More than 1 million people tuned in to say goodbye to Ramsay Street,and those,like Susan and Karl Kennedy,who lived there.
Before the move to Eleven (now called 10 Peach),Neighbours had been averaging between 500,000 and 600,000 viewers a night. When it launched on Eleven in 2011,it drew an audience of just 254,000 viewers. Its viewership since has bounced around,but has generally headed only in one direction – the wrong one.
The show typically managed to draw about 300,000 viewers per half-hour episode until 2016,when it dropped to about 200,000. Over the past year,it had typically drawn half that number of viewers in Australia.
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Despite its decreasing relevance to Australian viewers,Neighbours ploughed on because it still had a loyal following in the UK,where it was typically watched by more than 1 million people a day. More importantly,production company Fremantle had a contract with Channel 5 that paid for the bulk of the show’s production costs.
Ten’s share of the budget was small,and coupled with its need to produce a certain amount of Australian drama under broadcast regulations,that was enough to keep the show on air locally.
Stars of Neighbours:Guy Pearce,Jason Donovan,Kylie Minogue,Margot Robbie,Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne.Credit:Network Ten
The first contract with Channel 5 in 2008 was for 10 years. The next one was for four. The most recent extension was for just 12 months. In March,the UK broadcaster finally dropped the show,citing a decision to refocus on British content. Given its poor ratings locally,and the absence of a deal with another broadcaster or streamer,that was the end forNeighbours,after 37 years.