The Bachelors: Finale branded 'the worst ever'; ratings hit record lows trends now
If a Bachelor hands out his final rose but no one is watching, did it even happen?
That's the question on TV executives' lips this morning after The Bachelors finale on Sunday night aired to record-low ratings and a lacklustre response on social media.
The conclusion of the Channel 10 show, starring Jed McIntosh, Felix Von Hofe and Thomas Malucelli as the three leading men, had a five-city metro audience of just 358,000 viewers, making, making it the least-watched finale in Bachelor history.
Channel 10 may be forced to axe The Bachelor franchise after Sunday's finale plummeted to record-low ratings. (Pictured left to right: Felix Von Hofe, Jed McIntosh and Thomas Malucelli)
That result represents a steep 38.6 per cent decline from the last Bachelor finale, which aired in 2021.
It also marks the end of a devastating ratings season for the embattled dating series, which averaged a just 291,000 metro viewers per episode.
The Bachelors also premiered to its worst launch audience ever before the start of the ratings year on January 9: 309,000 metro viewers.
The conclusion of the Channel 10 show, hosted by Osher Günsberg, had a metro audience of just 358,000 viewers, making, making it the least-watched finale in Bachelor history
This was 18,000 fewer viewers than the ratings-starved current affairs show The Project, which served as its lead-in.
In its 2018 heyday, The Bachelor show would draw almost a million metro viewers per episode. This season saw episodes regularly falling below 300,000.
Meanwhile, critics have called for the series to be axed after Sunday's finale, with many calling out the producers for favouring drama over genuine love stories.
Meanwhile, critics have called for the series to be axed after Sunday's finale, with many calling out the producers for favouring drama over genuine love stories. (Pictured: Jed McIntosh)
'Time to shut up shop after this
