‘He said / She said’ as Nine’s “pokies comments’ turn ugly
Ray Warren says the comments he made about Pokies reforms during an NRL match were a "directive from up top." But that's not what Nine reckons.
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The heat is turning up over the on-air remarks about Pokies reforms, made by Nine sports commentators during a recent NRL game.
Ray Warren says the comments he made were a “directive from up top” -contradicting a statement from Nine to Media Watch that says they were the opinions of the commentators, Warren and Phil ‘Gus’ Gould.
Shelley Bates, Network Compliance Manager told Media Watch, “The comments relating to the Federal Government proposed poker machine tax were purely the opinions of the commentators regarding matters directly affecting the NRL community.”
On September 23rd when he was commentating an NRL match, Warren told viewers that Gillard’s Laws wouldn’t help problem gamblers.
“The Eagles are rocking. Not only has the Manly Football Club been doing great work on the field this season they have also been very busy working with the community off the field with significant funding from the Manly Leagues Club and Harbord Diggers …but they are under threat from the new untested technology the federal government plans to introduce.”
Gould said, “I’ve never seen a more stupid policy in all my life…”
A website which campaigns against the reforms was spruiked.
On a radio show the day after making the comments, Warren told his co-host, Dan Ginnane, “It was a directive from up top that it be read by at least somebody, so I read it.”
Yesterday Senator Xenophon and fellow independent Andrew Wilkie sent a letter to Nine’s chief executive, David Gyngell, making a formal complaint about the comments. The letter stated that Nine may have been in breach of the television code, the Electoral Act and Broadcasting Services Act.
They may also escalate the matter to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Source: The Age
Corrected.
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34 Responses
night -> might. doh
The smoking gun is the super with the website URL, if it was a spontaneous opinion from Mr Gould, then how come they have a super ready to go. Very bad timing for Nine getting involved in this with the government keen to look at media regulation.
@animal – if you really believe that Rabs and Gus were just expressing personal opinions I have a bridge you might like to buy.
Channel Nine will be shaking in their boots – they night have to commit to some more staff training in 12-18 months time.
get these two to sign affidavits an see what happens
So NRL is just a gambling racket?
As for all this pokies debate.
It’s typical of a couple of minority politicians, with a little bit of power, abusing the situation, don’t like what someone else says, and crying poor over it.
People like Rabs and Gus Gould for that matter, have every right to express their own opinions, regardless of the situatiion
It’s so damn obvious that Nine are going to get a slap on the wrist as always. Sorry but until they get severely punished they won’t give a rats. I hope they throw the book at them but it will be a cold day in hell before that happens. IMO Nine are a joke. To be quite frank here the NRL Grand Final coverage was quite poor in production standards. Plus all those endless plugs for tabsportsbet was bullsh!t. I wonder what they will do with the Olympics. I actually hate to think.
Seems strange that experienced commentators would say what they did not want to
Note to rabbs RE:Manly Football Club.
Manly Football Club play in the NSW State Football League Not the National Rugby League. They would be the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league club. Its almost as bad as when Phil ‘Gus’ Gould referd to english rugby league as Englisg Footy, As if.
Sounds like Nine were paid by Clubs lobby, and then Nine directed commentators to comment, but tried to pass it off as just opinion. Disgraceful by Nine, but it’s expected from Nine. That’s just how they roll.
The real sad thing is, in 3 years time, ACMA will release a statement saying Nine are very bad, we gave them a warning.
Would these directives from above at Nine explain why Karl Stefanovic is beginning to sound like a younger version of Alan Jones with his ultra-conservative views? Or would it just be that KS is one of the biggest boofheads on TV?
What an even bigger laughing stock Nine has evolved into. Yeah they were random comments, good one Nine, I wonder who is buying that?
I don’t think Ray Warren would lie about it. I wish he hadn’t read out the comments, but I commend him for placing the blame on management, and not being the fallguy.
Yeah I think Timmy nailed it, if they were really “off the cuff” comments, why would channel 9 have a super or on-screen graphic with the anti-reform website’s URL ready to go before the commentators even read out the site? I really can’t think of any explanation for that…
Hope Nine get punished for this stupid decision…seems they can’t get their story straight either
I agree with timmy.
There was an on-screen graphic of the URL that was being read out (instantly).
This takes planning and approval at some production level. It destroys any argument that the comments were spontaneous and only those of commentators.
What a crock – the muppets at Ch.9 must think we are all as dense as they are. How could these comments be spontaneous when they’ve already got the web address ready to roll on screen for viewers? No wonder the entire network is becoming a laughing stock when they do stuff like this.
Of course it was a directive from mgmt. Every thing can be bought off these days – a few comments placed in commentary – not a problem.
Definitely scripted.
Jeffrey Browne is the MD of the TV business. Should be him not David Gyngell on the block.
Of course it was scripted, as witnessed by the helpful appearance of that URL splashed across the screen as he spoke. It’s laughable that Nine can even attempt to pass that off as “off the cuff” remarks by the presenters. Pathetic, Nine.
Just hearing it on Media Watch last night it was obvious the comments were being read. These guys are not actors, so they made it sound like an advertorial.
Interesting……!
eh actually, no not really.
Uh, David November 23 hasn’t happened yet this year and when it does it’ll be the 48th birthday of Doctor Who. If a show can have a birthday. Plus a we’re ahead it’ll be in the U.K. if one wants to be technical.
On the other matter does that mean Channel Nine will be slapped with a paper cut reading the letter of reprimand they’ll get? If that. Unless they decide to scape goat someone over it. Although one wonders with politicians involved.
sports commentary mixed with politics…wtf…this really is a new low for aussie broadcasting
Hahahahahahahshahshsha
Unrelated, David why are the NRL saying 3.3 million watched their GF 4 if you count NZ?? And they trounced the AFL? You would know who did win? There is an article in SMH saying NRL kicked AFLs ass??