ABC steps away from messy The Checkout negotiations
Negotiations have completely broken down between ABC and Giant Dwarf, producer of consumer affairs program The Checkout, after the messy discussions broke out onto social media last month.
In a statement released to the press, ABC said ‘preliminary discussions’ had been ‘ended’ as it became clear the two weren’t ‘creatively aligned’.
ABC has abandoned negotiations with The Checkout producers
Negotiations took a turn as Giant Dwarf and Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ), who both worked on the six seasons of the show for ABC, headed to court over the program, as reported by TV Tonight.
During that process, the manager of The Checkout’s social media account seemed to be goading the ABC into making a decision regarding a seventh season of the format. A post alleged the broadcaster had banned The Checkout’s team from being involved with other ABC programming.
So much for “hiatus”…. Now @ABCTV is also banning personnel from #thecheckout from a new consumer show … quite the F.U. for the talented, hard-working folks who worked on the Tube. Working on the only consumer show on TV for 6 series disqualifies you from consumer show ??? pic.twitter.com/DdaH9VJqMW
— The Checkout (@checkouttv) November 24, 2019
The ABC vehemently denied the claims of the tweet to Mumbrella.
The statement provided regarding the end of discussions said the national broadcaster is still working with Giant Dwarf on other productions.
“The ABC had preliminary discussions with producer Giant Dwarf to develop a consumer affairs program that offers something new to our audiences, showcasing fresh ideas and diverse Australian talent. We have ended those discussions after Giant Dwarf’s public statements and correspondence and dealings with the ABC made it clear we are not creatively aligned, which is a necessary first step when considering development of a new program,” read the statement.
“We were also clear from the outset of those discussions that we are unable to commission a seventh series of The Checkout due to editorial and legal reasons, including current court proceedings between third parties.
“The ABC continues to look at ways to build on the consumer affairs content of our news, factual and specialist teams across radio, television and online.
“Meanwhile, we are working with Giant Dwarf on other unrelated projects. We are also proud that our program slate for next year features some of the great talent featured in The Checkout, including Craig Reucassel on Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge and Big Weather, and Kirsten Drysdale and Zoe Norton Lodge on Reputation Rehab.”
The Checkout’s social media pages also reported the show was axed in July. This was denied by ABC.
R.I.P. The Checkout. pic.twitter.com/QAn9iGai9f
— The Checkout (@checkouttv) July 6, 2018
The Checkout’s executive producer Julian Morrow is the sole director of Giant Dwarf. The Checkout’s Kristen Drysdale and Zoe Norton Lodge are involved in ABC’s Reputation Rehab which is coming to the network in 2020.
Shame. This show did ABC viewers a service by reminding us in an entertaining way that everyone is ripping us off. Plus everyone else. And the rest.
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Interesting. This is exactly the type of content the ABC is renowned for. Is it Ita and her LNP overlords?
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The tweet in question alleges the ABC is putting together a new show that covers the same ground as The Checkout, but doesn’t want any of the same people in front of the camera. So hardly a desire not to screen consumer affairs programming.
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To The Checkout,
Keep up the good work, you did well skimming off the gloss The ABC are skilled at delivering. It’s not the organisation it was, they won’t be questioned. For me, we’ll I’m into double decades as an unpaid ghost consultant with so many conditional terms in my contract (what contract) that it isn’t a contract.
Phone lines blocked, bank accounts drained icky stuff the thanks for 122 songs. That were apparently just a dream, a figment of my imagination.
Still asking for that apology, without the contorted incident.
Fiamma Kitching
Artist Writer
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Social media destabilization of contract negotiation. Who knew? Literary weapons always seem to have four barrels pointed back for the one you fire pointing toward.
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