Broadcasters Accused Of Running Old Vision To Fake NRL TV Crowds
A report on the Seven-owned Yahoo Sports over the weekend has accused the broadcasters of NRL matches – Foxtel and Channel Nine – of running old crowd footage during broadcasts to make it look as though games weren’t being played to empty stadiums.
B&T has contacted both Channel Nine and Foxtel for comment regarding the allegations. Nine has denied any wrongdoing whatsoever, while Foxtel said it would offer a formal reply once it had more facts to hand.
Admittedly, the NRL has had a tough season with crowds for 2017, with the average number of people actually attending games this season now just 13,000 (versus the AFL’s 33,000).
However, poor attendances could be due to a number of reasons – a cold winter has kept Sydney fans away; plus, 2017 has seen extra games televised including Thursday night on Nine, a new 6pm game on Friday and a Saturday night game also on Nine. A high number of NRL games are played at the 80,000-seat ANZ Stadium which can make attendances look a little threadbare during broadcasts.
The allegations of audience tampering were made by the Seven Yahoo journalist Joey Riordon over the weekend and could well be seen as sour grapes for a network allied to the AFL. They were also repeated on Seven’s Twitter feed.
Riordon’s article (which you can read in full here) is vague in detail and careful not to accuse either Foxtel or Nine of directly running old crowd footage.
It does, however, infer the Rabbitohs-Dragons match from August the 4th may have been diddled with, as Riordon writes: “Two weeks ago the crowd crisis was at its worst during the traditional Rabbitohs v Dragons clash at the SCG, the turnout was embarrassing for the six pm clash.
“Those who did attend said the stadium was completely void of any atmosphere.
“Due to horrible crowds such as this one, broadcasters have been sprung using old video of crowds in order to make attendances look bigger,” the article read.
However, Riordon’s article has a stranger twist when an image (below) is used purporting to show the game in question with empty stands in the background. The only problem is the image shows ANZ Stadium at Homebush, when the game Riordon calls into question was played at the SCG.
A second image (below) does appear to show a Dragons player standing against a sea of empty seats at the SCG with the Fox Sports logo clearly in the top right.
Riordon concluded: “With ratings king, clubs and the NRL seem to be happy to sacrifice crowds for TV ratings.”
Latest News
THIS IS IT: Entries To B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards Close Today!
Best Of The Best entries close at 5pm today! While the pub's 'happy hour' starts at 4.30pm. You do the maths, people.
Friendlyjordies Producer Pleads Not Guilty To Stalking John Bariarlo
There are strong lessons in the perils of social media here. Well, not when blowing snot out your nose for laughing.
Nova Launches Red Room Unlocked, Giving Listeners Access To More Than 260 Live Performances
Get down and groove as Nova's Red Room releases 260 live performances! Just watch your back if you're over 40.
AFR BOSS Names Winners Of 2021 Boss Young Executives Awards
In a year where ‘business as usual’ is anything but, AFR BOSS reveals six of Australia’s most inspirational and outstanding young leaders who excelled during the pandemic. The six have been crowned the 2021 BOSS Young Executives in the prestigious awards program, now in its 18th year. Run in conjunction with global leadership consulting firm […]
“The Industry Wasn’t Ready”: All The Fallout From Google’s Cookie Delay
Everyone in the office talking cookies & you're reaching for the Chocolate Wheatens? Plagiarise immediately from here.
Sydney Water Talks Water-Saving Hacks In ‘Turn It Off, Bob’ Campaign By Clems Sydney
Where would we be without water? Hot showers, well-maintained gadens and sobriety. Okay, maybe not that last one.
Clive Palmer Takes His Anti-Vaxxer Campaign To Letterboxes
More Clive Palmer news! Barnaby Joyce is back as deputy PM! Jeff Bezos is going to space! The fruitcakes are winning!
The Bad Touch: Netflix Combines Love Is Blind And The Masked Singer In Dating Show ‘Sexy Beasts’
Ever been on a Tinder date that's resembled the creepy bar scence from the first Star Wars? This program's for you.
Toyota Roasts Adland In Five-Minute ‘Fast & Furious-Inspired’ Epic
This car ad comes with awesome stunts, drifts and jumps. Absolutely everything you can't do in a car ad in Australia.
QMS Renews Contract With Manboom
On first inspection, B&T was hoping to bring you some manboobs news here. But as you'll see, it's a girdle-free read.
Index Exchange And MediaMath Join The Human Collective
HUMAN Security (formerly White Ops) today announced two new founding Human Collective members: Index Exchange and MediaMath. Together they participated in thought-provoking panel discussions during the recent IAB Tech Lab CTV & Video Advertising: Growing with Standards virtual event where they emphasized how important it is to work together in the fight against fraud on […]
CHEER Cheese To Officially Begin Australian Rollout
Coon has completed its vaunted transformation to CHEER Cheese. It still remains dry, tasteless and cumbly, however.
SCA Appoints Cathrine McVeigh To Head Of Audio Production And Operations
SCA has announced the appointment of Cathrine McVeigh to head of audio production and operations. She will be part of the content leadership team. In the newly created role, McVeigh will oversee the creation of SCA’s new audio production and content operations hub and lead a combined team across the country to deliver a rapidly […]
Thursday TV Wrap: Thursday Night AFL Scores For Seven In Clear Nightly Win
Last night's Lions versus Cats AFL match certainly didn't give Seven any furballs as it gave its competitors a licking.
Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Until 2023
On the upside, Google's delayed turning off cookies till 2023. On the down, you've got two more years' reading about it.
10 And SCA Confirm Two Year Regional TV Deal
SCA & 10 jump into bed together. Metaphorically speaking; it's not like there's awkward silences in the office kitchen.
Cannes Lions Live Day Four Sees Wins For AKQA Melbourne, Ogilvy Sydney, Clemenger BBDO And Special Group Sydney
Missing Cannes this year? Well, why not go and buy a $29 glass of rosé while being utterly ignored by the bar staff.
Australian Retailers – How Can You Stand Out From The Pack On Social?
Top tips to ensure your social stands out from the pack without using the words bumfuzzle, gubbins or flibbertigibbet.
Chobani Unveils New Brand Campaign Via Cummins&Partners
Here at B&T, we love to spoon Chobani on our morning muesli, fruit smoothies and office jelly wrestling competition.
News & Rescue Crews Race To Drowning Woman … Only To Discover A Floating Sex Doll!
On completion of this article you'd be right in thinking "why the hell did B&T run that?" As we too have been pondering.
me&u Appoints Clementine Churchill To Head Of Marketing
me&u appoints new head of marketing. Yet, no comment on its slightly dumb name, however.
MILO Asks Fans To Compete To Win #TheMILOCup In New Campaign Via Ogilvy
The B&T editor still enjoys a glass of MILO. Either that or he's got very worrying brown crusty bits around his lips.
New ANZ Research Shows LGBTQ+ Visual Representation Relies On Stereotypes
Do you still take your LGBTQ+ representations from re-runs of 'Are You Being Served?' This couldn't come soon enough.
Nikki Warburton Departs Audi Australia After Three Years Spent Embracing Vorsprung Durch Technik
Audi CMO Nikki Warburton has left the business. Sadly, didn't receive Sound Of Music on Blu-ray as departing gift.
Lego Announces Plans To Start Making Bricks From Old Drink Bottles
Once again the Scandinavians proving they're on it when it comes to the environment, DIY furniture & adult erotica.
NESCAFÉ Says ‘Now’s Good’ In New Work Via Saatchi & Saatchi
As any visitor to the B&T office knows, you'll get a NESCAFÉ, a Scotch finger & a rendition of Cher's "Turn Back Time".
Craig McLachlan Accused Of Groping Another Woman
Surely, serious concerns should've been raised about Craig McLachlan's behaviour when he recorded "Mona" back in 1990?
REMINDER: Entries For B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards Close Tomorrow!
Has a colleague recently won a 'I look like my cat' competition? That's the temerity required to win a Best of the Best.
More Heat For Coke’s Customisation Tool As It Bans ‘Palestine’, ‘Black Lives Matter’ And ‘Mohammed’, But Not ‘White Pride’
Coke's week from hell continues apace! However, it's primed & ready to remind Pepsi of its own 'Kendall Jenner' episode.
“You Cannot Be Serious!” New Campaign Shows Wimbledon Is A Global Force
Wimbledon kicks off NEXT Monday with high hopes the Aussie male contingent will completely embarrass us all as usual.
