Three Relocates The Block Oz

Not surprisingly, Three has revised its scheduling strategy for season 13 of The Block Australia and will now air it closer to primetime.

The new episodes originally had been consigned to 3pm weekdays from February 6, following re-runs of Love at First Sight Australia.

But yesterday the network announced it would switch to 4.30 weekdays, after Newshub Live at 4pm, and launch on February 5.

Given the enduring appeal of this renovation warhorse, it’s astonishing that Three first wrote it off as mid-afternoon fodder.

In Australia, the launch out-rated both Australian Survivor and Hell’s Kitchen, and the series continued to dominate.

So it makes a much better bridge between Three’s Newshub bulletins — even if the 5.30 Modern Family re-runs continue to be the weak link, drawing two to three times fewer viewers in the 25-54 demographic than its TVNZ rivals.

However, starting The Block at 4.30 rather than 5.00 allows Three scheduling flexibility for extra-long episodes, such as the 90-minute season premiere, which will pre-empt Modern Family.

Here’s how Three’s new afternoon line-up typically will look:

• Family Feud Australia (R) 12.00
• Dr Phil 12.30
• Married at First Sight Australia (R) 1.30
• Entertainment Tonight 3.00
• Family Feud Australia 3.30
• Newshub Live at 4pm 4.00
• The Block Australia 4.30
• Modern Family (R) 5.30