There are several reasons whyMarried at First Sightis trending in a new direction amid its move to switch streaming platforms.Married at First Sightseason 18is currently airing, although it is at the end of the season.Five couples were matchedby the panel of three experts, but only two of those couples made it to decision day after the eight-week-long experiment. Camille Parsons and Thomas McDonald said yes to staying married, while Karla Juarez and Juan Franco both asked for a divorce. Ikechi and Ojoré and Emem Obot split around their one-month anniversary.
One of the biggest shockers inMarried at First Sighthistory happened in season 18, as an unprecedented cheating scandal and couples swap took place. Michelle Tomblin’s husband, David Trimble, and Allen Slovick’s wife, Madison Myers, carried on a secret relationship. David got caught in a lie after he missent a scandalous text to Michelle that was meant for Madison, which prompted Michelle to surmise that it was meant for Madison. At the couples retreat, after initially lying,Madison and David came cleanand decided to pursue one another,leaving the show in a chaotic place.
MAFS Is Switching From Lifetime To Peacock
MAFS Season 19 Will Be On Peacock
Married at First Sighthas always been a reality TV product of the Lifetime network, which is owned by A&E Networks, which is jointly owned by Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company. An announcement was made in early 2025 that Peacock would be taking overMarried at First Sightin 2025 with the premiere ofMAFSseason 19. It’s unclear what led up to the exchange or what the business deal was behind it. In any case, Peacock is a streaming giant known for producing quality reality franchises likeBelow DeckandReal Housewives.
With the switch, there could come a shakeup in how the show is produced. Moreover,with a new platform could come bigger changes regarding how the show is formatted and how the experiment is conducted.However, since little information other than the headline is available, fans will have to wait and see what particular differences arise on the new network. Either way, it’s a clear sign the show is headed in a new direction.
MAFS Has Producer Interference
The Last Two Seasons Have Changed MAFS
Married at First Sighthas beenevolving over the years in what the show is trying to achieve. At its core early on, only three to four couples were highlighted each season, and more time was spent on the matches building their connections and getting expert guidance from the therapists. In newer seasons, there’s been a bigger emphasis on production being the catalyst to poignant situations and outcomes.
InMAFSseason 17 in Denver, Becca Haley and Austin Reed said yes to staying married on decision day, but they were in a very delicate place. WhenAustin went out with a female producer the night of decision day, he lied about it, and was caught immediately, by Becca the following day in front of the season 17 group. This led Becca to end her relationship with Austin. Had the producer not involved themselves with the cast in an inappropriate way, Becca and Austin may have had a different outcome.
In season 18, neither Madison nor David were going to admit the truth about their illicit affair. But when Madison was confronted by a producer, who broke the fourth wall, she was prompted to talk to David and then address the group.
Producer interference used to not be a tactic employed inMAFS, but it is seemingly becoming the trend, leading to a new directive for the show.
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The MAFS Couples Comingle More
Which Will Likely Be An Upheld Theme
Again, in the earlier seasons, the couples focused less on getting together as a group and more on spending quality time with their partners. The honeymoons, where David and Michelle established their connection, have hada stronger group comingling initiative, which has served to produce more drama. WithMarried at First Sightgetting a new streaming platform and putting more weight in the group interactions and producer-led aspects, the show is heading in a new direction.
Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.
