House Rules applications sought by Channel 7 for second series from mortgaged contestant couples
House Rules has been renewed for a second series with the Channel 7 ratings sitting above one million after a slow start.
Its host Johanna Griggs recently told Property Observer its slow but sure success came from "people power."
"This show has people power to thank as more & more people spread the word, & to 7 for sticking by us!" Johanna Griggs tweeted to Property Observer.
Griggs has said she can't diss a show (The Block) that's done so well for so long.
"Instead I can just talk about how much I love ours," she tweeted a viewer.
The casting call came this week for teams of two from all over Australia to compete in the second series where the winner's have their mortgage completely wiped.
Applications close August 1, 2013.
To be eligible you must own your own home, with mortgage, and it must be your primary place of residence.
Team members must have a pre-existing relationship, eg be friends, relatives or partners.
Contestants must be Australian citizens or have been a permanent resident for at least two years to participate.
They are being asking to include before and after desired floor plans of their home.
The opportunity requires a commitment to a filming period of up to three to four months.
Tuesday night's rating was 1.093 million in the five city capitals, according to OzTam.
On Wednesday night the show had 1.13 million viewers, making it the fifth most popular show of the night.
Last Friday Glenn Dyer, the Crikey media commentator noted in his ratings round up that "the big news though from last night was ... a significant development -- the episode of House Rules that started at 8pm topped The Block's main program on Nine (and easily beat the lower ratings for the silly "unlocked" part of the episode) nationally and in regional markets, but not in metro markets.
"The numbers: House Rules -- 1.694 million nationally/ 1.066 million metro/ 628,000 metro from 8pm to 9.15pm. The Block (from 7pm to 8pm) averaged 1.689 million (not much in it at first glance) nationally/ 1.160 million metro/ 529,000 regionally.
"The Block Unlocked (the silly 30 minutes of product placement for Mitre 10) averaged 1.212 million nationally/ 899,000 metro/ 313,000 regionally.
"Average the two programs and you get (sorry for the figures fest) The Block from 7pm to 8.30pm averaging 1.455 million nationally/ 1.035 million metro/ 421,000 nationally.
"By whatever way you measure it, House Rules beat The Block last night in metro on the average of the two programs and certain beat it nationally after winning the regional markets by 100,000 viewers," Dyer wrote.
House Rules premiered May 14 up against the Channel 9 perennial, The Block.
The launch was beaten by Channel Nine’s perennial favourite The Block Sky High which was the second highest rating show with 1.308 million viewers across the city metro areas and the House Rules launch rating 11th nationally, with 803,000 viewers.
The state-versus-state renovation series, from the makers of My Kitchen Rules, has built up to deliver true home renovations under stress.
The six contestant couples have put their entire home on the line promising an emotional return to their new homes after the seven-day renovation.
The teams have to work independently on their own zone within each house but they also have to work as a team to ensure each room complements the other when it's completed.
Michelle & Steve (Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales)
Amy & Sean (Nundah, Queensland)
Carly & Leighton (Warradale, South Australia)
Jemma & Ben (Melville, Western Australia)
Jane & Plinio (New Town, Tasmania)
Nick and Chris (Preston, Victoria)
Each of the six House Rules teams hand over the keys to their homes and allow their competitors free reign to transform their house.
It's been hosted by Johanna Griggs.
"It's a bunch of likeable Australians with amazing back stories," Griggs said.
