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The Bolt Report

In its first outing on TEN, The Bolt Report seemed more interested in guests who furthered the views of the host, than engaging in balanced debate.

Andrew Bolt’s first show on TEN offered up some of his favourite topics: refugees, climate change and politics.

If the intent of The Bolt Report was to do what Bolt does so eloquently in print and talkback radio -provoke a reaction- it is off to a good start.

But how does it fit with TEN’s news revamp as a serious news broadcaster? Its first outing succeeded more as a forum for its host than its subjects, with a distinct lack of impartiality and balance.

On a Coca-Cola red set, Bolt’s opening editorial let rip at the Gillard Government’s new deal with Malaysia, to send 800 Refugees back in exchange for accepting 4000 of theirs. It was as if the announcement had been timed perfectly for his premiere episode. Bolt made lots of comparisons with the Howard Government’s policy on “boat people” (a term that featured throughout the show) and Gillard’s “disastrous” policy. It was uncompromising, personal and stilted.

It was followed by Tony Abbott as Bolt’s first interview, in a free kick at the government. Bolt didn’t let Abbott finish his first 3 questions, but a friendly Abbott was still happy to congratulate him on his first outing -“May it flourish,” he said.

Bolt didn’t tackle Abbott hard enough on his own policies, laughing when an answer was avoided.

Next up were Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger and former Labor Leader Mark Latham, continuing with the refugee issue. Kroger was the show’s best performer: articulate, concise, covering several points. Latham didn’t defend Labor policies, raising more questions about balance. Given his zeal for the spotlight of late its doubtful that he was looking to push a Labor line rather than a Latham line. As a result it felt like one opinion from three mouths rather than a black and white conversation with a moderator.

More refugee content followed via an edited interview with Riz Wakil, billed as an “Afghan Refugee” rather than “Former Afghan Refugee”, despite telling Bolt he arrived here at the age of 18 -11 years ago.

“I understand your family is still in Pakistan, why didn’t you stay in Pakistan? Why didn’t you stay in Indonesia?” asked Bolt.

Yikes.

A testy discussion followed with Bolt keen to footnote his own views on the back of Wakil’s answers. After more than 15 minutes of anti-Refugee discussion, this did little to show another side to the issue. With no credits (either on the show or on the TEN website) it’s hard to know which producer to blame for this imbalance.

The show rounded out with a Spin of the Week segment (I thought we had been watching it already?) and two more called Under the Radar and Free Speech Award.

Bolt’s hosting of the show was awkward when reading the autocue, but more effective when in a debate.

However, Insiders showed he is more effective as a commentator than host, a role which requires more moderating and less editorialising. Can Bolt possibly have it both ways?

Or is there room for a show where the guests are there to further the views of the host? Ask Glenn Beck of FOX News…

But the bottom line may be about “shock jock” television, to ignite the viewer to become as mad as hell and simply tune in to cheer or hiss the lead player -either may well win them more viewers than a replay of the latest Video Hits clip.

The more considered viewers will stick around for the balance of Meet the Press at 10:30am hosted by Paul Bongiorno. Yesterday it interviewed Greens leader Bob Brown. He wasn’t a fan of Gillard’s new agreement with Malaysia either, but not for the same reasons as Bolt. Questioned by two other journos everybody shared a range of views without raising their voice or being interrupted.

Meet The Press has been on TEN since 1996.

The Bolt Report airs 10am Sundays on TEN.

136 Responses

  1. I don’t think anyone minds him being a conservative, thats not the issue – its more that he is a spiteful, racist, petty man who is downright deceiptful and an outright liar.

    His levels of racism are well documented, and to highlight an example of deceit – look at the topic he and his “boss” Abbot indulged in – the whole case of anti-pollution efforts not Reversing global warming for at least 1000 years. They act like all the experts in the field have been claiming that reducing Co2 would reverse global warming overnight, and both Abbot and Bolt were delighted when it was stated it wouldn’t.

    However, the case made from day ONE, was that the intention was to decelerate the rapid warming, in our lifetimes, not reverse it. They harped on about this several months ago, and everyone pointed out to both Bolt and Abbot that they were twisting the facts so as to be deceitful, it was never about reversing global warming, and both have continued with this deceit. They hope there are still some uneducated, unthinking people out there that cannot tell the difference between reversing and slowing down, who have an equally strong hatred of people with different coloured skin, to win over to their cause.

  2. looks like it rated well – even the encore broadcast
    I imagine not many left wing people would want to appear on the show,
    I’m sure Andrew Bolt would love to have them on ;p they may have to agree to appear on the show if he continues to rate well

  3. Problem with Bolt and the same with many right wing commentators is, they simply aren’t concerned with honestly and the truth. The truth and facts are what ever support their opinion.

    Look at Bolt on Climate science. Anyone with a cursory knowledge on the subject can see how often he is intellectual dishonest and simple lies and distorts. In a way that show either he is deliberately being dishonest because to spend so much time on it, there’s no way he could still be so ignorant. So much of what he says is thoroughly debunked, yet he says it over and over again not even referencing, adapting or addressing this.

    Bolt isn’t a Journalist. He should not be treated as one. His kind of commentator is just about arguing what he thinks, his ideologies regardless of merit. It’s about getting more people to agree with his argument, point of view to validate it, rather than actually informing people in an honest way.

    Climate “Skeptics” need to get over it. 99.9% of the arguments or comments made in favor of this in the media is either a distortion, incorrect or not a problem with the science at all. With throughly detailed explanations easily available. Yet they just constantly get restated or not examined.

    It’s exactly the same as the anti-evolution debate that goes on in the USA. With the exact same logical fallacies and intellectual dishonestly driver by ignorance and ideologies.

  4. “Its first outing succeeded more as a forum for its host than its subjects, with a distinct lack of impartiality and balance.”

    David, you seriously weren’t expecting a balanced report now were you? That’s not Bolt’s style. He’s right, everyone who disagrees is wrong, and Labor’s bad, Liberals good.

    Hope no one watches The Liberal Show, as it should be named. I’m all for impartiality, that’s why Q&A is brilliant. This is just a show for Bolt to spread his own agenda.

  5. This trash will only be watched by the left, and only for a good sunday morning laugh. The bogans don’t watch politics on TV. This show is just a cheap shot joke by 10’s new miner boss, at the expense of the vain Bolt, the puppet (muppet?). She’s just flexing a bit of muscle. Showing the left who’s boss. Nice one liner Gina. Your all class.

  6. It’s so great to see the liberal supporters loved the show. For the rest of us another waste of air time when they could have been showing repeats of Spongebob.

  7. I completely agree with comments, David. I can’t see a one-eyed show like this normally lasting the distance but since it reflects the views of Ten’s rich new owners. it will remain even with poor ratings.

  8. Bolt provided a good balance as a commentator on The Insiders. He is great in that role but in the role of host he was absolutely terrible. If Bolt doesn’t let the leader of the Liberal Party get his comments out without taking over and replying for him, then what chance does anyone from any other party have? A show that has only features politicians agreeing with Bolt’s views will get boring really fast.

  9. Sorry, Conservative Viewer, but right-wing TV has never taken off in this country. It’s better suited to radio. It seems Australian right-wingers are incapable of watching and listening at the same time… They should just stick to talkback radio where they’re not so challenged. I wonder if Gina thought it was any good?

  10. I reckon it would be a good move for TEN to swap Meet the Press and Bolt Report (I believe they call that a ‘negus’).

    The move to 10:30 already denies ‘Insiders’ access to anything juicy in MTP – but having it on after Bolt, just denies TEN the chance to discuss anything newsworthy from the interviews.

    I doubt The Bolt Report will ever aim for balance – but a televised version of his print articles does not make for good telly. If TEN wants it to succeed – then he needs to improve his moderating and pull back on the editorialising.

  11. Bolt’s darting eyes across the autocue were scary, its clear the interviews/debate were pre tapes as he looks much more at ease, I am right leaning in my political views but found him coming across as an extremist of sorts, and I ended up watching more for amusement than any sort of enlightenment 🙂 I doubt he will be around all that long anyways.

  12. With the plethora of disinformation available on every media oulet all leaning to the left and with a now more holier than thou approach to dangerously fawed science such as “Climate change”,you have to be kidding when you say “distinct lack of impartiality and balance.
    If this type of opinion scares people into thinking there may be two sides to a story I do not see how it can be a bad thing.
    Unfortunately in political commentry no ground is made in the middle and with such extreme leftist attitudes ruling the media the only way to centre it is to have an extreme right approach and hope it lands somewhere in the middle.

  13. Didn’t watch the morning edition but unfortunately caught an eyeful when Ten chose to do an encore (?) before the news in the afternoon. I’ve been an anti-fan of this moron for years having to withstand his twisted grandstanding on ‘Insiders’ week after week. Now he gets his own show and a graphic which makes him somehow like James Bond. I don’t understand. If his ego gets stroked any further they’re gonna have to start hanging rectangles of black cardboard. I can’t hate the guy enough. His ‘presenting skills’ are as convincing as his haircut.

  14. Gina Rinehart would have loved the show David..that is all that counts doesn’t it???…..and to repeat it later in the day, what a waste of time.
    Bolt is a bully and talks over anyone who doesn’t agree.
    I can see Gina Rinehart rushing around next year buying thousands of TV Weeks so as she can vote for Bolt for the Gold Logie..Then spending a small fortune on SMS votes to secure the coveted Gold Logiefor Bolt.

    Bolt always pushes the fact that miners should pay less tax, on behalf of his beloved boss Gina

  15. Are Ten’s Sunday political affairs shows viewed as not what country people want? Must be, as Southern Cross 10 has moved Meet The Press to 4pm and the Bolt Report is on at 4.30pm. Even Canberra has them at the later times. 😀
    Does Bolt know? 😀

  16. ‘Engaging’ and ‘Balanced Debate’ are not words associated with Mr. Bolt!!

    There are other words I could use, but since this is a family site I shall refrain from using them!! Mr. Bolt’s show won’t last with any luck.

  17. Given the vast array of uninformed populist left skewed figures that fill the 7PM panel every night, I am not uncomfortable with one conservative host filling a Sunday morning slot.

  18. Well for all your snide comments David Knox, I’d have to say that its great to finally get a Conservative voice with their own show on Australian TV, especially after decades of enduring endless PC propaganda and Left-wing brainwashing – most noteably from ‘their’ ABC. I’m sure Andrew will settle into his role. I am sure any minor issues will be ironed out over time. I just hope that Channel 10 sees fit to extend the timeslot by an extra 30 minutes, the current half hour is way too brief for the issues to be properly covered and addressed.

    I know that The Bolt Report will infuriate Lefties (they hate having their worldview and mindset challenged, your review is evidence of that), and hopefully this is a first but very important step of bringing balance and differing viewpoints back to commercial TV. As for the ABC? Almost beyond redemption I am afraid. Hopefully when the Coalition gets in they will put a broom through the place which might encourage the national broadcaster to be more diligent in adhering to its Charter.

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