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Axed: Australia’s Got Talent

Inevitable news that Nine's talent show is off the table for 2014.

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AGT20217It was pretty obvious that when Nine did not confirm a return for Australia’s Got Talent at its 2014 Upfronts that the show would not be returning.

Networks don’t like to put out bad news at a time when they are pushing good.

But today Mumbrella has reported, officially, that the show is over.

Earlier this year Nine Programmer Andrew Backwell told TV Tonight, “We still have it under option with the ability to trigger it. We’re not going to let it go quite yet. We’ll see how The Voice launches and I think it will be big.”

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the show. In 2011 it was a blockbuster, with ratings of over 2 million on Seven.

In 2012 Nine killed its chances when it was programmed against The Voice. As a result Seven decided not to renew it, allowing Nine to swoop on it for 2013.

But the tables were reversed. This time Seven killed it with The X Factor, a show produced by the same production company, FremantleMedia Australia.

Late last year Nine confirmed it would produce two versions of The Voice in 2014, announcing The Voice Kids. That pretty much sealed its fate. It’s too risky to try and squeeze three talent shows on one network in one year and AGT has had to make way.

Unless TEN or Foxtel miraculously come to its rescue it would seem AGT is over for many years.

In its 7 year life span it has, however, managed to uncover or elevate some entertainment acts: Justice Crew, Jack Vidgen, Timomatic (who went from contestant to judge), Cosentino and Mark Vincent but also seen its judges attract just as much attention behind the scenes.

39 Responses

  1. I’ve always thought the show suffer from being a “mismatch” of skills – some which can’t really be a viable project to pursue (not saying people aren’t talented, just that there’s better shows out there). Besides, we get the voice kids instead…,yuck. Please put that against X factor so it can be axed too,

  2. I never really watched it….was a glorified Red Faces really…..but would be a good pick up for TEN. But sounds like Nine will hang onto the rights for a while.

    Hopefully with Nine paying big money for NRL and Cricket rights…. Ten will have money to invest in some big new and shinny reality show from the international stage. Surely there is somethiing new and exciting out there. Ten’s needs “a new The Voice” and quickly!

  3. Bring back Red as host, he gave really honest opinions and didn’t get suckered in by kids.

    Ever since they got rid of Red and Tom it always seems to be music based people getting the nod rather than novelty type acts. However I cannot forget that Bonnie who was a singer won on one of Red’s seasons.

    Brian who was supposed to be a judge, cheated on Hey Hey’s Red faces when he tried to give a minus score on a great act just for a little 4 year old kid to win.

    Kyle and Tim have been quite annoying also, Tim especially, he mustn’t remember he was on this show too.

    Watched America’s got talent on cable the last few years, Australia’s version is so amateurish compared to theirs, so I am not surprised to hear this news that this show has been canned.

  6. @The Moops
    Thanks. I remember it was a band but personally didn’t think they were any good.

    @MrJ
    It was Channel 9 who killed the show not Fremantle or anyone else. It was them who decided to throw it against the hit that is The X Factor. If they played it mid-week it may have done better. Its not like MKR and The Block which have different audiences. Talent shows seem to have a similar audience and usually the one with the best talent comes out on top which is what happened last year in which i think was The X Factor’s best year to date.

  9. 10 needs this show!! Kyle and Timomatic need to go. Timomatic hasn’t even sold records for him to be a judge to others. Kyle needs to leave TV altogether. Julia Morris should continue as host and the male judges should be Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. American Idol is on the verge of being cancelled so this could be great to fill their time. 10 should also air this at the same time in the year as MKR and The Block but in terms of what time they have the show the time should be straight after 10 news and have it for an hour and a half. The Project could then move to 11 and be on before neighbours at 6 o clock and air for 30 minutes.

  11. might be worth 9’s while to investigate if there was any tanking from fremantle. Surely it was in their best interest to protect the golden goose, The X Factor, even if it meant throwing AGT in front of a bus.
    It did seem to me that they were not trying at all, usually you can see a certain passion in FMA’s production and especially in their promotions.

  12. Wasnt nine gloating a year ago how well it was rating and having a crack at 7 for letting it go?

    I guess 9 wrecked it because it used to do well for 7 well in the early days anyway. So no more geri or kyle

  13. Told you that AGT will not come back on Nine. Channel Nine made a good decision not to renew this show because it was a massive flop. Didn’t survive against rivals – The X factor.
    That’s why Nine doesn’t have any talent anymore.

  16. @veritas, incorrect. The show was almost axed in 2009 pre-Kyle, then he came on board in 2010 and the show became a huge hit, it was the #1 show of 2011.

    Also the episode after Kyle was fired from idol ratings bombed and it was consequently axed, almost the exact same scenario happened in Sydney radio. Love or hate Kyle, his rating power is undeniable.

  17. I watched every season on 7 and also bits of the Nine series and have got to say the format is the killer here. Think for example you only see the winner in about 4 or 5 episodes of the whole show – not really enough to really sell yourself to the general public who tune into a few eps every known again.

  18. I think it was salvageable after 2012, but it needed atleast 18 months off air and to come back refreshed, a Feb 2014 start would have done it a lot of justice.
    Instead it only took 12 months off and returned looking dated and daggy.

  19. It looks like Nine still has the rights to the show but are not bringing it out in 2014. A bit like Seven has done with The Amazing Race Australia. I must say though the talent last season was pretty average and i can’t even remember who won. I was too focused on The X Factor.

  20. As soon as Kyle Sandilands became a judge on Seven’s version of AGT the ratings went down and it was axed. Nine picked it up and put Kyle back in the judge’s chair. Now it’s been axed again. I can’t help thinking that if Nine had taken the opportunity to bypass Kyle and get all new judges the program might still be running.

    1. Veritas sorry but that’s just a bit of a rewriting of history. Kyle had 3 seasons with Seven including when the show had ratings of over 2 million. You’re also attributing its performance to one individual rather than the panel, the level of talent and, specifically, the competition airing against it.

  21. Ten would be wise to pick this up. It is certainly less risky then launching a brand new show.

    The network needs a big entertainment format like this, so I’d definitely try and give this a go.

  22. I have never watched it so can’t comment on the basis of it’s axing based on its content, but to see two Simon Cowell series go head to head was a stupid move, not to mention two Fremantle Australia produced series, as all it does is undercut each other meaning one has to give. But in saying that I am glad that this means one less reality series on our screens.

  23. So the cynic (or is that the ‘realist’) in me thinks that Nine bought the franchise in order to kill it off. Giving it one go, just one season, makes no sense.

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