Australian Survivor
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Reality television |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Jonathan LaPaglia (host until 2025) |
| Products | Reality competition television show |
| Owner | Network Ten (since 2016 revival), previously Nine Network and Seven Network |
| Website | 10play |
Australian Survivor is an Australian adventure reality competition adapted from the global Survivor franchise. Participants, referred to as "castaways," are stranded in remote environments where they must obtain essentials such as food, water, fire, and shelter. They engage in various challenges to earn rewards and immunity from elimination. Contestants are progressively voted off by their fellow players until a single individual remains, crowned the "Sole Survivor," and awarded a grand prize of A$500,000.
The show originally premiered in 2002 on the Nine Network, which also holds Australian rights to broadcast the American Survivor. A celebrity edition aired in 2006 on the Seven Network, but both iterations concluded after one season due to insufficient viewership.
In November 2015, Network Ten announced plans to revive the series, with the new version launching on 21 August 2016. Its strong ratings led to annual renewals. The twelfth season, titled Brains V Brawn II, began airing on 17 February 2025 and was filmed on Upolu Island in Samoa. A shorter thirteenth season, Australia V The World, featuring returning Australian players competing against international contestants, is slated for release in mid to late 2025. In June 2025, Network Ten confirmed that this would mark host Jonathan LaPaglia's final season.
Format
The program adheres to the classic Survivor structure: contestants start divided into two or three tribes and live with minimal resources in a secluded setting. They participate in physical and mental contests for rewards or immunity, which safeguards them from elimination during Tribal Council—a secret ballot where tribe members vote out one of their own.
At the halfway point, tribes merge into a single group and challenges become individual-based. Eliminated players generally join the Tribal Council Jury. The final two or three competitors face the Jury’s vote to determine who will be named Sole Survivor and receive the grand prize of A$500,000 (with exceptions such as A$250,000 for Australia V The World and a A$100,000 charity prize in the 2006 celebrity edition).
The Australian version introduces elements like tribe swaps, temporary exile zones, hidden immunity idols, special voting privileges, and chances for eliminated contestants to re-enter the game—adding layers of strategic depth and increasing viewer interest.
Survivor in Australia
The initial Australian Survivor aired on Nine Network in 2002 following filming in 2001, linked to a contract granting Nine rights to broadcast the American version. Despite low ratings and criticism regarding casting choices and production values, Nine maintained broadcasting rights for the U.S. series, which has mostly been shown on their secondary channel 9Go! and streamed shortly after U.S. airings on 9Now. Since 2015, finales have often been simulcast with the American Eastern Time broadcast.
In 2006, Seven Network produced a celebrity edition under a separate licensing agreement but did not continue beyond its single season.
Network Ten revived the standard format in late 2016, making Australian Survivor one of the rare Australian programs to have aired on all three major commercial networks. The series has mostly run annually since then; the most recent season concluded in March 2025, with a condensed season Australia V The World planned for late 2025. In June 2025, Network Ten announced that Jonathan LaPaglia would step down as host after this upcoming season—a decision that generated considerable fan discontent.
Following CBS’s acquisition of Network Ten in 2017 (CBS being the American broadcaster of Survivor), all American seasons became accessible on their Australian streaming platform Paramount+ (previously known as 10 All Access) starting December 2018. Selected seasons also appear on Network Ten’s free streaming service 10 Play; by mid-2022, all American seasons were uploaded there following broadcasts on Nine Network.
Moreover, 10 Play streams seasons of Survivor NZ, multiple editions of Survivor South Africa, and the third series of Survivor UK, frequently releasing episodes simultaneously with their original international airings.
Series overview
| #[lower-alpha 1] | Subtitle | Game Details | Outcomes | Presenter | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Commencement Date | Conclusion Date | Duration (days) | Contestants | Initial tribes | Template:Won | Template:Won | Final jury vote | |||
| Previous editions (2002, 2006) | |||||||||||
| 1 | – | Whaler's Way, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia |
November 2001 | December 2001 | 39 | 16 | Two tribes with eight members each | Rob Dickson | Sciona Browne | 5–2 | Lincoln Howes[lower-alpha 2] |
| 2 | Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu | Efate, Shefa, Vanuatu | May 2006 | June 2006 | 25 | 12 | Two tribes of six separated by gender, each including one member of the opposite sex | Guy Leech | Justin Melvey | 3–2 | Ian "Dicko" Dickson |
| Network 10 era (2016–present) | |||||||||||
| 3 | – | Upolu, Samoa | 23 May 2016 | 18 July 2016 | 55 | 24 | Three tribes consisting of eight players each | Kristie Bennett | Lee Carseldine | 8–1 | Jonathan LaPaglia[lower-alpha 3] |
| 4 |
6 May 2017 |
30 June 2017 |
Two tribes with twelve contestants each |
Jericho Malabonga |
Tara Pitt |
6–3 | |||||
| getSeason5Name() |
Champions V Contenders |
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50 |
Two tribes of twelve categorized by status: "Champions" (high achievers) and "Contenders" (underdogs) |
Sharn Coombes |
5–4 | |||||
| getSeason6Name() |
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Baden Gilbert |
9–0 | |||||||
| getSeason7Name() |
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Two tribes of twelve returning contestants |
Sharn Coombes |
8–1 | ||||||
| getSeason8Name() |
Cloncurry, Queensland |
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48 |
Two tribes of twelve divided by mental acuity ("Brains") and physical strength ("Brawn") |
Hayley Leake |
George Mladenov |
7–2 | |||
| getSeason9Name() |
Charters Towers, Queensland |
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47 |
Twelve pairs with existing relationships split into two tribes of twelve, combining new and returning players. |
Chrissy Zaremba & Shayelle "Shay" Lajoie |
10–0–0 | ||||
| getSeason10Name() |
Upolu, Samoa |
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47 |
Thirteen newcomers and eleven returning players split into "Heroes" and "Villains" |
Gerry Geltch & Matt Sharp |
7–0–0 | ||||
| getSeason11Name() |
Upolu, Samoa |
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47 |
Two tribes of twelve divided based on life philosophy: "Titans" (high achievers) versus "Rebels" (nonconformists) |
Feras Basal |
Caroline Courtis |
9–0 | |||
| getSeason12Name() |
Upolu, Samoa |
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47 |
Two tribes composed of twelve members each, categorized by intellect ("Brains") and physicality ("Brawn") |
Myles Kuah |
Kaelan Lockhart |
7–1 | |||
| getSeason13Name() |
Upolu, Samoa |
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16 days |
Fourteen contestants divided into two tribes of seven, featuring participants from Australian and international Survivor editions. |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA | |||
- Notes
- ↑ Network 10 considers only seasons from 2016 onward as season 1, whereas Castaway Productions numbers all versions sequentially, designating 2016 as the third season. Wikipedia adopts Castaway Productions' numbering.
- ↑ Casting special hosted by Ben Dark; live finale studio segments presented by Eddie McGuire.
- ↑ "All Stars" reunion hosted by Osher Günsberg due to LaPaglia's COVID-19 travel limitations; LaPaglia participated remotely.
Locations
| Continent | Filming Sites | Season(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oceania | File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia | Charters Towers, Queensland | 9 |
| Cloncurry, Queensland | 8 | ||
| Whaler's Way, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia | 1 | ||
| File:Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji | Savusavu | 5, 6, 7 | |
| Template:Country data Samoa | Upolu | 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13 | |
| Template:Country data Vanuatu | Efate, Shefa | 2 | |
.svg){kind=link}
Broadcast and ratings
| # | Network | Number of Episodes | Airing Time | Premiere Details | Finale Details | Reunion Show | Average Viewership |
Average Rank |
Reference | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Viewership | Rank | Date | Viewership Finale |
Rank | Viewership Winner Reveal |
Rank | Viewership (Reunion) | Rank (Reunion) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 9 | 13[lower-alpha 1] | Wednesdays at 8:30 pm | February 13, 2002 | colspan=2 Template:N/A[lower-alpha 2] | May 15, 2002 | colspan=9 Template:N/A[lower-alpha 2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 12 | Thursdays at 8:30 pm | August 17, 2006 |
colspan=2 Template:N/A[lower-alpha 2] |
November 2, 2006 |
colspan=4 Template:N/A[lower-alpha 2] |
colspan=2 Template:N/A[lower-alpha 3] |
colspan=3 Template:N/A[lower-alpha 2] | |||||||||||||||||||
|
rowspan=3 | Network 10(Ten) |
rowspan=2 | 26 |
rowspan=2 |
Sunday, Monday & |
August 21, 2016 |
|
style="background:#F0F8FF"| |
October 25, 2016 |
914,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"| 7 |
1,172,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"| 1 |
colspan=2 Template:N/ACite error: Invalid |
style="background:#FFFDD0"| 786,000 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"| 10 | ||||||||||||||
|
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
691,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|8 |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
825,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|8 |
943,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|2 |
613,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|13 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"| 698,000 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|10 | ||||||||||||||||
|
rowspan=8 | 24 |
Monday & Tuesday at 7:30 pm[lower-alpha 4] |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
779,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|7 |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
914,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|5 |
922,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|4 |
667,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|13 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|765,000 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|9 | ||||||||||||||
|
rowspan=8 | |
Sunday, Monday & |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
925,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|2 |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
968,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|4 |
1,079,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|1 |
colspan=2 Template:N/ACite error: Invalid |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|840,000 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|6 | |||||||||||||||
|
Monday, Tuesday & |
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715,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|8 |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
908,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|9 |
1,034,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|6 |
677,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|14 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|733,000 |
style="background:#FFFDD0"|9 | |||||||||||||||
|
rowspan=4 | Sunday, Monday & |
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824,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|4 |
Error: All values must be integers (help) |
826,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|7 |
991,000 |
style="background:#F0F8FF"|6 |
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style="background:#FFFDD0"|752,000|| style="background:#FFFDD0"|8|| | |||||||||||||||||
|
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697,000|| style="background:#F0F8FF"|8|| Error: All values must be integers (help) |
631,000|| style="background:#F0F8FF"|11|| 749,000|| style="background:#F0F8FF"|8|| style="background:#FFFDD0"|568,000|| style="background:#FFFDD0"|9|| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
30 January (2023) |
536,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |12 || Error: All values must be integers (help) |
644 ,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |9 || 699 ,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |6 || style = " background : # F F F D D 0 " |557 ,000 || style = " background : # F F F D D 0 " |8 || |
|- !Australian Survivor: Titans V Rebels(11)Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
|
29 January (2024) |
857 ,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |13 || 19 March (2024) |
877 ,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |6 || rowspan =3 colspan =2 Template:N/ACite error: Invalid
|
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[1] |- ![[Australian Survivor:
Brains V Brawn II]](12) |
rowspan=4 | Sunday (7:)00 pm, |
17 February (2025) |
836 ,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |9 || 14 April (2025) |
932 ,000 || style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " |5 || style = " background : # F F F D D 0 " | |
style = " background : # F F F D D 0 " | |
|- ! [[Australian Survivor:
Australia V The World]](13) |
12 |
17 August (2025) |
style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " | |
September (2025) |
style = " background : # F0 F8 FF " | |
style = " background : # F F F D D 0 " | |
style = " background : # F F F D D 0 " | |
|- | ||||
- Notes
Companion series
In addition to the primary show, two supplementary web programs related to Australian Survivor are available on 10's free video on demand platform 10Play, which also features deleted footage ("Secret Scenes") and extra interviews with contestants.
Jury Villa
Debuting in season 3, Jury Villa—inspired by the American Survivor's Ponderosa—documents the experiences of castaways eliminated during the jury phase as they become part of the Tribal Council Jury and reside together in the villa. Each installment focuses on the newest evictee's arrival and is released on 10Play following every main episode aired during the jury segment.
Talking Tribal
Introduced in the All Stars season, Talking Tribal serves as an aftershow that dissects the gameplay and tactics of contestants. It premiered with a preview special on 31 January 2020 and subsequently broadcasts weekly after Wednesday episodes of the main series. The show is accessible via 10 Play and as a podcast through 10's platform, 10 speaks. The inaugural season featured former contestant Luke Toki and presenter James Mathison as hosts, with Shannon Guss from Rob Has a Podcast regularly appearing alongside weekly guest commentators.
The second season, accompanying Brains V Brawn, saw Luke Toki return alongside radio host Nathan Morris, with Shannon Guss and Nick Iadanza completing the panel.
During the third season aligned with Blood V Water, Mathison and Guss were joined by winner Hayley Leake and runner-up George Mladenov. The fourth season, corresponding to Heroes V Villains, featured co-hosts Brooke Jowett (from Blood V Water and All Stars) and Khanh Ong (from Blood V Water) joining Guss.
In the fifth season, linked to Titans V Rebels, Chrissy Zaremba (from Blood V Water) co-hosted with Guss, while Mladenov returned for his second consecutive season.
Drop Your Buffs
International broadcast
The program is distributed internationally across multiple platforms:
- In New Zealand, it airs on TVNZ 2 and is accessible via TVNZ+.
- In the United Kingdom, streaming is available through Amazon Prime Video.
- In the United States, it was formerly broadcast on Paramount+ but was removed in February 2022 following loss of streaming rights.
- In both Slovakia and the Czech Republic, it can be viewed on Voyo.
- In South Africa, it is shown on M-Net.
- In Sweden, under the title Robinson Australien, it streams on TV4 Play, aligning with the local branding of Expedition Robinson.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Logie Awards of 2003 | Best Reality Program | 2002 Season | Template:Nom |
| 2017 | Logie Awards of 2017 | Best Reality Program | 2016 Season | Template:Nom |
| 7th AACTA Awards | Best Reality Television Series | 2017 Season | Template:Nom | |
| Best Direction in a Television Light Entertainment, Lifestyle Or Reality Series | Richard Franc (Episode 1 – 2017 Season) | Template:Win | ||
| 2018 | 8th AACTA Awards | Best Reality Television Series | Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders (2018 season) | Template:Win |
| 2019 | Logie Awards of 2019 | Most Popular Reality Program | Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders (2018 season) | Template:Nom |
| Most Outstanding Reality Program | Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders (2018 season) | Template:Win | ||
| 9th AACTA Awards | Best Reality Television Series | Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders (2019 season) | Template:Win | |
| 2020 | 10th AACTA Awards | Best Reality Television Series | Australian Survivor: All Stars | Template:Nom |
| 2021 | 11th AACTA Awards | Best Reality Television Series | Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn | Template:Nom |
| 2022 | 12th AACTA Awards | Best Reality Television Series | Australian Survivor: Blood V Water | Template:Nom |
| 2023 | Logie Awards of 2023 | Most Outstanding Reality Program | Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains | Template:Win |
See also
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- Other versions
- Similar shows
- Alone Australia
- Big Brother Australia
- Escape from Scorpion Island
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
- Million Dollar Island
- The Bridge
- The Big Adventure
- The Summit
- Treasure Island
External links
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