighting, you can’t get the true standard, in my opinion anway. I personally don’t think it has been advertised enough as many people I speak to have never even heard of it. Well, we live in hope that 10 will give us some sort of entertainment show.

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