While Love Island’s high-drama has gripped the British public, a Japanese dating series is quietly making waves worldwide for being its exact opposite. Terrace House’s subtle approach to reality TV is resonating with viewers who feel fatigued by the genre’s relentless demands on their attention.

Television is in the midst of a seismic shift as people break away from watching shows via traditional channels and embrace cross-platform conversations, niche programming, and appointment-first TV. Where, and how, can brands and producers most effectively speak to modern audiences?

Research by 9Powered, Channel Nine’s strategic client solutions division suggests that the rise of dating shows on television is a form of mass therapy for Australians. Aussies looking for love are able to compare the trials and tribulations of the shows’ characters to their own dating lives.

Streaming platforms have become an established part of people's media habits, but they may narrow consumption to mainstream, global shows and movies. Concerned by this issue, the Australian government is undertaking a review to provide policy options to support local content.