Golf fans hit out at Ten ditching Leishman’s US Masters charge for Kiwi kids show
Ten is facing a backlash from sports fans after it cut live coverage of the US masters Golf this morning to switch to an episode of NZ teen drama Paradise Cafe.
The move came as Australian Marc Leishman was holding on to a one shot lead with just one hole to play. Viewers in Eastern states were watching the live golf from 5am until it was dropped at 9.30am. The event ran late because of slow play.
Ten also came under fire for obscuring the on-screen scorecard with the network logo.
Another said: “Could not believe Ten would cut the Masters Golf off one hole short. Do not know how much Ten paid for the rights, but it is not a good look for share holders of which I am one where the station is trying to get some viewer traction. If it happens on Monday’s final round there should be some serious questions asked of management.”
Another fan added: “Why would you cut the coverage short, when Jason Day has 2 holes to play? You should NOT have the rights to the Masters! No wonder channel ten is losing money hand over fist with a poor decisions.”
In a statement posted on the Facebook page, Ten claimed that it was forced to end its coverage for “contractual commitments to other programming”.
Paradise Cafe is a co-production between NZ station Gibson group and UK company Initial. NZ content counts towards local content, so showing it helps Ten achieve its legal drama quota obligations.
The Ten statement said: “Network Ten acknowledges that it was not an opportune time to leave the US Masters coverage this morning but due to contractual commitments to other programming this was unavoidable. TEN apologises to golf fans who missed the last of day two action.
“TEN confirms that coverage of the final two rounds will continue live until conclusion of those rounds. In light of the unfortunate circumstances and slow play that occurred we are also reviewing our policies to ensure we minimise chances of this ever happening again.”
However, the apology appeared not to find much favour with the golf fans who argued that the coverage could have been shifted to one of the network’s digital channels :
At the time, One was showing the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship while Eleven was carrying music show The Loop.
The US Masters is on the anti-siphoning list which means that pay TV provider cannot get first rights to them unless none of the free to air networks want them.
Ten issued a statement to Mumbrella saying: “”Network Ten acknowledges that it was not an opportune time to leave the US Masters coverage this morning but due to contractual commitments to other programming this was unavoidable. Ten apologises to golf fans who missed the last of day two action.
“TEN confirms that coverage of the final two rounds will continue live until conclusion of those rounds. In light of the unfortunate circumstances and slow play that occurred we are also reviewing our policies to ensure we minimise chances of this ever happening again.
“With Jason Day leading and Marc Leishman, Adam Scott and John Senden in contention, we look forward to an exciting couple of days of golf.”
The statement did not respond to Mumbrella’s request for clarification of what its “contractual obligation” to switch to Paradise Cafe was.
4pm update: Ten added: “Both Paradise Café and Elephant Princess are classified C. Wurrawhy, one of our P classified programs which was displaced yesterday due to the US Masters was scheduled at 3.30pm on the same day. As you know we are bound by government regulations in regards to both C and P classified programming. C and P programming is part of our quota obligation.”
However, the content quota obligation is an annual one, and does not apply to specific days.
April 15 update: The Masters was won by Aussie Adam Scott
Linkedin
What’s a ” one ball lead” mean? Clearly a golf enthusiast wrote this one.
User ID not verified.
Agree with the fans, 10 can’t even get it right out of ratings.
I was very disappointed that they cut the broadcast early with the Aussie, Day, in the lead of the biggest golf tournament in the world.
Why not put in on One if they had to run kids shows !!!!!!
Poor form 10, they have missed the cut again.
User ID not verified.
They have a dedicated sports channel for crying out loud.. Why the hell isn’t it on that instead?
User ID not verified.
Hi TAT,
My bad… I think the last time I watched gold was the Ryder Cup when a sprained ankle left me stuck on a sofa for a whole weekend…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Another example of why free to air should be banned from covering sport. Fox Sports would never treat viewers like this.
User ID not verified.
To have contractual commitments to a kids TV show over live sport when you have three channels to broadcast through is the kind of decision making and management that will ensure 10 maintain their position as, err, I’m not sure.
User ID not verified.
And Hamish wants to make a play to get sport back on Ten.. god help us if that happens
User ID not verified.
What a pain for the golf fans.
As a F1 watcher I get really annoyed that the qualies are in HD on channel 0, but I have to watch the race in SD on 10. Please 10, leave the actual race on channel 0 as well.
Pisses me off that I, like many millions of other Aussies have bought HD TV’s, but the content is not there.
EG. Why is ABC 24 hour news in HD, while all other ABS programs are in SD. ????What idiot made that decision. nearly criminal.
User ID not verified.
Hamish , your spokesperson said it was not an opportune time to cut the coverage , when would it be opportune ,perhaps the finish . I am sure the ACB would be impressed with this performance .
User ID not verified.
What is it with Australian and the lack of ownership? Dont we control anything??
Why is it everytime there is a screw up.. be it
– at a restaurant forgetting bookings
– govt screwing up on transport project spend or pink batts
– Tv station screwing up its core product – entertainment
the fault is always something which ‘isnt our fault” or keep us unaccountable? contractual obligations…..anybody hear of customer focus? you know the customer you are selling as a viewing audience (if they can).
Really…F%46 ff channel 10 if you think we are that stupid or rather – IF YOU ACTUALLY ARE SO STUPID as to do this. Good luck Mc Lennan & Howcroft
User ID not verified.
Good on you TEN-Upset the viewers again.
The rating figures certainly show that you have little idea about programming or respect for the viewers.
Just another reason not TO TURN TO TEN
User ID not verified.
I switched to the (illegally streamed) online coverage direct from the USA. I was rather amused to see this TVC for the company responsible for the Australian NBN being rolled out being shown in most breaks. http://www.emerson.com/neverbe.....ralia.aspx
(Yes, of course it has kangaroos in it)
User ID not verified.