Channel Ten’s Brock Fails To Snag Ratings, Gets Roasted On Twitter
Channel Ten’s two-part series of Brock, the story of Aussie racing legend Peter Brock, has fallen flat on its face and copped waves of criticism from the Twittersphere when it aired over two nights this week.
Airing on Sunday, it nabbed 828,000 viewers, per OzTAM metro figures, making it the seventh highest entertainment program including the podium, wrap up and race broadcasts of the Bathurst 1000, which collectively cleaned up with close to 3.5 million views.
However, looking to last night’s audience stats, the program clearly didn’t resonate with audiences the way Ten might have hoped, winning just 526,000 viewers and barely scraping into the top 20 shows of the night at number 19.
Per news.com.au, following Sunday’s debut, Ian Tate, chief mechanic for the Holden Dealer Team from 1969 to 1976, said he’d spoken with Peter Brock’s son James Brock, and that both concluded the show was “really poorly done”.
“He’s not impressed and I don’t think his mother (Bev) is,” he told news. “I wasted two hours watching it. It’s the most pathetic crap I’ve ever seen.
“It’s not even a B-grade movie, I thought it was put together by a pack of uni students. I can’t see anyone watching it again tonight.”
Brock’s long-term partner Bev had initially railed against the production of the mini-series, describing the story as “absolute bullshit” even before a script had been written. But closer to screening, the telemovie’s executive producer, Kerrie Mainwaring was reported saying that she had eventually come on board.
Per news.com.au, Brock’s PR chief, Tim ‘Plastic’ Pemberton said the makers had actually done a “terrific job” recreating the time period, but that they hadn’t accurately captured the personality of Brock himself.
“If you grabbed any bloke and looked at their 10 most outrageous moments in an hour on TV, no one would look very good,” he said. “I don’t think they’ve captured the real Brock.”
Twitter users had a few similar opinions.
Reckon the channel ten writers smoked Brock’s crystals while they wrote this #4hoursunevergetback #brock
— mark (@voodoorock) October 10, 2016
Is Brendan Cowell in #Brock doing the worst accent work ever seen on television?
— JamCalić (@PBJamCal) October 9, 2016
Hard as a motorsport fan to ignore the poetic licence used but even apart from that, the #Brock miniseries felt a bit sub-par unfortunately
— Ed Greenhalgh (@ed24f1) October 9, 2016
Push button phones and Peter Brock meeting Bev in 1969. Basic errors. Plus ludicrous dialogue. He deserves better than #Brock.
— Craig Middleton (@ACommsGuy) October 9, 2016
Actor Brendan Cowell, who starred in Brock as race car driver Allan Moffat, also had a dig at the overall genre of Aussie biopics on TV, saying he wants networks to stop playing it safe by reflecting Australian icons and start taking risks with fresh programs.
The actor and writer, who won acclaim for his adaptation of Christian Tsiolkas novel, The Slap (which sold internationally), told News Corp Australia, “These days, every time you see something happen, someone wins a race or someone gets shot, you start to say ‘oh I wonder who will get that role?’”
“I won the screenplay award for The Slap but have struggled to work as a writer here because I find unless you pitch the Kay Cottee story, it’s hard to get challenging, new ideas up in this country.”
Latest News
‘A Very Rare Breed Of Creative’ – Clemenger BBDO hires Chief Creative Officer
B&T's chatting with Clems boss Dani Bassil on Adrián Flores CCO appointment. We never got to Italian or Thai herbs.
Concrete Playground Debuts Innovative Urban Exploration Platform With Lexus As Launch Partner
Concrete Playground announced the launch of its redesigned website in partnership with Lexus. This partnership introduces a new era of urban discovery, enabling a deeper, more intuitive engagement with cities through a state-of-the-art digital platform. Revolutionised Digital Experience Concrete Playground’s website has undergone a significant transformation, designed to enhance the way users interact with their […]
Mindshare And The Brand Agency Take Top April’s New Business Rankings
Which agencies soared like an eagle for the month of April? As in stellar performance, not Eddie the hapless ski jumper.
Suntory BOSS Coffee Fuels Ambition With New Campaign From It’s Friday
Does your workplace have a strict, policed illegal drug policy? Then Suntory BOSS Coffee will have to do.
Resolution Digital Wins MyPlates Media Account
The best thing about personalised number plates is it makes spotting wankers on the road far easier. And drug kingpins.
Debunking The “Three Year Lie”: A New Approach To Retail Digital Strategy
This columnist says it's wrong to claim digital always has a three-year pay off. Has no opinion on the seven-year itch.
TV Ratings (06/05/2024): The Farmer Is Back And He Wants A Wife
It was a good night for lovers of farming and love.
The Growth Distillery Unveils The New Rules Of Influence
The New Rules Of Influence has arrived. And there appears to be no "difficult second album" syndrome here.
Whittaker’s Launch New Brand Platform, ‘Hello Chocolate Lovers’ Via Bastion Shine
New Zealand chocolate brand continues its insidious march into the Aussie market. Much like New Zealanders themselves.
Tyro Shows They Are ‘Into Business Big Time’ With New Brand Campaign Via Howatson+Company
Think finance isn't funny? Think again with this fun work. Yes, it still applies to funeral homes & Clive Palmer ads.
IAB Study Finds 66% Of Advertisers Have Five Or Less Years Experience With Affiliate & Partnership Marketing
Study finds advertisers & agencies not overly experienced with affiliate marketing. The opposite to networking drinks.
Optus Names NBN boss Stephen Rue As New CEO
In what would've been a delicious irony, alas this Optus news didn't get leaked in a major security beach.
Indy Enigma Delivers Signage For NSW’S First Purpose-built Surf Park
Is the fear of shark attack holding you back from a professional surfing career? This new surf park could be the ticket.
Houston Ramps Up Creative Capability, Appoints Two Senior Creatives
Houston - we don't have a problem! Well, not anymore with the appointment of these other-worldly recruits.
JCDecaux Secures All Major Bus Advertising Contracts Across Sydney
Do you like your ads to arrive 25 minutes later than scheduled? JCDecaux now boasts Transport for NSW's bus ad contract.
CommBank Launches The Brighter Side TV On 10 And 10 Play
Commbank teams with 10 for a new financial literacy program. Pensioners and the unemployed are advised not to watch.
IMAA Announces Next Female Leaders Of Tomorrow Programme
Here's a top initiative by the IMAA that B&T's proud to get behind. Unlike the 20 hotdogs in 20 minutes challenge.
Fast 10: Avid Collective’s Luke Spano On Building Deeper Relationships With Local Publishers & Advertisers
Avid Collective's Luke Spano takes on B&T's fast 10 questions. Well, 11 if you include "did you have a nice weekend?"
QMS Boosts NSW Billboard Network With Australian Turf Club Agreement
The QMS team seemingly now the ones to ask for a hot tip at Rosehill after partnering with the Australian Turf Club.
VMO Signs Deal With Stockland Shopping Centres
Often visit Stockland malls only to forget the very reason you came in the first place? Let VMO give you a gentle prod.
Day Management Appoints Paramount’s Tim Wall As Head Of Talent And Publicity
Paramount's Tim Wall exits the TV business after 12 years. Confesses the Rove years were the most taxing.
Poppet’s Postive Party Celebrates First Birthday At New HQ
Think first birthdays and fairy bread and dirty nappies spring to mind. Not to say it didn't happen at this one either.
Enjoy A Hahn Solo… And May The Fourth Be With You
If anything, this campaign does beg the question - at what age does Star Wars cut off as a cultural phenomenon?
DMARGE Founder Unveils Creator-Led Social Media Agency Feedstar
New creator-led social media agency Feedstar to be aimed directly at Gen Zs. Well, they'd hardly want print, would they?
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): A total of 1,753,000 Aussies Witness Port Adelaide’s Defeat
Seven's AFL numbers almost double that of the NRL last night. The NRL still easily winning for ruptured ACLs.
Hotglue Cashes In With La Trobe Financial Digital Media Account
Hotglue staffers learning their cashflows from their collaterals today after nabbing La Trobe Financial's digital media.
M&C Saatchi’s Sydney Creative Lead Exits
B&T's stopping short of calling it a revolving door at M&C at the present, but there's definitely heat on the hinges.
Taylor Swift’s Music Re-Enters TikTok As Universal Pens Landmark Deal
Yes, B&T may have spent 152 hours failing to get Taylor Swift tickets, but, as you'll read here, it's all behind us now.
HAVAS Red launches inaugural Influencer White Paper
Havas Red has debuted its first influencer white paper. Unless you print it out in colour, of course.
Two Sides Global Campaign Reports Increasing Greenwashing As Organisations Focus On Sustainability
New report confirms greenwashing's on the rise. Apparently Mars' 'work, rest & play' claims also under investigation.
Aruga Launches New HQ & Changed Ownership Structure
PR agency Aruga proves Brisbane is 'so hot right now'. So hot in fact, Adelaide's had to go on anti-anxiety meds.
Delicious & American Express Partner To Launch Month Out 2024 In Sydney
Cost of living got you eating noodles prepared in the two-minute style? Why not live vicariously through this.
Aussie Ad Market Continues Decline In March
The belt-tightening in adland shows signs of a turnaround soon. Bar the belt-loosening at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
VMA Focuses On Skills And Training For Members
If there was a post-COVID hangover (bar the anti-vax ranters) it was the rise in skills shortages. Here's another one.
Nearly 90% Of Consumers Want Transparency About AI Images, Finds Getty Images Report
Study finds consumers want transparency around AI images. Couldn't care less about photoshopped magazine covers.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation Partners With VML To Boost Funds
Anyone else feel we've exhausted the office morning tea for cancer? B&T proposes the office moonshine still instead.