Australian Ninja Warrior: Channel Seven ‘eyes up’ rights to Nine show

Will Australian Ninja Warrior be next? Now Channel Seven ‘eyes up’ Nine’s obstacle course show after buying the rights to The Voice

Channel Seven wasted no time snapping up broadcast rights to The Voice Australia, after the Nine Network chose not to renew its licence.

And there may be more channel-flipping to come, with the Australian Financial Review reporting that Seven is now ‘eyeing up’ Ninja Warrior.

Ninja Warrior has aired on Nine since 2017, but its ratings quickly plateaued after a blockbuster first season.

Will Australian Ninja Warrior be next? Channel Seven is reportedly ‘eyeing up’ Nine’s obstacle course show after buying the rights to The Voice. Pictured: Ninja Warrior hosts Rebecca Maddern and Ben Fordham

Seven unsuccessfully tried to rival Ninja Warrior in 2018 with its own sports entertainment format, Australian Spartan. 

While it wasn’t a ratings hit, it did succeed in stealing some of Ninja’s audience.

The Financial Review, which is owned by Nine, quoted unnamed sources as saying that Seven was ‘looking at bidding for’ the Endemol Shine-produced Ninja Warrior.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channels Seven and Nine for comment.

Rumours: The Australian Financial Review, which is owned by Nine, quoted unnamed sources as saying that Seven was 'looking at bidding for' the Endemol Shine-produced Ninja Warrior

Rumours: The Australian Financial Review, which is owned by Nine, quoted unnamed sources as saying that Seven was ‘looking at bidding for’ the Endemol Shine-produced Ninja Warrior

Middling performance: Ninja Warrior has aired on Nine since 2017, but its ratings quickly plateaued after a blockbuster first season

Middling performance: Ninja Warrior has aired on Nine since 2017, but its ratings quickly plateaued after a blockbuster first season

Seven trumpeted its acquisition of The Voice over the weekend as a significant coup, but it didn’t take long for Nine to respond with a brutal statement dismissing the show as a loss-making franchise.

‘Unfortunately due to the age of the show and declining demographic profile, The Voice had become by far the poorest financial performer on our slate. We wish Seven well in their quest to revive yet another Nine show,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We are very excited about the schedule we have now set for reinvigorating our slate and we will have announcements at our upfronts on September 16.

‘We remain focused on our audience and the financial performance of Nine.’

Bomb: Seven tried to rival Ninja Warrior in 2018 with its own sports entertainment format, Australian Spartan. While it wasn't a hit, it did succeed in stealing some of Ninja's audience

Bomb: Seven tried to rival Ninja Warrior in 2018 with its own sports entertainment format, Australian Spartan. While it wasn’t a hit, it did succeed in stealing some of Ninja’s audience

On Saturday, it was confirmed that Nine had ‘failed to renew the contract’ for the 2021 season of The Voice, and Seven jumped on the deal ‘very quickly’.

Sonia Kruger who previously hosted the singing competition for Nine, will now front the 2021 series after jumping ship to Seven last year.

Seven’s CEO, James Warburton, described the acquisition as ‘a coup’.

It’s believed the contracts for coaches Delta Goodrem, Kelly Rowland and Boy George, are yet to be signed but no mention was made regarding the future of Guy Sebastian.

War of words: Seven trumpeted its acquisition of The Voice over the weekend as a coup, but it didn't take long for Nine to respond with a brutal statement dismissing the show as a loss-making franchise. Pictured: The Voice coaches Guy Sebastian (left) and Delta Goodrem (right)

War of words: Seven trumpeted its acquisition of The Voice over the weekend as a coup, but it didn’t take long for Nine to respond with a brutal statement dismissing the show as a loss-making franchise. Pictured: The Voice coaches Guy Sebastian (left) and Delta Goodrem (right)

This isn’t the first Nine show Seven has revived this year, as last month it premiered its rebooted version of dating show Farmer Wants a Wife.

The program first aired on Nine in 2007, and ran for eight seasons before being cancelled. It was renewed in 2016, only to be axed again due to poor ratings.

But Seven’s premiere proved to be a success, pulling in 908,000 metro viewers and an additional 492,000 regional viewers. 

Following the leader? This isn't the first Nine show Seven has revived this year, as last month it premiered its rebooted version of dating show Farmer Wants a Wife. Pictured: FWAW stars Harry Robertson (left) and Stacey Cain (right)

Following the leader? This isn’t the first Nine show Seven has revived this year, as last month it premiered its rebooted version of dating show Farmer Wants a Wife. Pictured: FWAW stars Harry Robertson (left) and Stacey Cain (right)