“Epic Fail”: Viewers Rubbish ABC After Technical Faults Rob Newsreader Of Farewell Bulletin

“Epic Fail”: Viewers Rubbish ABC After Technical Faults Rob Newsreader Of Farewell Bulletin

It seems the negative attention surrounding the ABC hasn’t gone away just yet, with the government-funded broadcaster pissing off a few Melbourne viewers last night.

After 26 years, newsreader Ian Henderson began delivering his final bulletin for ABC News in Melbourne at 7pm last night.

However, a series of technical glitches – including the mix-up of a story backdrop, a failing autocue and a screen freeze – forced the ABC to suddenly take Victorian viewers to its NSW transmission without warning, and cutting short Henderson’s farewell read.

ABC Melbourne apologised to viewers out soon after the NSW bulletin finished via Twitter, saying that the studio “wasn’t playing ball tonight”, and that Henderson would get another chance to sign off properly on Friday night.

However, the ABC’s apology didn’t stop a number of viewers from criticising the public broadcaster for its stuff-up.

When contacted about the blunder by B&T, an ABC spokesperson said: “An unexpected technical fault during ABC News Victoria’s 7pm bulletin on Thursday night forced an unavoidable switch to a back-up transmission from ABC NSW.

“The timing of this fault during Ian Henderson’s scheduled final bulletin was unfortunate, to say the least. The good news is that ‘Hendo’ will now be back on air at 7pm tonight to present his final, final ABC News Victoria bulletin.

“We are investigating the cause of the fault and invite everyone to tune in on Friday to give Hendo the farewell he deserves. Our apologies to viewers. As Hendo says: ‘You gotta laugh.’”

The ABC’s acting director of news, analysis and investigations, Craig McMurtrie, said: “I’m embarrassed by what happened, but Hendo is such a gentleman that the way he took it in his stride is humbling.

“There is no way we are going to let him go without a proper goodbye, so I invite everyone to watch ABC News Victoria tonight for the farewell he so richly deserves.”




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