Network 10 presses reset on its weeknights tonight, rolling out a refreshed early evening line-up that brings back a classic quiz brand, locks Deal into an earlier slot and expands its late news offering.
The final piece of the puzzle is Millionaire Hot Seat, which premieres tonight at 7.00pm, marking the long flagged return of the quiz franchise, now on Network 10 and fronted by Rebecca Gibney.
TV Blackbox first revealed in March last year that Millionaire would be making a comeback away from Channel 9, with the format now positioned as a lead in to the network’s nightly entertainment schedule.
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Gibney’s casting feels like an inspired choice, anchoring the return of a familiar and safe format that leans into a streamlined 30 minute run and the pared back Hot Seat mechanics viewers recognise.
Deal or No Deal settles into the 6.30pm slot as Network 10 locks in its new early evening flow.(image – 10)
Deal or No Deal settles into an earlier slot
Deal or No Deal returned earlier this year, and with 10 News+ resuming in a trimmed 30-minute format at 6.00pm, the Grant Denyer hosted game show has been airing double episodes across 6.30pm and 7.00pm.
That expanded run, mixing new and repeat episodes, filled the hour ahead of Millionaire’s arrival, with Deal now settling into the 6.30pm slot only and a limited number of new episodes remaining before the series returns to production for its third season.
The move marks the show’s third timeslot change in the past year, following its shift from 6.00pm to 7.00pm during last year’s broader early evening shake up.
Plus holds steady at 6.00pm
Despite the wider changes, the network remains committed to 10 News+ at 6.00pm, anchored by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace, after returning for 2026 in early January in a trimmed 30 minute format.
As revealed by TV Blackbox last week, Network 10 is also rolling out changes from tonight to the end of its 5.00pm local news bulletins, introducing an accelerated handover into Plus in a bid to better retain viewers across the 5.00pm to 6.00pm transition.
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It also comes off one of 10 News+’s stronger performances since launch, with last night’s Sunday edition drawing 201,000 viewers at 6.30pm, notably presented solo by Denham Hitchcock for the first time, following a 90 minute 5.00pm bulletin that delivered 290,000 overnight viewers.
Late News expands as performance builds
A new era will begin tonight for 10 Late News, expanding to a full hour and set to be presented from the main studio set at Network 10’s Pyrmont studios in Sydney, with the bulletin also able to start as early as 9.30pm where scheduling permits, giving viewers a refreshed on-air look.
In an internal email to staff last year, obtained by TV Blackbox, Network 10 Head of News Martin White described the expansion as recognition of the bulletin’s strong performance, writing that it reflected “the bulletin’s phenomenal success over the past 12 months”.
White also said additional late reporting shifts would be introduced in Adelaide and Perth, with those shifts since added to boost evening reporting capacity beyond the local bulletins and help support the expanded late news, while ensuring no impact on the flagship 5.00pm services.
The changes also follow Network 10’s decision not to bring back afternoon news in 2026, with TV Blackbox understanding crew shifts were reallocated to support the expanded late news, while the lunchtime 1.00pm bulletin switches presentation locations from today, effectively trading studio setups with late news due to reduced daytime crewing.
Canberra bureau bolstered
In other news, Harnsle Joo commences today as Network 10’s newest Federal Political Reporter, bringing experience across federal politics and breaking news, including as an executive producer at 2GB, and is understood to be filling the role vacated by Lucy Gray following her departure mid last year.
The hire bolsters the network’s Canberra bureau, with Joo joining Senior Political Correspondent Chloe Bouras and Federal Political Reporter Matthew Karstunen, particularly while 10’s Political Editor Ashleigh Raper is on parental leave.
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Network 10 is also advertising a number of newsroom roles across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, including senior reporters and producers, journalists and sports reporters, as it looks to fill positions created by recent departures.
Will you be tuning in for the return of Millionaire Hot Seat tonight? Let us know in the comments below!
The refreshed weeknight line-up rolls out tonight on 10, with Millionaire Hot Seat at 7.00pm and 10 Late News airing from 10.00pm.
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