Bachelor premiere ratings shock

But this year, the reality show launched to its lowest ratings ever, raking in just 482,000 metro viewers, with 568,000 nationwide. It was strides behind the Farmer Wants A Wife finale on Seven, which has proved a surprise ratings success this season, pulling in an impressive 835,000 metro eyes on Wednesday night.In a further shock, episode repeats of series’ over on Channel 9 and ABC beat the maiden Bach episode, with Nine’s Travel Guides earning 597,000 metro and Hard Quiz with 502,000, according to TV Tonight.READ JAMES WEIR’S RECAP HEREViewers’ thirst for news amid the coronavirus pandemic prevailed over The Bachelor, too, with 680,000 metro viewers tuning in to ABC’s 7.30. In another sting for the network, it was the lowest-rating Bach premiere in history.Last year, Channel 10’s search for love opened to 681,000 metro viewers, and in 2019 it was 828,000. The year prior starring rugby legend Nick Cummins was a massive success, with 940,000 metro viewers. It was up from 2017 and 2016, which saw 882,000 and 846,000 respectively tune in.Season one (669,000) and season two (692,000) also had a higher metro viewer count than this year.It comes despite fans seemingly pleased the network opted for a new face to the franchise, with pilot Jimmy Nicholson at the helm rather than an existing reality star like 2020’s Locky Gilbert.RELATED: Bach favourite’s acting past revealedSpeaking to news.com.au ahead of Wednesday’s premiere, Jimmy confirmed he did find love on the show.“She’s amazing, we’re both really happy,” he said. “We chat multiple times a day, a lot of Facetime at the moment, and I’m really happy, so it’s good.”The 31-year-old also hinted there’s swirling drama in episodes to come, revealing there was an incident in the house that made him lose his cool.“One night in particular, something unfolded where I cracked the sh*ts a little bit,” he said. “The penny dropped that someone who was there, who I thought was this person, was in actual fact someone completely different.”Jimmy said he was “frustrated” and “annoyed” and that things came to a “boiling point” where he confronted the Bachelorettes and spoke to them all.“It’s going to be interesting to see how that comes off,” Jimmy said about the drama. “But it is what it is. I’m not perfect.”RELATED: How to follow the Bachelorettes on IGThose who did tune in to the red carpet episode were thrilled to see host Osher Gunsberg’s return, and had plenty to say about the contestants.The episode did have some wins, dominating the timeslot in the under-50s viewership.“First Officer Jimmy’s journey has only just begun,” a Channel 10 spokesperson said.“The premiere episode of The Bachelor Australia took flight as the #1 entertainment show of the night in 25 to 54s and under-50s and the #1 show in its timeslot in 10’s key demographics of 16 to 39s, 25 to 54s and under-50s,” they clarified.“We can’t wait to share all the drama, all the romance, all the twists and turns and even some turbulence, as Jimmy’s search for his happily ever after takes off.”Tonight, news.com.au’s very own Andrew Bucklow makes an appearance, as Jimmy’s potential love interests take part in the annual group photo shoot.The Bachelor airs tonight from 7.30pm on Channel 10