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Have You Been Paying Attention?

From Alfawiki
Have You Been Paying Attention?
Company typeTelevision program
IndustryEntertainment, Television
FoundedOctober 25, 2013; 13 years ago (2013-10-25)
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
Area served
Australia
Key people
Tom Gleisner (host and co-executive producer)
ProductsTelevision quiz show
OwnerWorking Dog Productions
ParentNetwork 10
Website10play.com.au/have-you-been-paying-attention

Have You Been Paying Attention? (HYBPA?) is an Australian panel game television quiz show broadcast on Network 10 and produced by Working Dog Productions. The program is hosted by Tom Gleisner and features a panel of five guests, including regular members Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang, who are quizzed on the major news events of the week.

Initially experiencing modest viewership and undergoing early adjustments in scheduling and format, HYBPA? has evolved into a reliable ratings performer for Network Ten. Its audience has steadily increased over successive seasons, and the show has received widespread critical praise. It has been honoured with several Logie Awards, securing two in 2017 for Best Entertainment Program and Most Outstanding Entertainment Program; one in 2018 for Most Popular Comedy Program; two in 2019 for Most Outstanding Entertainment Program and Most Popular Comedy Program; followed by three consecutive wins for Most Popular Comedy Program in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Format

The show involves the host posing questions related to current news stories to the panelists. Each correct response awards 10 points, while incorrect answers do not incur any penalties. The program is recognized for its blend of earnest hosting and lighthearted exchanges among contestants, focusing on weekly news topics alongside a variety of quiz segments. Typically, each episode includes two distinct rounds.

Regular segments

  • General questions: Focus on recent developments in areas such as Showbiz or Sport.
  • Guest Quizmasters: From time to time, a guest quizmaster—often a notable athlete or television figure—introduces themed questions.
  • Animal News: Features humorous news stories centered around animals.
  • Individual test: Each participant responds to a personal question, usually offering two possible answers.
  • Around the Grounds: Highlights news from various Australian cities and towns each week.
  • Rapid Recall: A timed final round where quick responses are required; scores remain hidden during this segment.

Individual tests

Within every episode, there is a segment dedicated to individual questions that include several different games:

  • Over or Under: Contestants view footage from RBT and decide whether the individual featured is above or below the legal blood-alcohol concentration limit (50 mg/100 mL).
  • Trash or Treasure: Participants watch clips from Antiques Roadshow and determine if an item’s value is under £1000 (trash) or over £1000 (treasure).
  • Going, Going, Gone: Questions focus on recently sold notable items, including their importance or former owners.
  • Either/Or: Challenges knowledge of quirky or amusing news-related names with variations such as Rapper or Restaurant or Tennis Player or IKEA Furniture.
  • Binge This: Contestants predict subsequent events after viewing clips from streaming shows, often featuring foreign languages or unexpected twists.
  • The Bold and the Beautiful: Participants forecast outcomes based on scenes from the long-running American soap opera.
  • Identify These International Versions of Well Known Reality TV Formats: Contestants guess both the reality show format and its country of origin from brief international clips, earning points for each accurate identification.

Guest hosts

Guests

Contestant Number of Appearances Victories
Ed Kavalee 309 107
Sam Pang 287 24
Kitty Flanagan 79 3
Celia Pacquola 73 10
Anne Edmonds 60 12
Urzila Carlson 57 19
Marty Sheargold 53 15
Mick Molloy 45 3
Jane Kennedy 39 6
Melanie Bracewell 39 4
Glenn Robbins 38 9
Peter Helliar 29 13
Alex Ward 29 3
Lloyd Langford 28 4
Tony Martin 26 0
Kate Langbroek 22 3
Emma Holland 22 3
Denise Scott 20 1
Amanda Keller 18 15

Production and broadcast

The series was commissioned by Network Ten on October 25, 2013, launching with an initial season of eight episodes broadcast during the conclusion of the ratings period and summer months. Early in 2014, host and co-executive producer Tom Gleisner announced that the network had approved an indefinite continuation for the program. The second season began airing on February 23, 2014, originally occupying a Sunday evening slot at 6pm.

During the middle of season two, the format expanded to one hour and was rescheduled to a later Monday night slot at 9:30pm starting May 2014. This change allowed for incorporation of more mature content. Subsequently, in July, the airtime was moved earlier to an 8:30pm start to accommodate programming adjustments. November of that year saw the debut of a "Year in Review" special featuring guest quizmasters, a segment style which became a recurring element.

In November 2014, the series was renewed for a third season that premiered in May of the following year. A second annual "Year in Review" special aired in November. The fourth season received approval in October 2015 and launched in May 2016, introducing subtle enhancements to the set, including illuminated buzzers introduced later that year. Another yearly review special was broadcast in November 2016.

In October 2018, Working Dog Productions secured international distribution rights through CBS Studios International via Ten Network Holdings, broadening the show's global reach. Beginning with season thirteen in 2025, episodes were made accessible on the official YouTube channel to engage audiences worldwide.

Filming

Production takes place at Network Ten’s studios located in South Yarra, Melbourne, with recordings conducted before a live audience. Initially filmed on Saturdays, taping days shifted over time first to Mondays and later to Sundays during subsequent seasons. To ensure content remained current, episodes are recorded one day prior to their broadcast. When scheduled for Sunday at 6pm airings, multiple endings were taped to allow flexibility for content edits that might affect the final winner.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Season 8 (2020)

Owing to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, Season 8 was produced with only host Gleisner and a limited crew physically present, while participants joined remotely through video calls to adhere to social distancing protocols. The presence of a live studio audience was temporarily discontinued.

International adaptations

The format rights for international licensing are managed by Paramount Global Distribution Group (previously known as CBS Studios International and owned by Network 10's parent company, Paramount Global), representing its inaugural non-US format offered worldwide.

New Zealand

The New Zealand version, Have You Been Paying Attention? New Zealand, debuted on 24 July 2019 via TVNZ 2. Hosted by Hayley Sproull, it includes comedian Urzila Carlson, a familiar face from the Australian HYBPA? series, alongside radio personality Vaughan Smith.

Cyprus

In September 2020, the format was licensed to Cyprus, marking the second international adaptation. The Cypriot edition is named ΔΩΣΕ ΒΑΣΗ!, which translates as PAY ATTENTION!.

Israel

The Israeli adaptation premiered on 23 June 2025 on Reshet 13. Known as מה קורה פה? (What is Going On?), it is presented by Shalom Asayag.

Awards and nominations

|- |rowspan="2"|2016 |rowspan="2"|Logie Awards of 2016 |Best Entertainment Program |rowspan="15"|Have You Been Paying Attention? | |rowspan="2"| |- |Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | |- |rowspan="2"|2017 |rowspan="2"|Logie Awards of 2017 |Best Entertainment Program | |rowspan="2"| |- |Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | |- |2018 |Logie Awards of 2018 |Most Popular Comedy Program | | |- |rowspan="2"|2019 |rowspan="2"|Logie Awards of 2019 |Most Popular Comedy Program | |rowspan="2"| |- |Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | |- |2020 |10th AACTA Awards |Best Entertainment Program | | |- |rowspan="2"|2021 |TV Blackbox Awards 2021 |Most Popular Comedy Program | | |- |11th AACTA Awards |Favourite Entertainment Show | | |} |- 2022 Logie Awards of 2022 Most Popular Comedy Program


|- 2023 Logie Awards of 2023


|- 2024 Logie Awards of 2024 Best Comedy Entertainment Program


|- rowspan="2"|2025 14th AACTA Awards


|- Logie Awards of 2025


Controversy

The program encountered backlash over jokes made regarding the passing of the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej in the episode broadcast on 17 October 2016 (Season 4, Episode 23). In response, Network Ten issued a formal apology to Thailand's Ambassador to Australia, Chirachai Punkrasin, and subsequently removed the contentious segment from its website, social media platforms, and future airings.

See also

External links

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