News

Rinehart aide describes Nine’s House of Hancock as a ‘tacky grab for ratings’

RinehartBillionaire Gina Rinehart has taken aim at Nine Entertainment Co CEO David Gyngell with a senior executive saying they had repeatedly told him of “glaring errors” in some scenes of mini-series House of Hancock.

The drama pulled a bumper audience of 1.3m metro viewers for Nine last night which portrays the relationship between Rinehart, her father Lang Hancock and his second wife Rose Porteous.

Tad Watroba, executive director of Rinehart’s company Hancock Prospecting, said in a statement: “Channel 9 has seemingly gone out of its way to cause undue damage and upset to those currently living and the memory of those no longer with us.

“Despite repeatedly bringing it to Nine CEO David Gyngell’s attention, many scenes broadcast last night were fictitious, unfounded or grossly distorted, and some simply never occurred.”

The Rinehart camp pointed to several parts of the program as incorrect, including the portrayal of Rinehart honeymooning while her mother was ill, a scene where Rinehart was shown to support using nuclear devices in mining, and an extract where Hancock is shown telling his daughter that no one could love her.

“Despite the portrayal, Mr Hancock and Mrs Rinehart had a loving, father/daughter relationship, and were together throughout the funeral of Hope Hancock, and to portray otherwise is wrong,” said the Hancock camp’s statement.

“Mr Hancock never told Mrs Rinehart that no one could ever love her, or that her husband never loved her. The scene was made up and untrue. Her relationship with Mr Frank Rinehart was very loving, and her mother loved her son in law also.

“Nor was there a scene where Mr Hancock said terrible things about his daughter’s appearance.”

It is understood that the scene, which saw Hancock describe his daughter as a “baby elephant”, was based on written correspondence between Hancock and Rinehart.

Rinehart’s long-serving adviser Watroba said he had witnessed many of the events portrayed in the two part TV series: “I worked for Lang Hancock and have been with Mrs Rinehart’s company Hancock Prospecting since 1991 so I have a good grasp on what actually took place.

“I know the facts, and this show has turned out to be a tacky grab for ratings, damaging the memory of good Australians along the way.

“Since starting promotion of the show, Channel 9 has not bothered to fact-check anything despite repeated offers when people have pointed out mistakes.”

The program was the second most watched TV show on-air last night with 1.383m viewers. Nine declined to comment on the Rinehart camp’s remarks.

Part two of House of Hancock is scheduled to screen next Sunday and will feature the death of Hancock and subsequent legal dispute between Rinehart and Porteous, before fast forwarding to a later dispute between Rinehart and her children.

Nic Christensen 

ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.