Expert reveals 'Dad TV' is taking over Australian screens: 'It may not be cool, but it's highly watchable'

A new genre is captivating Australian audiences and it's called "Dad TV". 

This content features relatable heroes who navigate everyday challenges while upholding traditional values.

Culture Expert Thomas Mitchell, from The Sydney Morning Herald, explains the rise of Dad TV, highlighting its appeal in a complex and often overwhelming world.

Watch the video above.

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"Dad TV may not be cool, but it's highly watchable," Mitchell said on Today Extra.

"It's the kind of show where respect is king, often the characters are wearing jeans, maybe they have a big truck or a horse. Essentially, it's about feel-good TV where we know objectively what's right and wrong… good prevails in the end," he said.

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"All you need to do is sit on the lounge and watch these very impressive men, who often look very good in their jeans, doing exactly what they do and at the end of the day you feel good." 

These programs offer audiences a sense of comfort and nostalgia and ''old school values".

"We're living in the golden age of Dad TV," Mitchell said. 

"People… want a throwback to a simpler time when we knew what was right and wrong, we knew what was good and bad. It's easy to project ourselves into these idyllic heroes onscreen."

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Despite its seemingly gendered nature, Dad TV attracts a diverse audience. 

He noted the shows "have a pretty 50/50 split in terms of audience demographic between men and women."

As Dad TV evolves, Mitchell predicts it will "splinter" into subgenres, catering to specific interests within the broader category. 

"Dads, mums, kids, everyone can enjoy it," he said. 

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.

Nine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service Stan.

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