Dear SBS,
It's time for us to come clean on just how much we think your new 6.30pm news format stinks. We've been watching SBS news since the broadcast range was extended to non-metropolitan areas of NSW (late 90s?), and none of the changes made to the news program since that time have been to its obvious detriment up until the recent addition of advertisements and the change to a soft 1 hour news format. When we first heard that the news would run for an hour we were pleased, thinking it would be merely more of the quality we had come to expect from SBS news over the years. Wrong!
More to the point, it turns out it's not just the two of us with this opinion. You guys aren't reporting on the furore that's erupted over Mary Kostakidis, but it's a sure bet you're watching more carefully than anyone what others are reporting. If that's the case you may well have noticed that she has almost universal support and good will from the public and her media colleagues.
We'll leave you with a taste of what some of your regular viewers think of this matter:6 Comments:
(from http://todaysapatheticyouth.blogspot.com/2007/08/no-mary.html)
By Gam, at 21/8/07 4:24 PM
Oh, I can't stand George Negus! What a fuckstick.
I'll be disappointed if she leaves too. And Lee Lin Chin's hair always deserves it's own special mention.By Magic Bellybutton, at 21/8/07 7:14 PM
Fuck oath, man. The new hour long format sucks donkey's balls.
It's all fucking filler - "your say": since when did a goddamn web-survey and the comments of the few deranged tools worked up enough to comment qualify as "news".
Jesus H. Christ, I watched SBS to get away from all that non-news bullshit that pollutes the majors - and to get some real international news.
Sadly, both seem to be disappearing. The interviews are even worse - dodgy, arguably bias or unqualified people rambling to stupid prepared questions by Stan Grant, desperately trying to give his best Witness impression.
Pah. I hate it.By patrick, at 21/8/07 9:23 PM
Patrick- I totally agree! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. Whenever Stan Grant is doing one of his stupid interviews I'll even flick channels to see what's on Today Tonight or A Current Affair in preference to watching him! And more often than not I'll switch to the ABC at 7pm when SBS has yet another ad break. And the 'your say' bit shits me too. I feel sorry for the original SBS newsreaders because they are all highly qualified, multi-talented individuals, not bimbos whose sole qualification is a nice coiff and the ability to read off an autocue.
By Sarah, at 21/8/07 11:17 PM
Say it isn't so.
I *love* Mary Kostakidis. She's professional and smart, but you can tell that she could rip you a new arse hole if you pissed her off enough, and that's why I like her. Poor dear should do what she feels is best, but I agree that it just won't be SBS News Australia without her.
Oh, lamentations!By , at 21/8/07 11:24 PM
Lamentations here too! Mary K rocks, and Lee Lin Chin - the hair, the marvelous, spikey, grey wonderful hair! She is so utterly stylish and whatsisname is a total wanker. Gah.
By Rebekka, at 22/8/07 11:38 AM
It also wouldn't be a bad idea if you guys checked out the Mary Kostakidis support groups on facebook; already hundreds of people have joined up. We're saying this as big fans of SBS and most of its programming, and no doubt everyone else is too. By screwing over Mary Kostakidis you're screwing over your viewers. You won't find the same sort of support for Stan Grant and you know it.
Yours in hope that this will be sorted out ASAP,
Sarah and Gam
In other Mary Kostakidis news, The Age is reporting that Mary is unlikely to reconcile with SBS and rejoin the news team. Which means SBS are still screwing her around. Those idiots will have really shot themselves in the foot if they lose her. Who do they think they are? A substandard version of Channel 10?
stan grant is a useless news reader and an even worse interviewer. he comes across as a pompous, untalented tool, which is presumably what got him on cnn. wish he'd go back there and we could get mary back. sbs really seems to be going down the commercial gurgler these days. first negus now this.