‘Tentpole’ entertainment brands and premium sports including Tokyo Olympic Games lead Seven’s strategy for 2021

Seven Network has announced a schedule anchored by proven ‘tentpole’ programs to lead its growth strategy for 2021 and beyond, adjacent to its established entertainment and lifestyle programs and premier sport and news offering.

James Warburton (pictured), Seven West Media Managing Director and CEO confirmed Seven would be home to five of the biggest entertainment brands in the world from 2021, including The Voice, Big Brother, Farmer Wants A Wife, Australia’s Got Talent and from 2022, Australian Idol.

Warburton said premium brands will continue to drive Seven’s audience growth and engagement strategy across its platforms.

“Our new content led strategy of outsourcing proven international formats has delivered this year with an incredible resurgence led by the phenomenal performance of Big Brother and Farmer Wants A Wife.

“Coupled with the return of a sensational AFL season, we’ve led every demographic since June. We’re in front in 25-54s and lead 16-39s by a massive 5.4 share points. That’s a solid transformation, despite the obvious challenges this year.”

New programming on Seven in 2021 will include The Voice; extreme mini golf program, Holey Moley, a US No. 1 hit two years in row; and Ultimate Tag, the world’s fastest show which takes the game of tag to a scale never seen before.

Returning hits include the world’s toughest test of celebrities, SAS Australia and feel good fan favourite, The All New Monty.

7mate is Australia’s is No.1 multichannel for 16-39s and 25-54s, delivering a winning mix of top international entertainment titles and a growing stable of homegrown content, including the cult hit Fat Pizza: Back in Business, returning for its second season in 2021.

7plus is the No. 1 commercial FTA BVOD service with a 42.4% market share (2020 Survey YTD). With hit shows, the biggest BVOD entertainment launch of all time (Big Brother 2020) and continued investment in more content led growth and more 7plus exclusives slated for 2021, it continues to be the ultimate streaming destination.

Seven’s line-up of premium sport – including AFL, Cricket and Spring Racing – will be headlined by the Tokyo Olympics.

Starting on the July 23, 2021, Tokyo 2020 will redefine how Australians watch sport. The thirty days of the rescheduled Olympic and Paralympic Games are forecast to reach over 21 million Australians, even more than Sydney 2000.

Seven’s broadcast coverage on Seven and 7TWO – led by Bruce McAvaney – will be simulcast in HD on 7plus. On top of this, six bonus curated 24/7 channels and 35 live streams on 7plus will allow Australians to experience the Olympics like never before. 7plus will also offer captioning in multiple languages – an Australian first.

Seven West Media WA, Chief Marketing Officer, Kate Molinari said “We are excited to be heading into 2021 with such a strong 7:30pm line-up of entertainment formats. This coupled with the strength of Perth’s #1 news brand 7NEWS, and the biggest sporting line-up we have no doubt that 2021 will deliver for both our audience and commercial partners.”

Watch the full 2021 Upfront presentation HERE.