Angry Rant #12: Is this an Ad or is it News?

Nine News reported on a story this afternoon, and then again on the 6pm news, detailing the final result of the TV show, The Block and I have a few questions:

1. Who the hell cares?
2. Advertising makes news?
3. Does anyone actually like Australian TV?

How can a TV network like Channel Nine get away with this kind of news story? I, like most people, do not care about some stupid, worthless "reality" TV show or how it's idiotic contestants are feeling. I don't care about how much money they've won, or what they're going to spend it on. I don't care about the problems they face when they try to restore some house - It means nothing to everyone. Is there NOTHING else going on in the world besides that one pointless TV show?

Nope. It doesn't look like it. 

Then when a show like Media Watch does a story on why that particular news story is just shamelessly plugging their own garbage, the word from the Channel Nine camp sounds something like, "Do the "journalists" at Media Watch have anything better to do?" 

Wait...so there are Journalists at Channel 9? Journalists? Channel 9? Now there's two words that should never go together. Take, for example, earlier in the year when there were floods in northern Victoria. All the reporters on the scene were getting knee deep in the water except one - Laura Turner. In short, Laura is accused of being on her knees to make the flood waters look worse.

Decide for yourself

The most striking point here is how the SES urged people not to go into the flood waters because it was dangerous. I'd discuss the problems with Channel 7 and their "news" but I would go on for a while, so I won't yet, but I digress...

Back on topic, don't just think that Channel 9 turns advertising into news, because both Channels Ten and Seven have done the same thing. It's the reason why I don't watch TV for news anymore - it's all about making money and making us buy things we don't need, or in case make us watch stupid shows about stupid people. 

Problem: There are too many news programs, and for them to fill news slots up, things must either be made out to be worse than there are (i.e the floods), dragged out so that the news day is easier to manage (i.e Jessica Watson and her yacht) or they are filled with nonsensical fluff stories like that wedding between Kate and William. 

Also, Peter Overton needs to be kicked. Nothing is worse than an up-himself news anchor. 

I'd fire him.

Don't believe the Lies and Spin.