PHOTO: 3NOW
The decision not to renew the series was made within the past few weeks, coinciding with the completion of the exterior of the four houses in Browns Bay.
“We now have to address this,” stated Mike Molloy, co-managing director of Warner Bros NZ.
Between 100 and 200 production staff working on The Block NZ will be impacted, Molloy explained, expressing frustration within the industry.
He clarified that the decision wasn’t due to a lack of audience interest but rather stemmed from “the collapse in the advertising market.”
The property for the latest series, located on Beach Rd in Browns Bay, was acquired in 2022. The original house was demolished, replaced by four 200sqm townhouses. Contestants of The Block would handle the interior designs, followed by auctions.
As of now, no contestants had been selected for the show. Molloy is overseeing the sale of the houses, which are still undergoing interior work.
The End of an Era: The Block NZ Cancellation Leaves Fans and Contestants in Disarray
“They’ve only just been clad on the outside; there’s a lot of work to be done on the inside before they’re ready to sell,” he remarked.
He aimed to have them on the market by late 2024, ideally in the spring. The homes would boast three or four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
While other shows were also facing potential cancellation, Molloy couldn’t specify which ones. However, Married at First Sight NZ and The Traitors appeared to be proceeding, pending network decisions.
Regarding the cutbacks, Molloy attributed them to Warner Bros Discovery’s restructuring, emphasizing the significant impact on the local production industry.
The closure of The Block NZ marks the end of a series that began in 2012. Over its ten seasons, contestants experienced both substantial profits and disappointments at auction.
Warner Bros Discovery’s restructuring also affected Newshub, leading to its shutdown by the end of June, resulting in job losses. Some former Newshub staff, like Michael Morrah, found new roles elsewhere, indicating shifts within the media landscape.
Samantha Hayes will helm the 6pm bulletin on Three, replacing Newshub. Additionally, Ryan Bridge will take over as the host of Newstalk ZB’s Early Edition programme.
With Warner Bros Discovery ceasing fully funded local productions, sponsors were informed that they’d be contacted if The Block NZ was to continue, granting them the first right of renewal.
SOURCE: 1NEWS