The Bolt Report
In its first outing on TEN, The Bolt Report seemed more interested in guests who furthered the views of the host, than engaging in balanced debate.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Programming, Reviews
Andrew Bolt’s first show on TEN offered up some of his favourite topics: refugees, climate change and politics.
If the intent of The Bolt Report was to do what Bolt does so eloquently in print and talkback radio -provoke a reaction- it is off to a good start.
But how does it fit with TEN’s news revamp as a serious news broadcaster? Its first outing succeeded more as a forum for its host than its subjects, with a distinct lack of impartiality and balance.
On a Coca-Cola red set, Bolt’s opening editorial let rip at the Gillard Government’s new deal with Malaysia, to send 800 Refugees back in exchange for accepting 4000 of theirs. It was as if the announcement had been timed perfectly for his premiere episode. Bolt made lots of comparisons with the Howard Government’s policy on “boat people” (a term that featured throughout the show) and Gillard’s “disastrous” policy. It was uncompromising, personal and stilted.
It was followed by Tony Abbott as Bolt’s first interview, in a free kick at the government. Bolt didn’t let Abbott finish his first 3 questions, but a friendly Abbott was still happy to congratulate him on his first outing -“May it flourish,” he said.
Bolt didn’t tackle Abbott hard enough on his own policies, laughing when an answer was avoided.
Next up were Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger and former Labor Leader Mark Latham, continuing with the refugee issue. Kroger was the show’s best performer: articulate, concise, covering several points. Latham didn’t defend Labor policies, raising more questions about balance. Given his zeal for the spotlight of late its doubtful that he was looking to push a Labor line rather than a Latham line. As a result it felt like one opinion from three mouths rather than a black and white conversation with a moderator.
More refugee content followed via an edited interview with Riz Wakil, billed as an “Afghan Refugee” rather than “Former Afghan Refugee”, despite telling Bolt he arrived here at the age of 18 -11 years ago.
“I understand your family is still in Pakistan, why didn’t you stay in Pakistan? Why didn’t you stay in Indonesia?” asked Bolt.
Yikes.
A testy discussion followed with Bolt keen to footnote his own views on the back of Wakil’s answers. After more than 15 minutes of anti-Refugee discussion, this did little to show another side to the issue. With no credits (either on the show or on the TEN website) it’s hard to know which producer to blame for this imbalance.
The show rounded out with a Spin of the Week segment (I thought we had been watching it already?) and two more called Under the Radar and Free Speech Award.
Bolt’s hosting of the show was awkward when reading the autocue, but more effective when in a debate.
However, Insiders showed he is more effective as a commentator than host, a role which requires more moderating and less editorialising. Can Bolt possibly have it both ways?
Or is there room for a show where the guests are there to further the views of the host? Ask Glenn Beck of FOX News…
But the bottom line may be about “shock jock” television, to ignite the viewer to become as mad as hell and simply tune in to cheer or hiss the lead player -either may well win them more viewers than a replay of the latest Video Hits clip.
The more considered viewers will stick around for the balance of Meet the Press at 10:30am hosted by Paul Bongiorno. Yesterday it interviewed Greens leader Bob Brown. He wasn’t a fan of Gillard’s new agreement with Malaysia either, but not for the same reasons as Bolt. Questioned by two other journos everybody shared a range of views without raising their voice or being interrupted.
Meet The Press has been on TEN since 1996.
The Bolt Report airs 10am Sundays on TEN.
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- Tagged with Insiders, The Bolt Report, Video Hits
136 Responses
Congratulations, thelma. Next time you post, try English.
Mike Retter:
You wrote: “The accusations of the ABC being biased is rubbish. How can the most regulated and accurate news source in the country be the most biased?”
Simple, really. The ABC board is stacked with right-wing nutters, agro kindergarten teachers and, I suspect, rabid ute drivers. A good dose of tripe and onions would work wonders.
Where does one startt?
Apparently some people in this country do not like free speech. David Knox here deserves the right to say what he likes, so he should for that is part and parcel to what free speech means. However it seems to me The Bolt Report hit a chord he doesn’t like. Perhaps the truth hurts those who cannot admit it. Next Mr Knox will be throwing up the ABC’s Q & A as a glowing example of unbiased television.
Excuse me while I reach for my emesis bag.
Don’t Cop It Australia
The Bolt Report was a success, it scared David here.
Hilarious claims of the left wing bias of the ABC from people who have obviously not watched the ABC in a long time.
Reporters like Melissa Clarke should just wear ‘I love the Liberal party’ t-shirts they are so biased.
ABC, especially its ABC News Radio is blatantly one-sided, no different to the blatant one-sidedness of the talkback radio jockeys. But listening to both sides gives a good indication of the middle ground, or what is the correct point of view. It’s good to have another point of view, but it’s bias is no different to that brought upon by the left-wing oriented media.
Wonderful at last someone with a conservative slant, at long last .
Sick to death of the leftwing bias ABC
Well done to Andrew Bolt and channel 10!
Watch the ratings!
to quote the great Stephen Colbert,
“Reality has a well-known liberal bias.”
Great article Mr Knox. There is no hate spreading leftie equivalent to this rubbish on TV. This guy is an extremist and it is right to scrutinise the decision to give him such a national journalistic platform. It is a shame people will listen to this guy on serious issues like climate change over actual climate scientists.
The accusations of the ABC being biased is rubbish. How can the most regulated and accurate news source in the country be the most biased? If the ABC shows bias or is inaccurate they get in trouble, unlike the rest of the media in this country.
I am sure the boycott Ten facebook page is doing a roaring trade right now.
All I can say is that it’s been an eye opening experience checking out links to some of the contributors’ usernames on this topic …
What do you call fifteen people watching the rugby world cup finals?
The All Blacks.
That’s rich talking about lack of impartiality and balance. Don’t like it when the boot’s on the other foot? Bolt does what the mainstream media finds itself incapable or unwilling to do, investigate hysterical governmental claims re climate change and the carbon tax fiasco, and it’s inept policy on asylum seekers. Good on him, and may his program be extended to a one hour broadcast in future.
Good work, snapper jack!
Does anybody remember the last foray into talkback television? Alan Jones Live. How long did that last?
ABC which includes Insiders, TV tonight, etc, is banned from my family’s list of viewing and If i can find a way to delete ABC from my internal list of tv stations, I will be attempting to find a way, while I’ll be watching every episode of the Bolt Report. and anything that supports him. ABC is totally useless with regards to telling us the truth and facts. I get my facts from FB, 2Gb and Andrew Bolt’s blogs. I know this email won’t have an affect on you, but the more people i talk into not watching you, the less ratings you’ll get
.
Every other program to which you have referred in this article is blatantly biased towards Labor. So why don’t you call for balance from them Mr Knox? Showing your true collies, methinks.
The left has the ABC, SBS and the vast majority of commercial TV reporters on its side.
I get annoyed when Andrew Bolt chooses to label the ABC as an arm of the ALP, then openly hosts a show that is clearly aims to push a right winged agenda.
Hypocrite! I’m almost “incandescent with rage”.
Geez David, you’ve forgotten Rule No. 1 – never talk about politics or religion!
I fear that this site has now been discovered by those cretinous rednecks who foul up other websites claiming to represent ‘the majority’ when they are actually only about 5 people with multiple accounts paid to push an agenda. They’re like the sheep on Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’.
This is a really sad day for TV Tonight, it will never be the same again.
I didn’t see the Bolt Report (yet), but still, they should put in credits, or is the current policy of this network and Seven/Nine to have 3 ads per half hour? BTW, here’s another example of why in some of their own productions, the commercial networks aren’t honoring their staff.
Look at Nine’s RBT. Decent locally made show where drink drivers and druggies get busted on camera, but the bad news…the only credits we got are “Produced In Association With The NSW and Victoria Police Forces” and the Screentime logo (with screentime.tv underneath). Would it kill Nine to put some decent credits in, or they can’t afford it? Ohhh…they can, but they’ll have to drop one ad break to fit it in. (come on Nine, Border Security has end credits!) Another couple of shows with no credits are Customs and Send In The Dogs Australia. And…how about Ten’s locally made factual shows like Bondi Rescue and Bondi Vet?
I wonder if next weeks panel will be more rounded. Say, Alan Jones, Piers Akerman and anyone from The Australian or 2GB? Oh hang on, Bolt will need a token woman to agree with him. Better call Miranda Devine to join in and through any of the following:
1. Terrible policies from labor
2. Dole bludgers (and labour’s support of course)
3. Boat people!
4. Crime (and how labour is doing lite about it)
5. Boat people?
6. Time for a wrap up on all of the above.
Seriously Ten (pun intended)? What a predictable joke.
How distressing it must be for the left wing media to hear another opinion. Truth is and hear is the lesson for the media. This country is sick of this Government, they havnt done a thing right since they got in, and just because the media barrack for them with their pom pons and chants, it doesn’t mean the rest of us want to listen to it.
Nice to hear another side for change. Well done Andrew your the voice of the majority!
and what else did anyone expect? I watched, muting the show and unmuting during commercial and I kept a list of the advertisers during this program and have since emailed every company telling them I will not be buying their products if they keep supporting this bigot. whats worse is I honestly believe he doesnt swallow half the crap that comes out of his mouth and playing some kind of self ordained devils advocate for “levelled opinion”.
Take that you leftist elite. Finally the rest of Australia and that is the silent majority will have their voice heard on the TV as well as on the radio airwaves. The Bolt Report will rate it’s socks off with middle Australia. No doubt the left is really shaking in it’s communist boots now. I am so happy to see the hero of Conservative media get his show and I for many will never miss it. Facebook groups set up to oppose the Bolt Report speak clearly that this man and his opinion have credibility, otherwise why else would the leftists be so determined to silence him and so scared of what he has to say and expose. The truth is coming comrades and so is the new revolution because your social engineering experiment has failed.
Of course the show was biased – it was always going to be with Andrew Bolt.
The point though is that the bias is now swinging a different way to mainstream media – perhaps that is why people are upset with the show.
I would prefer it to be less biased but I for one am glad Bolt has got this show off the ground.
Bolt? Liberal bias? No way!
In any case, I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode of Media Watch…