There's a big problem with Wentworth Prison. It's nothing to do with the writing of the show, the incredible cast and the incomporable chemistry of all those in front of the camera. No. The big problem is to do with when the show is broadcasted in the UK.
Danielle Cormack as Bea Smith
This week, Wentworth's fourth season came to a close in Australia. Within days, the show was then made available on Netflix in both the United States and Canada. All episodes of the fourth season were up and ready to stream. Meanwhile, the UK sits awaiting episode 7 of 12, on its new British home of 5 Star.
The channel move came three weeks back, after reports of dwindling viewing figures due to fans watching the episodes online and file sharing with those in countries where the episodes were already available. What this means is that those patient and loyal fans who are watching on the box each and every week in the UK are now faced with standard definition episodes, grainy viewing and an altogether less-than-stellar viewing experience. They've also now been leap-frogged by countries such as the US and Canada who can start and finish watching the fourth series in a 12-hour binge.
Having been renewed for a fifth season, something needs to change if Wentworth is to once again become a huge success in the UK. Don't get me wrong, there are still a core of hugely passionate fans in Britain, but they're getting their Wentworth kicks via other means.
Channel 5 do a fantastic job of promoting the series, they're a wonderful network to work with from a journalist's point of view and a great home for the show. But they need to be more on the ball with broadcasting.
What needs to happen is that episodes should be made available within 48 hours of their airing in Australia. Within 24 hours if possible. Whether that's on television or online for streaming, or a combination of both, it's a move that would surely see viewing figures rocket once more.
We live in an age where spoilers lurk around every corner. You cannot follow people on Twitter from around the world whose interests match your own and then go online and expect them not to tweet about those very topics. With a show like Wentworth, when there's so many twists and turns, it's great to keep the shock factor intact. For the younger generation however, that's not an option. The internet is their second home and when there's close to nothing being done about illegal downloading of television series, they're going to go above and beyond to watch what they want, whenever they want.
Television has changed. Whether or not you think it has changed for the better is irrelevant. Broadcasters and companies now need to work on delivering their shows in as quick a time as possible and get inventive with the ways in which they're delivered. If Channel 5 and Foxtel can't do that for Wentworth Prison in the UK, I worry for its future. It's a show that deserves all the success in the world. Those involved, from the cast to the crew, all deserve to work on the series for as long as creators see fit. Wentworth cannot become another show cancelled way before its time. The diversity and empowerment through its roles are too important.
Wentworth Prison continues at 10pm, Tuesdays on 5 Star.
Tagged in Wentworth Prison