Network Ten



Until the 1990s, Channel Ten has been the least-watched commercial network in Australia. Of course, it still is, but it has just changed tactics. Before the 1990s, it tried to play the commercial networks at their own game by producing general entertainment shows...although in many cases they were a bit raunchy, such as the soap opera Number 96 when "Australian TV lost its innocence". After a few rebrands during the 1980s, it finally settled on the ideal they still hold -- appealing to the 16-29 demographic.

Since then, the network has been pulling a vast amount of its programming from FOX and The CW (and its predecessor, The WB) and producing a wide range of shows, especially reality TV, to appeal to young viewers. They have been successful, becoming the most popular network for the 16-29 demographic, but they are still only the third most popular network (out of five) in Australia. The network shares news content with CBS in the United States and vice-versa, along with airing plenty of CBS entertainment programming.

Australian shows on the network have been largely successful, with comedies such as Skithouse and the occasional drama such as The Secret Life of Us, but most of its output is reality TV ranging from the controversial Australian Big Brother (involving "turkey slapping") to the surprisingly-popular Master Chef Australia. It has also been the home of the successful soap Neighbours, as well as a European fave, H20: Just Add Water. In 2011 Neighbours was bumped over to their new digital channel Eleven to give that network a quick jumpstart.

It is also, arguably, the prettiest commercial network thanks to its nice branding.