X Factor returns with lowest launch numbers

Seven Network’s X Factor Australia returned last night for its seventh season with an overnight metro audience of 904,000 – its lowest launch figures so far. Last year it came back with 1.506 million metros tuning in.

The singing reality show was easily beaten by The Block, which topped all demographics. X Factor only managed to rank #5 in the 18—49 demographic.

It was the first with Iggy Azalea and Adam Lambert joining Guy Sebastian as a judge. Comments from them through the show indicated that producers are this year trying to unearth a winner who could find some success overseas.

So far only Dami Im from 2013 has done so, through the Eurovision Song Contest. Other winners and runners-up like Samantha Jade, Reece Mastin, Johnny Ruffo, Taylor Henderson, Dean Ray, Brothers3 and Jai Waetford at least have survived. Others simply disappeared

Last night’s audition for Bootcamp showed there was talent that promised to be interesting. They included NZ-born ginger haired siblings The Brentfords, 15-year-old Singapore-born Natalie Ong, 34-year-old Gold Coast tyre fitter and “Aussie bloke” Davey Woder who opted to do his own song Come Home and not a cover (“I don’t know any covers, I only do me own songs”), Ruby Mills the 24-year-old wonderfully sassy fishmonger from Bundaberg and a gorgeous performance by 14-year-old Amalia Foy whose ethereal rendition of Passenger’s Let Her Go got her a standing ovation and left Azalea in tears.

There was healthy dissension between the judges. Painfully handsome bricklayer by day and stripper by night, Memphis James, initially won the audience (and Azalea and Lambert) over when he took off his shirt and sang bare-chested. Alas fame was fleeting as he couldn’t really sing and he was recommended to join the Thunder Down Under review.

Teen dancin’ and singin’ boy band FD3 got short shrift from Azalea who dismissed their high-energy choreography as “devoid of personality and so ‘90s”, to Lambert’s protests. However, the three got themselves another chance, showcasing their harmonies with an acoustic guitar on a One Direction ditty.

FD3

This year, aside from new host Jason Dundas, the format has gone through a major shake-up. The acts will be placed in three categories – Under 22, Overs and Groups as well as the Underdog category for those who missed out.

X Factor Australia airs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 7.30pm on Channel 7.

The return of the singing show also coincided with the premiere of the Jessica Mauboy starring drama The Secret Daughter, which drew 899,000 overnight metro viewers.

Over the weekend, the grand finals of two football codes put a number of musicians before huge viewing audiences.

The AFL season closer on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds drew a total 3.039 metro in-home viewers, up 16% from last year. The pre-game entertainment starring birthday boy Sting (who was reportedly paid $1.2 million for three songs, according to this morning’s 3AW rumour file), The Living End and Vance Joy had 1.094 million viewers.

Linda and Vika Bull who absolutely nailed the national anthem and Mike Brady’s One Day In October would have gained a larger exposure.

Of the 2.5 million who tuned into the NRL grand final in Sydney, the entertainment portion – including Keith Urban (joined for The Fighter by rugby league tragic Jessica Mauboy), and Richie Sambora & Orianthi) rated 1.321 million. Dami Im handled the national anthem.

Seven’s The Big Music Quiz attracted 897,000 on Saturday evening, and 527,000 on Sunday evening.