When a long-running program fades from our screens, it can stir a surprising amount of emotion.
That was certainly the case with Channel 10’s recent decision to retire a well-known evening favourite, The Project.
The show blended light-hearted moments with serious conversations, and for many viewers, had become part of their evening ritual.
Now, with its replacement already on air, many are left wondering—is this a fresh start, or just a missed opportunity?
A shift in tone, a shift in reaction
On Monday night, 10 News+ made its debut, replacing The Project.
Hosted by Amelia Brace and Denham Hitchcock, the program introduced itself with a promise of a ‘fresh approach to news’.
Denham opened with: ‘We’re not here to tell you what to think. We’re not here to scare or depress you.’
Amelia added they would deliver ‘facts, information you can trust, the truth’, along with investigations and original reporting not seen elsewhere.
Despite those assurances, audience reactions were quick and mixed.
Mixed feedback from viewers
While the program secured a world-exclusive interview with convicted drug smuggler Debbie Voulgaris from a Taiwanese prison, and conducted an interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, it struggled to resonate with The Project’s loyal viewers.
The reaction on social media was swift, with many lamenting the loss of the previous program’s tone and style.
‘Seriously Channel 10! There’s enough depressing news already out there and now you’ve brought it to us at 6pm! Bring back The Project,’ one viewer wrote.
Another described 10 News+ as a ‘snooze fest of a show with no soul’, while some questioned whether the presenters were even real people, suggesting they seemed ‘AI generated’.
Some also criticised the show’s overly serious tone and familiar format. ‘This 6 o’clock news is waaayyyy too serious,’ someone else wrote. ‘Cut and paste of Channel 9’s A Current Affair. Not interested. Already changed channel.’
One viewer simply remarked: ‘Give it a month’ or that it ‘won’t last the year’. Despite the criticism, others saw promise.
‘Loving @10NewsPlus—strong launch story,’ one wrote on social media. Another praised an astronaut interview as ‘very interesting’.
Remembering The Project
The final episode of The Project was a tearjerker.
Waleed Aly delivered an emotional monologue about the show’s legacy: ‘Sixteen years ago, some outstandingly creative people began an audacious TV experiment. Could you straddle the world of news, popular culture and comedy in a single show, a single segment, a single moment?’
He reflected on how the show brought people together and connected viewers across backgrounds.
‘This show brought people together with sometimes very little in common and made them long-term friends,’ he said.
Why the backlash?
Many viewers say they are struggling to adjust because The Project was more than just a news program—it was conversation, connection and community.
10 News+, by contrast, leans into a more traditional current affairs format, focusing on investigations and hard news.
At 6pm, that tone may feel too heavy for viewers seeking a gentler transition into their evening.
‘Please no more long investigation reports—it’s 6pm,’ one viewer commented.
Your turn: What do you think of the change?
Were you a fan of The Project? Have you given 10 News+ a fair go, or have you already reached for the remote?
Do you think it deserves time to evolve, or is it simply not what you’re after in a nightly news program?
Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear all sides of the conversation.
Also read: Channel 10 axes Australian ‘Survivor’ host in ‘blindsided’ twist
I wasn’t a major fan of the Project, but, so far I am not a fan of the New Format 10News+.
I have watched two episodes, and that is enough for me. I can’t put my finger on just what turns me off it, but it just doesn’t Gel !!!
Maybe it’s the Presenters, as someone stated, appear to AI generated, and not Real People, but it is still early in the season, they may “relax and become Human as the Show goes on” !!
The Project hated conservatives, Christians, Australia Day and monarchists – good riddance of bad rubbish.