Studio 10
Studio 10 was an Australian daytime talk show produced by Network 10, which broadcast episodes from 4 November 2013 until its final airing on 22 December 2023.[1][2] The program featured a mix of light entertainment segments, including celebrity interviews, lifestyle advice, cooking demonstrations, family discussions, and commentary on current events and news topics.[1] Over its decade on air, Studio 10 employed rotating hosts such as Sarah Harris, Ita Buttrose, and Joe Hildebrand in its early years, transitioning to Angela Bishop, Narelda Jacobs, and Tristan MacManus by the end.[3][4] Initially competitive in morning television ratings against rivals from Seven and Nine networks, the show experienced viewership declines that prompted Network 10 to axe it in late 2023, with executives citing unsustainable audience numbers despite internal efforts to refresh the format.[3][5] Notable for its conversational style and occasional viral moments from guest appearances, Studio 10 contributed to Network 10's daytime lineup but ultimately reflected broader challenges in retaining audiences amid shifting media consumption habits.[5]History
Launch and Initial Format (2013–2015)
Studio 10 premiered on Network 10 on November 4, 2013, as part of a strategic revamp of the network's weekday morning programming, which also introduced the short-lived breakfast show Wake Up.[6] [7] The program aired from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., filling the slot previously occupied by 9am with David and Kim, with the aim of attracting viewers through a distinctive panel-driven approach amid competition from Seven's Sunrise and Nine's morning offerings.[8] [2] The initial format centered on a four-person panel offering unscripted discussions and opinions on daily headlines, current affairs, celebrity news, lifestyle segments, cooking, and family topics, setting it apart from the more anchored, two-host structures of rivals like The Morning Show and Today Extra.[9] [1] The original panellists included journalist Sarah Harris, columnist Joe Hildebrand, former news presenter Jessica Rowe, and businesswoman Ita Buttrose, whose diverse backgrounds were promoted to foster lively debate and varied perspectives.[10] [11] [12] Created by television producer Adam Boland, the show's emphasis on candid panel interplay was intended to differentiate it in the morning TV market, incorporating guest interviews, entertainment previews, and light-hearted segments to engage a broad daytime audience.[1] Early episodes featured promotional tie-ins, such as social media commentary from contributors like comedian Charles Firth, to build buzz during the debut week.[13] While launch ratings were described as lukewarm, reflecting modest initial viewership against entrenched competitors, the format provided a foundation for gradual audience growth without major structural alterations through 2015.[14]Expansion and Host Transitions (2016–2019)
In 2016, Network 10 bolstered Studio 10's panel by appointing Denise Drysdale as a permanent co-host, with her appearing three days per week alongside the reduced schedule of Ita Buttrose, who shifted to two days.[15] This adjustment aimed to inject variety and leverage Drysdale's established entertainment credentials while retaining Buttrose's experience.[16] The program underwent significant format expansion on July 24, 2017, extending its broadcast from 8:30 a.m. to noon, adding one full hour to the existing 2.5-hour slot for a total of 3.5 hours daily.[17] [18] This change, announced on July 10, 2017, allowed for deeper coverage of segments including interviews, lifestyle features, and audience interaction, aligning with Network 10's strategy to compete more aggressively in morning television ratings.[17] Host transitions accelerated in 2018 amid personal and strategic shifts. Sarah Harris returned from maternity leave in April 2018 following the birth of her second child in December 2017, resuming her role as a key anchor.[19] Jessica Rowe resigned on March 9, 2018, citing a desire for more family time, with her final episode airing March 30, 2018.[20] [21] Shortly after, Ita Buttrose departed on April 25, 2018, after nearly five years, to prioritize writing, charity work, and family.[22] [23] To stabilize the panel, Network 10 introduced Angela Bishop and Denise Scott as regular co-hosts effective April 30, 2018; Bishop, previously an entertainment reporter for the network, transitioned to full-time panel duties while retaining some reporting.[24] [25] These additions, alongside returning host Harris and continuing panelist Drysdale, refreshed the dynamic amid the departures.[26] In 2019, production enhancements included a studio set redesign unveiled on March 4, 2019, featuring a nine-meter-long video wall to support expanded visual elements in segments.[27] No major host rotations occurred that year, allowing the post-2018 lineup to settle, though news presenter Natarsha Belling secured a permanent role to bolster on-air stability.[28] These developments sustained viewer engagement during a period of network-wide content evolution.Pandemic Adaptations and Shifts (2020–2022)
In March 2020, Network 10 suspended live studio audiences across its programs, including Studio 10, in response to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions in Australia. This change eliminated the in-person crowd that had previously contributed to the show's energetic atmosphere, with episodes thereafter produced without audience reactions or applause. The economic pressures from lockdowns and reduced advertising revenue prompted significant structural shifts later in 2020. On August 11, 2020, Network 10 announced widespread redundancies, affecting Studio 10 presenters including Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling, as part of broader cost-cutting measures.[29] Kennerley's departure was finalized with her on-air farewell on September 10, 2020, after which her contract with the network extended only through December 31, 2020.[30][31] These cuts also impacted other panelists such as Joe Hildebrand, reducing the ensemble format that had defined the program.[32] From September 14, 2020, Studio 10 adopted a streamlined two-host format, featuring Sarah Harris as lead host alongside newcomer Tristan MacManus, who transitioned from judging on Network 10's Dancing with the Stars.[33][34] This revamp aimed to align the show more closely with competitors like The Morning Show and Today Extra, emphasizing a traditional presenter duo over a larger panel, though initial ratings did not markedly improve.[35] Production continued with social distancing protocols, remote guest appearances via video links, and adjusted set layouts to minimize close contact among on-site staff.[30] By late 2022, ongoing challenges led to further contractions. On November 23, 2022, Sarah Harris announced her exit after nine years, moving to co-host The Project, leaving the show with interim adjustments to its presenting lineup.[36] In December 2022, Network 10 shortened Studio 10's runtime from 3.5 hours to two hours, shifting its start time to 10:00 a.m. to reflect sustained low viewership amid post-pandemic recovery.[37] These modifications prioritized operational efficiency while maintaining core content like interviews and news discussions, though they marked a departure from the pre-2020 expansive format.[36]Final Seasons and Pre-Cancellation Decline (2023)
In 2023, Studio 10 experienced a marked decline in viewership, with metropolitan audiences averaging around 20,000 viewers per episode in the lead-up to its cancellation, a significant drop from earlier peaks that had positioned it as a competitor to rivals on Seven and Nine networks.[38] This downturn was exacerbated by ongoing budgetary constraints at Network 10, which had imposed cuts affecting production quality and promotional efforts, contributing to the show's inability to retain its core daytime audience amid shifting habits toward streaming and on-demand content.[3][38] Hosting instability further compounded the challenges, as the program underwent lineup adjustments that insiders attributed to a "disastrous decision" by network executives, eroding the show's distinctive rapport and viewer loyalty.[5] Co-hosts Tristan MacManus and Angela Bishop were informed of the impending axing months prior to the public announcement, while other staff learned via an internal email on November 14, 2023, which was described by employees as "cold and emotionless."[39][40] These changes, including a prior relocation to Pyrmont studios, had already diluted the program's unique features, such as its informal panel discussions, leading to plummeting ratings that rendered advertorial segments less viable.[41][2] Network 10 officially confirmed the cancellation on November 14, 2023, stating that production would cease due to evolving daytime viewing patterns, with the final episode scheduled for December 22, 2023, after 2,610 episodes.[2][42] Hosts including Narelda Jacobs, MacManus, and Bishop expressed dismay on air, acknowledging the "tough day" while noting the network's commitment to retaining key talent for other programming.[43] Staff critiques highlighted a perceived lack of strategic support from the network, which had failed to adapt effectively to competitive pressures despite the show's earlier successes in challenging established morning formats.[5]Hosts and Contributors
Primary Hosts Over Time
Studio 10 premiered on November 4, 2013, featuring an initial panel of primary hosts Sarah Harris, Jessica Rowe, Joe Hildebrand, and Ita Buttrose, who anchored the show's mix of news, entertainment, and lifestyle segments.[44] In 2015, comedian Denise Drysdale joined in a job-sharing capacity with Buttrose to bolster the panel's variety and humor.[2] Significant transitions occurred in 2018, as Rowe announced her departure on March 9 to prioritize family time, with her final episode airing March 30.[21][45] Buttrose followed suit, leaving on April 25 after nearly five years, citing a desire to focus on writing and philanthropy.[22][46] Veteran presenter Kerri-Anne Kennerley then joined as a part-time co-host on September 10, appearing Mondays and Tuesdays to inject established daytime TV expertise alongside Harris as the lead anchor.[47][48] Hildebrand shifted toward commentary roles, while Drysdale continued sporadically. Further changes marked 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Narelda Jacobs relocated from Perth to Sydney in January to co-host, adding news perspective from her two-decade Network 10 tenure.[49] Kennerley exited on September 10 after two years, prompting Tristan MacManus—previously a Dancing with the Stars judge—to debut as full-time co-host on September 14, bringing entertainment flair.[31][50] Harris departed at the end of 2022 after nearly a decade, transitioning to The Project in 2023.[51] Entertainment editor Angela Bishop, a long-serving contributor since the show's inception, elevated to primary host status in 2023, forming the final trio with Jacobs and MacManus until the program's conclusion on December 22.[3][52] This lineup emphasized stability amid declining ratings, with Bishop's celebrity insights complementing Jacobs's journalistic depth and MacManus's lighter tone.[43]| Period | Primary Hosts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2018 | Sarah Harris, Jessica Rowe, Joe Hildebrand, Ita Buttrose (with Denise Drysdale from 2015) | Launch panel; Harris as anchor post-initial exits.[2] |
| 2018–2020 | Sarah Harris, Kerri-Anne Kennerley (part-time), Joe Hildebrand (commentary) | Kennerley Mondays/Tuesdays; Drysdale occasional.[47] |
| 2020–2022 | Sarah Harris, Narelda Jacobs, Tristan MacManus | Jacobs from Jan 2020; MacManus from Sep 2020.[50][49] |
| 2023 | Angela Bishop, Narelda Jacobs, Tristan MacManus | Post-Harris; final configuration.[3] |