MasterChef heats up the ratings for Ten

Network Ten's ratings have increased across the board since the resurgence of reality cooking show MasterChef.

The ratings resurgence of MasterChef has infused Network Ten with renewed vigour and guaranteed at least one more season of the reality cooking series.

Since the pots and pans were pulled out and the stoves lit on May 5, Ten's ratings have increased across the board and given the network hope of a brighter future.

MasterChef alone is up more than 20 per cent on last year's ratings.

And the network says it's had a 48 per cent increase in its target age demographic of 25-54 year-olds since early May, when MasterChef returned, compared to the previous 10 weeks.

The network says it has also registered a 42 per cent rise in total people since May, compared to the previous 10 weeks.

Ten's chief programmer Beverley McGarvey said the station's ratings have improved primarily because of MasterChef and also because of locally made drama Offspring.

Season five of Offspring returned on May 14 but the network is yet to announce if one of its most beloved shows will return in 2015.

"Since Easter we are up each week, year-on-year...and a lot of that comes down to MasterChef and Offspring's doing very well," McGarvey told AAP.

"MasterChef is up 23 per cent up and it's a better show than last year.

"The Project and The Living Room are up from earlier in the year, so there has been stable growth across the board, really driven by the significant growth in MasterChef."

MasterChef's revival is even more significant given it's been directly up against ratings reality giants The Voice and House Rules.

Ten's challenge will be not only maintaining its audience when MasterChef and Offspring end in about a month but trying to ensure the ratings continue their upward trend.

In the meantime Ten will launch game show Family Feud on Monday with Grant Denyer as host.

It's the fourth incarnation of Family Feud in Australia and its the third network to air the series.

The game show first screened in Australia in 1977 on the Nine Network which also revived it as Bert's Family Feud in 2006 when it was hosted by Bert Newton. In between it aired on the Seven Network.

McGarvey said Family Feud, which will air at 6pm, is a solid viewing alternative from the news shows which saturate Seven's and Nine's afternoon and early evening weekday schedule.

"The fact it's an Australian show is interesting, but it will be about the genre...kids and grandmothers can watch it," she said.

"People get their news services at all different times these days and you can get it 24 hours day, so it's important that we offer an alternative."

Ten will cover the Glasgow Commonwealth Games (July 24-Aug 4) while among the reality shows still to air this year are The Bachelor and Recipe To Riches.

Once Offspring ends, drama series Wonderland returns and Ten will also later this year unveil its new local political drama Party Tricks starring Asher Keddie and Rodger Corser.

"The Bachelor resonated last year and we have Wonderland coming out and that will fill the Offspring slot," she said.


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