Ten’s $200,000 trench: The perfect metaphor?
In recent weeks many wags have been pointing to news stories emerging from embattled Network Ten, as metaphors for the problems it is going through.
For example, Ita Buttrose’s boat breaking down as she made her way from Manly to Pyrmont for Studio 10 live on air. Or fellow host Sarah Harris almost shooting herself in the face with a nail gun. And then there’s the reported purchase of five shiny new news trucks after the network slashed a third of its news staff.
However, Dr Mumbo thinks he has finally found the metaphor to beat them all. It involves, quite literally, pouring $200,000 into a useless hole.
You see, in order to facilitate their new breakfast show Wake Up airing from producer Adam Boland’s chosen Manly studio the network had to dig a trench and run fibre optic cable from Manly to Pyrmont, so vision from the seven cameras could be mixed from the control room at HQ. Wake Up, of course, was canned a fortnight ago just six months after launching.
Dr Mumbo has heard many different numbers floating around the industry, but understands it is around $100,000 per year to maintain. And the network has a contract to pay this for another 18 months.
Ten’s long-suffering spokesman was keen to pour cold water on the issue, saying: “Network Ten is currently in discussions with the service provider relating to options and potential redeployment for other uses not related to production.”
It’s articles like this that fuel anti Ten sentiment. I’m curious to know the public interest in this article or is it simply another opportunistic stab by the author. Judging by the regularity of similar article’s…one would suggest the latter
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Looks like just another story that’s driving the sale price of TEN down for when it’ll be gobbled up by Murdoch/Fox once Turnbull has rewritten the rules. Commercial pay-back for cheer-leading the anti-ALP campaign.
Poor fella my country…
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@TV Fanatic. I, for one, would not likely be on Mumbrella unless it carried these sorts of stories. The demise of Ten is of high interest to many people. It’s mismanagement since some of the richest, most powerful people in Australia came on board is instructive to all of us, and not the least bit ironic.
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“It involves, quite literally, pouring $200,000 into a useless hole.”
No, it doesn’t.
Let me guess – a Gen Y writer?
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Hi Wrong,
Thanks for the comment.
And no, you’re wrong I’m afraid.
Also, I notice you;re the second poster from this IP address on this article – and looking back through our comment threads it is one which appears astroturfing on numerous Ten stories.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
Nope, it’s my first time posting on anything about Channel 10. That’s the honest truth. Whatever you’ve managed to deduce from looking at IP addresses is plain old mistaken.
Plus, I’m not sure how pointing out the difference between literally and figuratively is further evidence of ‘astroturfing’.
But hey, keep the accusations flying.
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Hi Wong,
It might be your first time, but it seems a lot of people, including some with ten Network email addresses, have posted from this same IP address before you.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
Outside of this poor breakfast show, Ten has lost the formula over the years for ratings hits.
Relying on reality TV, Simpsons, NCIS..etc is not the key.
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