Australians were furious when Channel 10’s left-leaning current affairs show The Project survived the network’s brutal round of job cuts this week.
But there’s a reason why the struggling program – hosted by Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar – will never be axed, despite its low ratings.
Daily Mail Australia understands The Project avoided cancellation because Channel 10 boss Beverley McGarvey considers it an essential part of the daily schedule.
Why The Project survived Channel 10’s lay-offs: The current affairs show will never be axed because network bosses ‘won’t hear a bad word about it’, a source tells Daily Mail Australia. Pictured: The Project hosts Peter Helliar (left), Waleed Aly (centre) and Carrie Bickmore (right)
The Project premiered to 1.2 million viewers in 2009, but in the decade since has slumped in the ratings, with just 507,000 people tuning in on Monday.
It’s hosted weeknights by Aly, Bickmore and comedian Peter Helliar. The show’s Sunday edition is hosted by Lisa Wilkinson.
The program, produced by Rove McManus’ company Roving Enterprises, also features a variety of regular guest hosts, including Tommy Little, Gorgi Coghlan and Rachel Corbett.
On Tuesday, The Project and its hosts managed to avoid the swinging axe as the broadcaster announced a dramatic ‘restructuring’ of its news division, with the likes of Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Natarsha Belling and Tim Bailey being made redundant.
The ‘restructure’ was in response to the sharp decline in advertising revenue amid the coronavirus pandemic and recession.
It’s going nowhere! Channel 10 bosses will always stand by The Project because it is perceived as a ‘sacred’ part of the network’s schedule, despite its low ratings and controversies. Pictured (left to right): Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little
‘Senior management won’t hear a bad word said against it,’ said a well-placed insider, adding that ‘higher-ups at Channel 10 love The Project, even though the viewers don’t.’ Pictured: The Sunday Project host Lisa Wilkinson
A well-placed source told Daily Mail Australia earlier this year: ‘For some reason, the higher-ups at Channel 10 love The Project, even though the viewers don’t. It doesn’t rate, it’s expensive to produce and a lot of the publicity it generates is negative.’
The insider added that despite many staffers believing the show ‘peaked years ago’, management sees it as one of the network’s ‘sacred cows’ and ‘will do anything to protect it’.
They explained: ‘Although it fails to attract a big audience, it does do well in certain demographics. There’s also the argument that it is popular on Facebook and drives social engagement, but that doesn’t translate to advertising dollars.
‘Still, it will never be cancelled because senior management won’t hear a bad word said against it.’
Despite recent fan uproar, The Project has won several Logie Awards over the years for Most Popular Panel and Most Popular Presenter, which are voted for by the public.
In fact, Aly was awarded the coveted Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2016.
A decade on: The Project premiered to 1.2 million viewers in 2009, but in the decade since has slumped in the ratings, with just 507,000 people tuning in on Monday
Divisive? Despite the uproar, The Project has won several Logie Awards over the years for Most Popular Panel and Most Popular Presenter, which are voted for by the public. In fact, Aly was awarded the coveted Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2016
Carrie Bickmore is the only panelist to remain on the show since its launch in 2009.
‘At the beginning I don’t think we really knew a hundred per cent what we were in the show,’ she told 10 Daily last year.
‘All of those things take time and I think with each new person that comes to the desk and every person that leaves, the show shifts slightly.
‘The vibe of the show changes and I think that’s a good thing. If it stayed exactly the way it was 10 years ago then I think it would be a bore.’
At least 25 jobs have been axed at Channel 10 overall, with further redundancies to be announced in the coming weeks, and the changes are expected to be effective from September 14.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 for comment.
‘The vibe of the show changes’: Carrie Bickmore (pictured) is the only panelist to remain on the show since its launch in 2009