Adrian Portelli’s My Reno Rules has been handed a ratings lifeline, with consolidated data showing Seven’s renovation gamble reached millions.
Adrian Portelli’s My Reno Rules has landed a dramatic ratings lifeline, with new data showing Seven’s renovation gamble was far stronger than its overnight numbers first suggested.
VOZ national Total TV consolidated data shows the Channel 7 series reached an average 1.69 million Australians across its first four supplied episodes, including viewers watching on broadcast TV and on-demand via BVOD.
The Portelli-backed format also beat MasterChef Australia on national Total TV reach in all three supplied Tuesday consolidated reports, giving Seven a major counterargument to talk the show could be axed after one season.
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While The Block remains renovation TV’s ratings monster, supplied VOZ data shows Portelli’s show was not the first-season wipe-out some critics had predicted.
Nine’s long-running format regularly topped 2 million in national reach, while My Reno Rules averaged 1.69 million across its first four supplied consolidated episodes.
The first four supplied consolidated episodes of My Reno Rules averaged 793,000 national viewers and 219,000 BVOD viewers.
On Tuesday, April 21, My Reno Rules reached 1.783 million nationally compared with MasterChef Australia’s 1.395 million.
Adrian Portelli and Chris Brown have fronted Seven’s My Reno Rules, which has sparked debate over whether the format should return. Picture: Seven
The 2026 My Reno Rules contestants include Emma and Michelle, Nathan and Julia, Mitch and Shaz, and Franky and Isaac. Picture: Seven
It also beat MasterChef Australia on reach on Tuesday, April 28, with 1.564 million compared with 1.430 million, and again on Tuesday, May 5, with 1.531 million compared with 1.427 million.
The Ten cooking show held stronger national average audiences and BVOD average audiences on those nights, meaning My Reno Rules did not beat it on every measure.
But the figures show the LMCT+ founder’s renovation format reached more Australians than one of television’s most established reality brands.
The first four supplied consolidated episodes of My Reno Rules averaged 793,000 national viewers and 219,000 BVOD viewers.
The strongest sign for Seven was in younger audiences, with the show ranking No. 1 nationally among viewers aged 16-39 by reach on three of the first four supplied episodes.
Emma and Michelle have provided much of the entertainment this season, helping drive the personality and drama behind My Reno Rules. Picture: Seven
Franky and Isaac are among the My Reno Rules teams competing in Seven’s high-pressure renovation format. Picture: Seven
Its launch episode reached 643,000 viewers aged 25-54 and 297,000 viewers aged 16-39, ranking No. 2 in 25-54 and No. 1 in 16-39.
The following night, My Reno Rules grew to 1.896 million in national reach, with an average audience of 883,000 and BVOD average audience of 250,000.
An industry insider said Seven would be “mad” to walk away from Portelli after one season.
“People can obsess over week-to-week ratings, but Seven would be mad to ignore the bigger picture,” the insider said.
“Adrian gives them something most new formats don’t have, built-in publicity, genuine money behind the concept and a personality who can cut through outside traditional TV.
Mitch and Shaz have been part of the renovation battle as My Reno Rules tries to carve out its own place against The Block. Picture: Seven
“He’s not just sitting there reading judging notes. He’s the headline. He’s the chaos factor. He’s the bloke viewers talk about after the episode.
“Seven has spent years trying to find a renovation format that can sit somewhere near The Block.”
The insider told NewCorp Australia with Portelli, Seven finally have someone who can make the show feel bigger than just paint colours and room reveals.
“The smart move would be to sharpen the format, use Adrian more aggressively and give the show a second run,” they said.
“He brings money, headlines, controversy and a younger audience.
“The format can be sharpened, but Adrian is the kind of character commercial television needs.”
The face-to-face judging format has become one of My Reno Rules’ sharper points of difference from traditional renovation shows. Picture: Seven
Contestants have had to hear the judges’ verdicts in person, adding a brutal edge to Seven’s renovation experiment. Picture: Seven
But the ratings picture was not all positive.
The overnight numbers showed My Reno Rules softened as the season progressed, with its Tuesday national average audience falling from 638,000 on launch night to 545,000 on April 28, 571,000 on May 5 and 493,000 on May 12.
The Tuesday, May 12 episode aired on the night of the 2026-27 federal budget, putting the renovation format up against one of the year’s biggest political and news events.
Television commentator Colin Vickery said My Reno Rules was “not a disaster”, but warned Seven would want more from the format. Picture Rebecca Michael. Picture: Seven
Senior television analyst Colin Vickery said the show’s reach figures needed to be treated carefully.
“As far as the figures go, reach is just someone having watched a minute of the show,” Mr Vickery said.
“There’s every chance the reach looks good because people haven’t switched off after Home and Away.
“Part of what you would look at to determine success or otherwise would be what it’s doing compared to the show on before.”
Mr Vickery said the downward trend in average audience was not ideal.
Emma and Michelle have emerged as two of the season’s key personalities, giving My Reno Rules some of its most watchable moments. Picture: Seven
“It’s not a disaster,” he said.
“But I think Seven would want more out of it than they’re getting.
“Those figures are okay, but not stunning. You’d like to think that you’re holding your audience, and they’ve sort of shaved a couple of hundred thousand off.”
Mr Vickery said Portelli was an asset, but his online following did not automatically guarantee mainstream television ratings.
“Adrian is obviously a very successful guy and he’s got a lot of subscribers,” he said.
“But that doesn’t necessarily translate to ratings for a mainstream television show.”
Designer Greg Natale said Australian audiences would always have an appetite for renovation TV when the format had the right hook. Picture: Seven
Interior designer Greg Natale said Australian audiences were still hungry for renovation television when the format had a strong hook.
“There will always be a hunger for it,” Mr Natale said.
“It’s deadlines, budgets blowing, clients that can’t make decisions. It’s high drama, especially at the end of a project.”
Mr Natale said he liked My Reno Rules’ competitive approach.
“I just think it’s more interesting, more of a game show,” he said.
Seven was contacted for comment.
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