© Nine Network
Bosses at the television channel hope that by bringing back reality makeover show The Block with a new format and extra presenter Shelley Craft, they can boost audience figures after a bad start to the year.
From next week, The Block will go head-to-head against Home and Away on the Seven Network and Channel Ten's The 7pm Project in its primetime slot.
Spokesperson for branding agency Fusion Strategy Steve Allen told the Herald Sun: "This is one of the toughest time slots to get people out of their viewing routine [but] our forecast [for The Block] is 1 million viewers."
Nine's viewing figures have been down approximately 20% compared to last year's audience statistics. Home and Away has been thriving since the axing of Two and a Half Men, while The 7pm Project achieved 900,000 viewers this week.
Scott Cam, the original host of The Block, revealed earlier this week that the programme will now be aired five nights a week. He said: "I think the show always had enough elements to go five nights a week and we missed out on a lot of great [TV] because we didn't have the time."
The show returned last year after a hiatus. It was first aired in 2003.
The Block premieres next Monday at 7pm on Channel Nine.
