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Seven, Nine backflip on Carbon Tax address

Networks find time to air Julia Gillard's address. After all, the government has been very generous with its license rebates lately.

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Seven and Nine’s backflip on whether or not to screen Julia Gillard’s Carbon Tax Address on Sunday should come as no real surprise.

After all the government has been very generous with its $250m license rebates to networks.

Maybe that’s why David Leckie and David Gyngell stepped in to give the airtime, justified as being in the interests of the nation.

According to The Australian, Nine’s head of news and current affairs Mark Calvert and Seven news and current affairs boss Peter Meakin had both declined the request, viewing it as a party-political broadcast.

But given the rebates are under consideration to be extended indefinitely for networks, it seems somebody saw the light in time. Funny that.

Calvert told The Daily Telegraph: “I stand by my view that we shouldn’t be running this, but David Gyngell is the boss of Channel 9. He’s made a decision and I’ve got to respect that.”

Meakin made similar overtures: “There was an approach by the government to reconsider and that is what I’ve been told to do.

“I’m not happy, but I’m not going to die in ditch over it either.”

The Carbon Tax issue is also worth ad revenue, as the government buys up ad time to get its message across.

Seven, Nine, TEN and ABC1 will now run the address at 6:30pm, which is expected to last about 5 minutes.

ABC1 will air for 30 minutes, follwed by News at 7pm and then a special edition of 7:30. For Seven the 5 minute address will also set back the opening of the Dancing with the Stars Grand Final.

Seven will also broadcast a one hour special at midday at the time Gillard has a Press Conference.

24 Responses

  2. According to ABC News 24 they are going to start earlier than midday on Sunday it’ll be on11am AEST. That’s what they said tonight and it’s on the EPG.

  3. This is the most egregious and disgraceful political action since the sacking by the Americans of that pompous windbag but nevertheless elected by the people Gough Whitlam. I hated his politics but that intervention by a foreign power made me mad.
    Now we are being subjected to pointless and destructive taxation that will inevitably damage our economy. For what purpose? For what reason? Who knows?
    My guess is follow the money – Gore is in it up to his eyeballs with his multi million dollar carbon (dioxide) derivatives trading scheme as is his accessory Pachauri with schemes of his own. Partners in crime on a global scale.
    So, following the money – who is p*ssing in Gillard-Brown’s pocket? If I sound angry, it’s because I am.

  4. Isn’t every news story about politics a ‘party political broadcast’ !? What a joke, they complain and complain about the liar and how she has no policies and no information and then when she is ready to put it out there they say ‘no we won’t broadcast’

    Why go down to the anti rally and film that then? Why let any politician speak on tv about anything!?

    As others have said it is just more disrespect to the PM, no matter whom that may be.

  7. It’s a bit rich how the News bosses of 7 and 9 didn’t want to air this, yet at 6pm weeknights there is usually 5 minutes dedicated to the Carbon Tax anyway…

  12. I can’t believe how Australians are so disrespectful to the office of the country’s Prime Minister. Note, Tonyites, I said “the office of the country’s Prime Minister”. It is irrelevant who is “Prime Minister”. We may love to hate the Americans but at least they are respectful to their leaders.
    Be interesting to follow this item today. I predict 100 comments by 6pm. How many will be simply attacking the PM and not addressing the fact that 7, 9 and 10 programs after 6:30pm will run 10-20 mins “over” anyway, so 5 mins at 6:30pm is irrelevant.

  13. I just want the info out there so we can get on with “other business” … just give me the summary when it is all over … I already agree that we need it …

  16. Oh what will Chris Smith say, has anyone heard such a biased commentor ever???, and does he screen his listerners as I have never heard one criticise him or support the government

  17. I think it only right that the PM be given the opportunity to talk to us about the carbon tax proposal. They have been working behind closed doors with those preppared to negotiate whilst the debate has been raging like a biased bush fire for weeks with the networks giving plenty of air time to any one who has been prepared to call the PM or those involved in the negotiation process vile names.

  20. What a farce. This country is heading down the path of countries when the government can get on TV whenever the hell they feel like it. I hope this doesn’t become a regular event. If I wanted to watch this silly PM feed me bull then I would watch the ABC. After all, I pay for the ABC. Yes it is only 5 minutes. But for me that is not the point. The reason why the networks said no in the first place is valid. Obviously Julia played hard ball. Lucky we live in a free country isn’t it….. of wait, we don’t!!!

  21. This seems so strange to me, This government bungles everything it does, and now when a TV station refuses to do as it is asked, they “ask” them to “reconsider”. Maybe $250 million dollars is an “offer they couldn’t refuse”. Somethihg stinks and it isn’t the carbon.

  22. Err just to put the cat amongst the pigeons here….. Is that well known eco warrior Andrew Bolt fronting a prime time show on ch10 about the carbon tax?

  23. Howard was given airtime to spruik the GST, as it was the right thing to do, as is this address by Gillard.

    Frankly if Little Britain doesn’t like it, he should hop on the next flight home. It’s time all news organisations start showing more respect to the Office of Prime Minister, something that has been severely lacking in the past couple of years.

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