Bone Top Gear says Aussie Actor

[Sojourner]

What is wrong with the Acting Industry in Australia? The BBC pump out high rating shows at full volume, yet we have to make politically correct rubbish that clearly no one is watching anyway!

It will be good to see SBS have a go at producing a show that people might actually like for a change, lets face it there has to be something else good on SBS besides South Park and Mythbusters!

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Bone Top Gear, says Aussie actor
By Peter McKay
From Wheels Magazine Online,

Veteran Aussie actor Chris Haywood has a bone to pick with SBS and Top Gear.

Taxpayer-funded SBS Television should be sold – or the management team fired – because of the decision to introduce an expensive local version of the top-rating British motoring show Top Gear, said prominent Aussie actor Chris Haywood in a Sun-Herald story.

The veteran actor, 59, who has starred in many Australian films feels that funding for the local production of the Top Gear series – believed to be about $10 million – would be better used for worthy projects, such as drama or programs about indigenous issues.

"It's blatant commercialism in terms of programming," the Sun-Herald quotes Haywood as saying.

It’s a debate as old as SBS itself – should the channel chase ratings with potentially popular programs which could pull big advertising dollars, or should it satisfy its historical charter to spread the joy among minority and ethnic groups? Perhaps those minority groups include Australian actors seeking work?

SBS didn’t turn the other cheek to Haywood’s face slap, telling the Sun-Herald that Top Gear drives more commercial revenue than any other program and that the money is then spent on local content.

Top Gear Australia is currently auditioning for local presenters. It will go to air later this year.

[Magpiespower]

Definitely is outside the SBS charter...

[Rushby Hinds]

there was a reply to that letter the next day in the financial review, written by a big Honky from the SBS.

Answered it beautifully, and proved that Heywood new Jack about what he was saying.


the budget is apparently NOTHING like what he said it was.

[smac]

Who's Chris Haywood?

[Wedgie]

I can see where he's coming from but also have to disagree with him. If you just have low budget shows of minimal interest than SBS might as well as die in the arse. It needs to produce/broadcast shows that appeal to the maintsream in order to get people watching the more obscure stuff. Plus SBS are semi commercial anyway, has heaps of ads, if the show rates, ad money goes up and the budget is increased for other shows.

[Rushby Hinds]

I remember quite a few years back, SBS said that the sponsorship $$ received for showing South Park, was spent on producing Pizza.

[Leaping Lindner]

Well we can forgive them anyway.

[mighty_tiger_79]

they did have a local show called EAST something, basically a cop show

produced locally

he might be bitter because he didnt get a gig on that

[Sojourner]

SBS do a good job of their news, which does appear to be somewhat less sensationalist than other news programmes on the commercial networks. Yet I would consider their charter to be to make programmes that are of interest to people from a wide variety of backrounds which includes people that like cars! They show plenty of sports, so why not, hopefully they get a good presenter and make it work!

[Magpiespower]

Haywood - a fine actor - seems to be copping it for only echoing what others have been saying for months...

That SBS should either put its hand up as the fourth commercial network or continue as a public broadcaster.

The major networks are the most vocal about this - seems they don't like SBS having a foot in both camps or 'having their cake and eating it too.'

SBS shouldn't be too precious - Blind Freddy can see a local version of Top Gear is a commercial decision.

It's extremely rare for SBS to back a local show without multicultural content...

I remember quite a few years back, SBS said that the sponsorship $$ received for showing South Park, was spent on producing Pizza.

Well we can forgive them anyway.

Not for five years and a movie of that crap...

[Dogwatcher]

Will be interesting to see who gets the hosting job on top gear.

One verrrry popular show on SBS was shopped around to all the networks without success. SBS said yes we can do it, but....the host must be 'ethnic' to fit our charter.

Maybe the same will apply with Top Gear....

[Dirko]

Yep Guido Hatzis is gonna get the gig.

Every car has a fluffy dice and is repainted Purple...

Fully Sick maaaaaate....

[Psyber]

At least with Top Gear [as distinct from Wheels] you don't get the impression the vehicle maker's advertising budget influences the ratings of vehicles.... I can understand Wheels wouldn't want an independent assessmant disagreeing with their published ratings.

The same pattern showed in the now defunct PC World in Australia - unbelieveable rating results if you read the details of test results as well - and on the same page sometimes too - until they stopped publishing the details and only gave the ratings!