Married at First Sight should put an end to the long hiatuses in between seasons, and instead, run the seasons back to back. Married at First Sight premiered in 2014 and has 17 seasons behind it. I have watched every season in the franchise, and have expert knowledge of the show’s scheduling, behind-the-scenes drama, and production initiatives. There have been 64 couples that have gotten married in the franchise, and 12 of those couples are still together, making an example that the experiment does work.
However, the last four seasons have only produced two couples. None of the Married at First Sight season 17 couples stayed together, and neither did any from season 15. Katina Goode and Olajuwon Dickerson from MAFS season 14 have been on and off again, and MAFS season 16’s Nicole Lilienthal and Chris Thielk are going strong. The Lifetime show has captivated fans with its unique premise and the drama that unfolds when two people agree to marry a stranger. However, I know there are ways the show can improve, like running seasons back to back instead of having long hiatuses.
Married At First Sight Follows A Schedule
I know Married at First Sight has a tendency to follow a schedule when it comes to ending one season and having another one begin. Typically, the hiatus in between seasons is 3–6 months. MAFS season 17 began in mid-October 2023 and ended in late April 2024, making it the longest season in the franchise yet. The Lifetime franchise doesn’t have many reality shows to its credit, and I believe MAFS is arguably the network’s biggest reality program.
There has been a teaser trailer released for Married at First Sight season 18, but the official trailer has not dropped. It is likely fans will have to wait until the fall for the new season’s premiere. I’m predicting there will likely be a hiatus totaling six months between seasons 17 and 18 because season 17 was so long and not received well because of all the failed marriages.
A Long Hiatus Doesn’t Benefit The MAFS Franchise
Making fans wait an extended period of time between seasons is not uncommon in the reality TV world, but it is not working for the Married at First Sight franchise. Given that the last few seasons have been largely bombs, I believe the franchise should endeavor to keep fans engaged by presenting them with hiatuses lasting only 1-2 months.
Having the hiatuses can be detrimental because there is more time for viewers to give up on the show or find new shows that they like and abandon their interest in MAFS .
On the flip side, a hiatus can make anticipation grow, but the show has not produced much noteworthy content and high-value entertainment in the last few seasons. This particular hiatus fans are going through could also be long because the network are hoping fans can reset after the last disastrous season. The network has a lot of making up to do and it can start by running the shows more back to back. Married at First Sight is an enchanting show, and engagement could improve with seasons running closer together.
Will Married At First Sight Change Its Scheduling?
Married at First Sight has been unrelenting in its endeavor to maintain long hiatuses between seasons.
Given the history, I feel like the show will keep trending towards keeping the hiatus 3 months and above, but it’s the wrong decision for the franchise.
Reality TV franchises don’t often make changes to their scheduling, so if MAFS did, it would be a huge change to the trajectory of the show. Having back-to-back seasons has worked extremely well for franchises like 90 Day Fiancé and Below Deck, so the MAFS network could take a nod to that, or start introducing spinoffs.
It’s possible that the network could change its tune about keeping seasons spread apart, but I also think the network needs to reevaluate things depending on how season 18 goes with the couples and how viewers receive the season. I believe the show needs an overhaul in several ways, and the hiatus shortening should be one of the top priorities for Married at First Sight.
