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Nine denies ‘pokies editorial’ during NRL

Andrew Wilkie & Nick Xenopohon have prepared a complaint for ACMA after Nine NRL commentators discuss pokie reforms during the NRL semi-final.

Independent polticians Andrew Wilkie and independent Senator Nick Xenopohon have prepared a complaint for the Australian Communications and Media Authority after Nine’s NRL commentators Ray Warren and Phil Gould discussed the pokie reforms during coverage of the NRL semi-final on September 24th.

Wilkie, who has the Gillard government’s support on pokies reforms, believes they amounted to an editorial.

“Ray Warren and Phil Gould’s comments were passed off as ‘commentary’ when it sounded more like an advertisement for the local pokies venue,” Senator Xenophon agreed. “I’d like to know who wrote the editorial.

“It couldn’t have been filled with more Clubs Australia key messages than if it was their press release.”

But a Nine spokesman said the station believes it complied with all provisions of the Code of Practice and the Broadcasting Services Act in airing the commentator’s remarks.

“There are no plans for the commentators or any other person to talk about the poker machine reforms during the grand final coverage,” he said.

Nine received dozens of viewer complaints over the broadcast. Gambling advertisements during sports broadcasts have received on-going scrutiny.

Nine personality and Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire has also branded the reforms a “tax” on clubs.

But Minister for Families and Community Services, Jenny Macklin recently said, “Problem gambling is very serious. People’s lives are being ruined and families destroyed. More must be done to help pokie addicts and their families.”

Nine says there will be no similar ads during today’s NRL Grand Final.

Source: news.com.au, smh.com.au

20 Responses

  1. My wife is getting sick of me saying it, but I’m so sure there was not this much advertising for sports gambling just a few years ago

    Anyway I heard the commentators and thought they just sounded pathetic. Hopefully most listeners are able to make their own minds up, whichever side they choose to take

  2. The billionaire pokie industry squealed they would go bankrupt when the anti-smoking laws were passed years ago.

    The billionaire tobacco industry squealed they would go bankrupt when cigarette advertising was banned in the media.

    The billionaire mining industry squealed that profits would go down and jobs would go offshore if there was an increase in mining taxes.

    And of course – Tony “climate change is absolute crap” Abbott is squealing that the entire country will be destroyed if the carbon price is introduced.

    One thing that is certain though – these big businesses and luddite politicians will continue to enjoy huge salaries and luxurious perks while the poor and middle class are royally screwed by them.

  3. The NRL are a disgrace . Their coverage is so pathetic with gambling. I love betting and love sport but they just go to far. Some is fine but the commentators go too far. I know NRL commentators are not too bright so why not just keep your ideas to yourself!!? We don’t care what you think………..

  4. Gambling advertising during sport is out of control as it is, commentators already slip in ads for sports betting. And now pokies are a sporting issue too. Something has to be done.

  5. Noticed on tonight’s match, when the first try was scored the commentator mentioned how much you would have won had you betted on the player scoring the first try.

  6. @Dean

    The difference is on 7pm Project, the panel are put there to have an opinion on things and bring to the table their own perceptions. Just like the way Steve Price does every Tuesday.

    If someone is put on television to discuss and commentate on the match then that’s the only thing they should be doing. Simple

  7. This is what happens when you have a CEO of an NRL club (Penrith Panthers) which relies heavily on poker machine revenue commentating. Gould said the exact same thing on The Sunday Roast a couple of weeks ago aswell pushing his own agenda.

  8. Saw this and was pretty shocked by how blatant the two were, two who I used to have a load of respect for…

    I don’t watch the NRL for the commentator’s political views or their cash for comment, just shut up and call the game Rabs, that’s what I respected you for.

  9. Can’t tar all the commentators with the same brush. Sterlo took a swipe at Sportsbet a few weeks ago as the ad break was ending, he made a comment along the lines of “it’s not coming out of your pocket” which he he probably didn’t mean to go to air.

  10. I watched and heard that commentary while watching the match. I also noted how chummy the betting spokesman was, chatting away about the various options people could make on the phone and online. “There’s still time to bet!”

  11. This is unacceptable. The NRL should be ashamed of themselves for supporting Clubs Australia on the pokie reforms issue. GetUp has booked ads to screen on Nine during the NRL Grand Final to counteract those that Clubs Australia plans to run.

  12. Will 9 ever be held to account for this? I highly doubt it. On a positive at least thier viewership for Aca has been constantly decreasing this year. Just take a look at Fridays figure, its lowest for the year to date me thinks. And to all the NRL/9 fanbois please dont try and compare the AFL Grand Final figures with the NRL figures. What many of you deliberately overlook is that the AFL GF is out of primetime on a Saturday afternoon, Not in a cush cush 630pm Sunday night slot.

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