Now It’s The Struggle Street Creators Who Are Set To Sue
First it was the protagonists in SBS’s controversial documentary Struggle Street threatening to sue the producers, but in an interesting turn of events the producers are now threatening to counter-sue.
The documentary, which proved a ratings bonanza for the public broadcaster on Wednesday night, is supposedly a ‘fly on the wall’ doco of life in a public housing estate in Sydney’s west.
However, it caused such a stir the area’s Mayor, Stephen Bali, slammed it calling the three-part series an utter misrepresentation of the area and labelling it “poverty porn”. The participants also claimed they’d been lied to about their roles in the program and threatened to sue for defamation.
But in an interesting twist to the ongoing saga, it’s been reported in The Guardian this morning that the film’s producers, Keo Films, are to take legal action against Mayor Bali who claimed they’d acted unethically and illegally in making Struggle Street.
SBS – who are revelling in the massive PR for the show and the accompanying ratings – have not threatened any legal action nor are they able to do so because they are government funded.
Keo on the other hand are said to be incensed by Mayor Bali’s comments that scenes in the documentary were fabricated and Keo employees allegedly bought drugs for participants in the show.
The SBS is said to have investigated Bali’s allegations before the program’s airing and found none of it to be true.
On Wednesday it dismissed all of Bali’s allegations and forwarded the Mayor a letter that read: “The allegations that members of the production team aided or abetted or were in any way involved in the commission of alleged criminal offences are seriously defamatory and we are advised are absolutely denied by the production team involved. The serious, defamatory and damaging allegations made regarding the production team asking participants to ‘create scenes’ are absolutely false.”
In more good news for SBS, Wednesday night’s premiere was the network’s highest rating show since ratings were introduced. It has been reported that SBS will now heavily promote the remaining two episodes of Struggle Street and run them as a two-hour special next Wednesday evening.
Latest News
Twitter Lifts Revenue 74% On The Back Of Advertising Boom
Twitter has just experienced its fastest growth in revenue since 2014, with the social media platform benefiting from increased interest from advertisers. Revenue was up 74 per cent YoY, according to the company’s Q2 results, reaching $US1.19 billion ($1.6 billion) from $US683.4 million ($925 million) 12 months ago. The strong results came in the same […]
Wild Turkey Whisky Campaign Stars A Smouldering Matthew McConaughey
Wild Turkey has announced the launch of its new global creative campaign and platform, ‘Trust Your Spirit’, featuring the brand’s creative director and spokesperson, Matthew McConaughey. The global campaign and platform ‘Trust Your Spirit’ is to encourage people to be bold, unapologetically themselves, and stay true to who they are. The global tagline and ethos […]
Optus Teams Up With TikTok To Launch Sign-Language Campaign
Telecommunications company Optus has announced it will launch the world’s first TikTok sign-language activated filter. Featuring Optus ambassador Ian Thorpe, Optus will unveil a branded effect that shows TikTok users how to say key phrases in Auslan sign language, including ‘How are you?’ and ‘It starts with Yes’, through the hashtag challenge #SignYes. Optus will […]
Heckler Appoints Charu Menon To Partner
Heckler has announced the promotion of Charu Menon to Partner, Singapore, making her the first female member of the Board.
Bapcor Debuts First Campaign With AJF
Asia Pacific’s leading provider of vehicle parts, accessories, equipment, service and solutions, Bapcor will launch its latest campaign, ‘The unseen parts of every Australian journey’ this weekend.
Major News Sites Accidentally Display P*rn Due To Domain Mix-Up
Ever get summoned to HR for watching p@rn at work? Avoid instant termination with these ready reckoner excuses.
VOZ Shares First Consolidated 7 Report, With Wimbledon The Winner
B&T's given away VOZ's inaugural winner in the headline. Well, it was hardly ever going to be train journeys on SBS.
Advertising Industry Mourns Loss Of Icon & Legend Susie Henry
Adland's far less colourful today with the news of the passing of industry legend, aesthete & bon vivant Susie Henry.
Podsight’s Benchmark Report Shows Podcast Advertising More Effective Than Other Digital Channels
Podsights has revealed new insights into the effectiveness of advertising in podcasts, tracking global and Australian podcast advertising trends. This is the first Australian report to be published since ARN partnered with Podsights to set the standard for best-in-class podcast advertising measurement. The report includes additional analysis and follows a series of Measurement Masterclasses held for […]
Colgate Is Encouraging Thailand To Embrace Resilient Smiles In Lovely New Work
In lieu of a Phuket holiday & one buck Singhas on the beach, B&T's kindly bringing you a Thailand toothpaste ad instead.
NGEN’s Charity Cup Raises Over 175K For UnLtd Charity Gotcha4Life
NGEN’s 2021 charity cup has raised over $175,000 for UnLtd charity partner Gotcha4Life. Gotcha4Life is a not-for-profit foundation raising awareness and funding to provide educational workshops and innovative programs that build mental fitness in individuals and communities. While Sydney and Brisbane completed the Charity Cup in June, before Covid restrictions hit, the final leg in […]
PSA: Voting For B&T WIM Awards People’s Choice Closes At 5pm AEST Today (And We Have A New Race Leader)!
WIM Awards People’s Choice vote closes at 5pm! B&T would've released doves but will settle for moths from the pantry.
Vale John “Strop” Cornell, A Titan Of Aussie TV, Sport & Film
Hopefully, everyone's raising a glass of Foster's or some raw eggs at the very sad passing of John "Strop" Cornell.
King Kyle Takes Charge Of Vaccine Rollout & Drops ‘Get Vaxxed Baby’ Rap Anthem
Look out, it's a rapping Kyle Sandliands to the nation's vax resuce! Hopefully, you won't get a blood clot to the ears.
“You Have To Act Like A Retailer!” Russel Howcroft Calls On The Government To Increase Vaccine Ad Spend
A bowel screen aside, let's be honest, a Pfizer jab's one of the few things the government actually forks out for free.
Thursday TV Wrap: Will The Olympics Prove The Ticket For Thursday Night Numbers?
It'll be Olympics, Olympics & more Olympics for the next 17 days! And, hopefully, a few drug cheats to spice things up.
Don’t Double Fault: Late Entries For B&T Awards 2021 Close Monday!
Warning: late B&T Award entries close THIS Monday! Hardly ideal if you're entering this year's punctuality category.
SCA Appoints Scott Muller To New Role Of Head Of Content Insights
SCA appoints Scott Muller as head of content insights amid news listeners aren't bored of "Working Class Man".
Adobe Launches Adobe Analytics For Higher Education
For all its inroads as one of the world's biggest tech firms, Adobe's really struggling in the manned spacecraft space.
Facebook And Instagram Launch Green And Gold FaceFilters And Profile Frames To Help Aussies Get Into The Olympics Spirit
Facebook & Instagram launch green & gold FaceFilters for the Games, or for anyone who wants to look violently seasick.
ViacomCBS’s Liz Baldwin Promoted To Senior Vice President, Head Of Streaming
Typically, B&T pours scorn on Americanised job titles. But we'll exuse it if you actually work for an American company.
Macca’s, DDB And OMD Win Nine’s State Of Originality Competition
Macca's has won Nine's State of Origin ad competition. It just wouldn't have felt right had kale salad won, would it?
Alex Wadelton & Jonny Clow Launch Not-For-Profit Agency: Silver Lining
With the ever-growing gap between the haves and the have-nots in the world, two Melbourne based advertising veterans have decided to redress the balance by establishing a not-for-profit, for-purpose agency Silver Lining.
Woolies Gives Its ‘Fresh Food People’ Tag A Green Spring Clean In Latest From M&C Saatchi
Woolies gets a green brand refresh, as rival Coles threatens to get the big, red Styrofoam fists out of storage.
Carlton & United Breweries Debuts New No-Alcohol Campaign Via The Idea Shed
Did you do Dry July this year? Thankfully, you've only got one more week of swigging from a hip flask in a cupboard.
“Full Recovery!” Publicis Roars Back, Reporting 17.1% Organic Growth In The First Half Of 2021
It's like COVID never happened for Publicis. Well, we can't vouch for its travel, cruise or airline clients, however.
VMLY&R Appoints Charmaine Griffith As Director Of Marketing & Business Development
Charmaine Griffith appointed VMLY&R's director of marketing & business, & perfectly teams her colours in the press pic.
Biennale Of Sydney & Cicada Innovations Launch Sustainable Materials Challenge
Australian tech incubator Cicada Innovations and Biennale of Sydney are launching the ‘New & Sustainable Materials Challenge,’ in an effort to create a more sustainable future. The works of chosen material-makers will be showcased to millions of Biennale audiences, exhibition partners, and exhibition makers globally. The Challenge is open to any Australian and UK startups, […]
Tyler, The Creator And Converse Create ‘The Really Cool Converse Club’ In Star-Studded Ad
To the under 30s, this'll be the coolest ad you see all day. To the over 30s, it will rain confusion & head scratching.
ACCC To Examine eBay, Amazon, Kogan And Catch As Part Of Inquiry Into Online Marketplaces
It appears Rod "The Rocket" Sims is back to his old tricks. B&T adding that nickname in there for added cachet & spunk.
