The Australian broadcaster has signed a new deal with sales group Seven.One Studios International to acquire all seasons of every English-language version of the reality TV format Married at First Sight, committing to acquire all past and future episodes of the U.S., U.K., New Zealand, and South African versions. The show, whose U.S. version is now in its 18th season on Lifetime, follows singles who agree to get married on their first date.In conjunction with the new deal, 9Network has launched a Married at First Sight FAST channel on its streaming platform, 9Now.Married at First Sight Australia, in its 11th season down under, has been a ratings phenomenon for 9Network, topping the charts in Australia, reaching more than 2 million viewers. The show has beat out reality TV heavy hitters Survivor Australia and Australian Idol.The Australian deal is emblematic of a broader trend in the international TV market, as traditional broadcasters, facing shrinking audiences and a decline in advertising revenues, rely more on lower-cost reality and non-fiction formats over more expensive drama series.Married at First Sight has proven one a reliable ratings winner since its launch a decade ago. Originally created and produced by Steven.One’s Danish subsidiary Snowman Productions for Denmark’s public broadcaster DR back in 2014, the show has been successfully exported worldwide. Seven.One Studios International has sold taped versions of the show to more than 130 countries, and there are currently more than 30 commissions for localized versions.
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