Seven Network's Seven Year Switch is already courting controversy hours before its launch, with viewers taking to social media and online petitions to have it blocked from air.
The show, a new launch for the network, sees couples on the brink of breakup put their marriages to the test, with each matched with a compatible, single person who they are to live with for two weeks.
Seven is calling the show, borrowed from a US format, a radical “experiment” or “Switch Therapy” but its already subject to controversy.
Four separate online petitions, with a combined supporter base of nearly 500, are protesting the show, calling it “disgusting and disgraceful”.
“Marriage is precious and should not be reduced to a refund or exchange,” one petition states.
Another says the show is justifying cheating and an “immoral idea of marriage”.
“Apparently if your marriage is in trouble the best thing to do is switch partners with someone else and decide if you still love your partner... what the actual heck is wrong with society.
“This is horrible and should not be aired on Australian TV.”
But despite the minimal backlash, it seems Seven is ready for the outrage; perhaps even banking on it for promotion. Its promo video for the show features quotes from reviewers, highlighting the words “outraged”, “immoral”, “radical” and “sinful”.
A blurb for the show even notes: “Switch Therapy. It was condemned in the US and it will shock Australia.”
The show premieres night at 9pm.
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