According to recent research released by Roy Morgan almost half a million Australian women over the age of 14 love the reality TV show The Bachelor Australia, including around 160,000 women aged 20 to 34 (6%). But look a little more closely, and it seems young women who are partnered themselves are twice as likely as single ladies to enjoy watching the show.
“As part of our national Single Source survey, in the 12 months to March 2016 we interviewed almost 5,000 Australian women aged 20 to 34. Among thousands of other things, our research found that partnered women this age were twice as likely as those who are single to say they really love to watch The Bachelor Australia. Married young women in particular were the biggest fans of the show, with those who are engaged not far behind.” Michele Levine, CEO – Roy Morgan Research commented.
Levine went on to explain that among the target demographic of women 20-34, the show’s most likely fans reckon they’ve already scored their prince (or princess)—and are watching the plight with delight from the comfort of coupledom (and perhaps some smug superiority). Adding that 40% of women aged 20 to 34 are single, and 57% are partnered—whether married, de facto or engaged—with the remaining 3% already self-describing as divorced, separated or widowed.

% of women 20-34 who ‘really love to watch’ The Bachelor Australia

Levine said that among all the partnered women in this age group, 8% say The Bachelor Australia is a show they ‘really love to watch’—with wives the most likely of all (9%), followed by imminent brides (7%) and those in de facto relationships (6%). All coupled-up young women show a much greater love for The Bachelor than their single counterparts. 4% of single women 20-34 really love the show—half the overall rate among partnered women.
“The show’s reverse version, The Bachelorette Australia, where one single woman chooses from a pool of men, shows an even greater disparity between the two camps in the target demographic: partnered young women are over four times more likely to say they love the show than those who are single.” Levine commented “While it’s probably true that the show holds a special appeal for those who can view it from the vantage point of satisfied coupledom, single young women are also more likely than their partnered counterparts to go to the cinema, nightclubs, concerts, the theatre, ballet or opera, sporting events, exhibitions, museums or galleries, or to read books, play sport, or go away for weekends. So maybe the difference is in part because they’re too busy to love a TV show on multiple nights a week.” Levine added.