'Neighbours' axed from Channel Ten

[Perdita]

Neighbours has been cut from Channel Ten's schedule.

The long-running Australian soap, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will move to Ten's new digital channel Eleven when the network launches next year. The new station will target the youth market of 13 to 29-year-olds.

Chief of programming David Mott told ABC: "Neighbours is an important and cherished member of the Network Ten family. We believe Neighbours is perfectly suited to Eleven's audience strategy and will find a successful and enduring home on Eleven.

"We will round out the first 25 years with a bang, and give Australia's most successful drama a new home to keep it vibrant in the schedule for the next 25."

CEO of the show's production company Ian Hogg added: "Just as Neighbours forged new territory for Ten in 1986, so we will again for Eleven in 2011. We are very proud of the faith being placed in Neighbours and the key role we will be playing in Eleven's launch and lineup.

"Our storyline plans for 2011 are both bold and dramatic. Neighbours fans have much to look forward to for many years to come."

Neighbours will continue to air in its usual 6.30pm timeslot when it makes the move to the new channel.

The Simpsons is also being moved to the new network, where it will join shows such as Futurama, Dexter, Smallville, 90210, The Office and Supernatural.

[Dazzle]

I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for Neighbours.

[Perdita]

Does not sound like it with bold and dramatic storyline plans for next year

[Dazzle]

That's good

[Perdita]

As its 25th anniversary year continues and with its 6,000th episode soon to air, it should be a time of celebration for Neighbours - but today's news that the iconic soap is being shunted to a digital channel in Australia is likely to raise big questions about what the future holds for the show.

If you haven't already read, as of next year, Neighbours will no longer be screened on its long-established home of Channel Ten, and will instead air on Ten's new multichannel station, Eleven.

The news shouldn't come as a total surprise as it was first rumoured last month, when Ten's head of programming David Mott pointedly refused to rule out the shake-up.

Additionally, though it remains a reliable performer for Five in the UK, Neighbours has been pulling in some of its worst ever ratings over in Australia this year.

Hardcore fans on the DS forum have been arguing that the show hasn't been on top form for quite a while, and there's likely to be some disappointment that there wasn't one last attempt at a major revamp before it was axed from the Ten schedule.

It's almost guaranteed now that there'll be a further drop in viewers in Australia - as we'd expect here in the UK if one of our shows was transferred over to a digital station. Fortunately, with the programme still being so popular in international markets, there's no suggestion that it will be axed altogether.

Also on the bright side, there's the possibility that the show's current 'G' content restriction could be changed to 'PG' because Australia's classification rules are different when it comes to digital channels. Such a move would mean Neighbours wouldn't have to pussyfoot around certain issues so much, but at the moment this is only speculation and there's no word on whether it will happen.

Ultimately, though, when airing Australia's longest-running drama is no longer seen as a viable option for a major channel in its home country, it's hard to see this as anything other than a sad day for Neighbours and its fans.


Maybe it is not so safe as I thought

[Dazzle]

This is not good news

[Abigail]

Seven might buy if from Ten eventually. Seven did create Neighbours but then they sold it after about a year. When they realised what a mistake they'd made, they came up with Home and Away.

[Perdita]

Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower has backed the decision for the show to switch channels in Australia.

Last week, it was announced that the long-running soap will be dropped from Channel Ten's schedule next year, but will become the flagship programme on the broadcaster's new digital network, Eleven.

Writing on the official Neighbours website, Bower commented: "This is very exciting for us. To think that after 25 years, Neighbours is seen to be fresh and vibrant enough to help launch a new channel - quite amazing.

"Neighbours will continue on Ten until Christmas with a fabulous cliffhanger and then resume in 2011 on the new channel Eleven. We've been working on the storylines for 2011 and no-one will be disappointed."

Ten's decision - which followed recent low ratings for Neighbours in Australia - was announced one day before the show's milestone 6,000th episode aired down under.

Bower said: "Episode 6000 marks an historic milestone for Australian television and we're so proud."

Neighbours has been broadcast on Ten for 24 years. The drama was originally launched on the rival Seven Network in 1985.

[Perdita]

Neighbours could soon be getting a more adult rating.

The Australian soap opera, which is currently limited to G-rated storylines on Channel Ten, is scheduled to move to new digital channel Eleven later this year.

According to classification guidelines, digital channels are "more flexible" on programme content, which could result in Neighbours getting a PG rating like rival soap Home and Away.

Script writers at the show are believed to be excited about the "greater freedom" they will have with the new classification.