A Network Ten executive has revealed the real reason why Rove McManus‘ new variety show, Saturday Night Rove was a complete failure.
The show – which aired at 7:30 pm on Saturday nights – was brutally axed after just two episodes in August.
Speaking to The Gold Coast Bulletin on Sunday, Network Ten’s chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey revealed that its dismal ratings can be attributed to a lack of interest in variety shows.
“There’s a place for entertainment, there’s a place for comedy. Is there a place for what you’d traditionally call variety, I don’t know,” she admitted.
Furthermore, McGarvey argued that Rove was a huge talent and that she was unaware of any other TV star who could’ve made the variety show work.
“Rove is such a good talent and is such a legacy talent in this country, so if Rove can’t resonate the way that we want [I’m not sure who could],” she said.
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In addition, the executive confirmed that the network will not be replacing Rove with another Aussie personality.
According to the Daily Mail, there had been talks that KIIS FM stars Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O could take over from the comedian.
In an interview with TV Tonight, Rove appeared to echo McGarvey’s beliefs, saying:
“It was clear looking at the numbers that the audience we hoped would find a freewheeling live show on a Saturday night just weren’t there. We spoke with 10 today and we both called it.”
Prior to the airing of the pilot episode, Rove appeared to be aware of the challenges before him.
“Finding a way of getting people’s attention is the big one — there are so many options for an audience now,” he told Hit TV.
“But not only is the audience fractured, within each household the audience is fractured. You could have each individual member of the house watching their individual program on a laptop or a tablet or a phone. So how do you get everyone in a household together to watch something?”
Channel 10 is yet to announce a replacement for Saturday Night Rove.