Television fans who have been complaining about a lack of decent programming on the free-to-air networks are about to be swamped with more than a dozen new shows in the next fortnight.

The sheer amount of choice is sure to overwhelm armchair critics, who will be able to select from a new batch of overseas drama, food shows and familiar reality programs.

Old favourites such as The Bachelor and Go Back to Where You Came From will return to air, alongside a whole host of new programs like Channel Seven's Restaurant Revolution and Channel Nine's The Hotplate.

So what's behind the flood of new programs? 

Media strategist Steve Allen says the conclusion of two major reality shows – MasterChef on Ten and House Rules on Seven – has left the commercial networks with plenty of programming space.

"They have to fill the space. House Rules has been three to four nights a week; MasterChef is five nights a week," Allen says.

But there's something more sinister at play, too – a full-blown ratings battle between Nine and Seven. And the other networks don't want to be left out. "Nine have very much aimed their guns at Seven and, to a lesser extent, Ten. This is hand-to-hand combat between the two," he continues.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of this week is the launch of several new food programs including The Hotplate on Nine and Restaurant Revolution on Seven on Tuesday night. The programs will be pitted against each other, and will run in the same timeslot.

Freeview CEO Liz Ross says the formula for successful shows is changing, with 45 per cent of Australians today having watched on-demand television like ABC's iview​ or Nine's Jumpin.

"If we take, for example, a particularly popular program, its success now isn't just live television viewing, although [that's] extremely important," Ross says. "It's also going to be important to see how much recording and on-demand viewing is happening too."

In the past week, Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook Melbourne has launched on SBS, Far Flung with Gary Mehigan​, a culinary romp through Asia, on Ten, playground drama Little Lunch on ABC and Dancing With The Stars on Seven.

A slew of reality shows are also about to kick off, with Australian women getting their first proper look at new Bachelor Sam Wood when The Bachelor airs on Ten on Wednesday.

The LifeStyle Channel is entering the fray with Village Vets on Thursday, while Ten's The Great Australian Spelling Bee launches Monday week.

Documentary lovers will be able to sink their teeth into a new season of Go Back to Where You Came From on SBS on Tuesday, Who's Been Sleeping in My House? on the ABC on Thursday and Who Do You Think You Are on SBS on Tuesday week.

Overseas drama includes Bosch premiering on SBS on Wednesday night, and The Mysteries of Laura on Nine on Tuesday.

Programs coming later in 2015

ABC:

The Ex-PM

Shaun Micallef​ stars as Andrew Dugdale, Australia's washed-up, third longest-serving prime minister who must accept a ghostwriter into his home after blowing his memoir advance without writing anything in return.

The Beautiful Lie

The ABC's reimagined version of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel Anna Karenina will see lead actor Rodger Corser​ weave a tale of adultery and scandal involving three families.

SBS:

The Principal

Alex Dimitriades​ plays the principal of a notoriously violent and difficult boys' school who is already besieged when a student is found dead on the school grounds.

Kebab Kings

In a series that is sure to combine comedy with reality, SBS will follow the staff and customers at two Australian kebab shops, offering a rare front-row seat into Australian life.

Ten:

The Bachelorette

After being jilted by fiancee Blake Garvey in season two of The Bachelor, Sam Frost will be given a second chance at finding love in the first season of The Bachelorette.

TBL Families

Australia's favourite weight-loss program The Biggest Loser returns in 2015 with a new moniker and a new host in former contestant Fiona Falkiner.

Nine:

The Block

After only wrapping up on Triple Threat in April with record-breaking auction results, the long-running show will return later this year with an eight-storey former hotel in the mix.

Celebrity Apprentice

Gabi Grecko, Geoffrey Edelsten, Blake Garvey and Sophie Monk will be among those going head-to-head in businessman Mark Bouris' reality series.

Seven:

X Factor

Auditions are currently underway for the music talent show with Guy Sebastian, Dannii Minogue, James Blunt and Chris Isaak serving as judges.

800 Words

Erik Thompson plays a recently widowed writer who quits his job as a top Sydney columnist and moves to a remote New Zealand seaside town with his teenage children.