Australia’s 9Network Hitches Itself to ‘Married at First Sight’

MARRIED TO HIT REALITY SHOW

Australia’s 9Network has acquired every season of every English-language version of hit reality show “Married at First Sight.” At the same time, it has launched a Married at First Sight FAST channel on its 9Now streaming platform.

The deal with Seven.One Studios includes productions from the U.S., U.K., New Zealand and South Africa. The broadcaster has also committed to acquiring all further English-speaking seasons produced.

“Married at First Sight” follows singles who have failed to find love as they put their hearts in the hands of a team of experts, who select their perfect partner. The couples then meet for the first time at the altar. After the wedding and honeymoon, the married couples move in together and start their new lives. From the first kiss to the first tears, cameras document their every moment as experts analyze the relationships. Six weeks of marriage later, the couples must make a decision: stay together or file for divorce.

The Australian iteration of the Danish format, created and produced by Snowman Productions for Denmark’s DR, is now in its 11th season. It enjoyed an average audience of over two million total TV viewers. And the entire series reached 14.2 million people across total TV – representing a 4% year-on-year increase on total TV, a 1.5% year-on-year increase on broadcast TV, and a 9.6% year-on-year increase on Broadcaster-VOD compared with season 10.

In the crucial demographic of 25-54, the series recorded a Total TV National Average Audience of 1.003 million viewers per episode, representing year-on-year growth of 4.3%. On BVOD, the 25-54 audience was up 11% year-on-year.

Tape sales of local versions top 130 countries, with current commissions of the dating phenomenon numbering over 30 – across five continents.

GAME CHANGER CHEN

Actor and director Joan Chen, who recently starred in the Sundance Film Festival Award-winning feature “Dìdi,” will be honored at the 15th U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards on Nov. 12. Chen will accept her recognition on stage at the hosted by the Asia Society Southern California.

“As a groundbreaking international actor in films, in addition to her role in ‘Dìdi,’ such as ‘The Little Flower,’ ‘The Last Emperor,’ ‘Lust, Caution’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ and director of ‘Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl’ and ‘Autumn in New York,’ she has paved the way for the countless number of people of Asian descent who have followed in her footsteps to break into the industry,” the Society said.

GLOBAL CITIZEN

Miky Lee, vice chairwoman of CJ Group, was honored with the Global Citizen Award last week at the Atlantic Council’s awards ceremony in New York City. Lee is the first Asian female entrepreneur to receive the honor. emphasized the importance of cultural bridges of compassion, hope, and empathy, and the embrace of building a global platform for future generations.

High-profile figures including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, co-founder of DreamWorks SKG Jeffrey Katzenberg, former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, and “Pachinko” author Min Jin Lee were also in attendance to celebrate the honorees. Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global, was on hand to present the award.

“From our K-pop to our K-dramas, we have shown that cultural boundaries can be blurred, and that joy, laughter and love are universal,” said Lee in her acceptance speech. “It is not just about the content we make, it’s about the connections we create. Entertainment gives us a space where people from different backgrounds can come together and share something beautiful. Entertainment may not have the power to end wars, but it does have the power to build bridges. Bridges of compassion, hope, and empathy.”