ARIA Awards Broadcast Set To Return To Channel Ten

ARIA this morning posted a short statement on their Facebook page announcing their annual awards ceremony will this year be once again seen on Channel Ten.

The post read: "We’re pleased to announced the 28th ARIA Awards will be broadcast on Channel Ten."

And with that their short relationship with Channel Nine's digital multi-channel Go! was over.

The ARIA Awards had a long run with Ten, who screened the yearly celebration of local music talent from 2002 until 2008.

Despite the noughties' broadcasts being deemed a success at Ten, where it seemed to have found an understanding partnership with Rove McManus' Roving Enterprises, the broadcast was moved to Nine in 2009 — many believed the switch was made in the hopes that Nine would make it less 'niche'.

There was a belief that Nine could turn the ARIA Awards into Event Television, given its long history of high-rating variety productions over the decades.

Lacklustre ratings and industry backlash may have been the reason for the quick return to Ten, and in 2010 the ARIAs were again with Ten. That ceremony, not overseen by Roving Ent, was considered the Awards' broadcast nadir.

In 2010, Ten handed control of the broadcast to Freemantle Media who attempted to turn it into the awards' equivalent of a live Australian Idol final. 

In 2011, the ARIAs moved to Go! While it hasn't set the ratings alight on Go! — that's not what the multi-channels are set up to do. Most thought the relationship would be extended.

But with Ten struggling to regain a foothold in the ratings battle this year, the ARIA broadcast may be considered a way to winning back the younger audiences that have fled Ten since its almost-hip-heydays of the '90s and noughties.

Is it just coincidence that the ARIAs return to Ten at the same time as McManus? Having given up on US TV success he will be fronting The Project from August 18. But as yet, there is no word as to who at Ten will be overseeing the broadcast.

ARIA are remaining tight-lipped for now, but they have promised that, "more information about this year’s ARIA Awards will be announced soon."