Australia’s biggest TV awards night is facing fresh controversy, with claims of broadcaster bias, snubs and an extraordinary media ban casting a shadow over the 65th TV Week Logie Awards.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Destination NSW – the state’s tourism body – pumps a fortune into the event to ensure it’s held in Sydney.
While the exact figure remains under wraps, Melbourne previously shelled out around $1million for the honour.
In return, Destination NSW gets some glossy drone shots of the Harbour Bridge in the broadcast, a few ‘Feel New Sydney’ tourism ads and a table at the glamorous ceremony.
But when the organisation reportedly invited a handful of top-tier journalists to join them at their table, organisers allegedly swooped in and revoked the invitations.
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Australia’s biggest TV awards night is facing fresh controversy, with claims of broadcaster bias, snubs and an extraordinary media ban casting a shadow over the 65th TV Week Logie Awards. Pictured: Sonia Kruger
The move has been branded not only embarrassing for Destination NSW, but ‘absurd’ given the long-standing relationship between the media and the Logies.
A few years ago, organisers quietly banned media from being in the room altogether – a policy that began when the awards were held in the smaller Gold Coast venue.
But now that the event is staged at Sydney’s sprawling Star Casino Events Centre, critics say there’s more than enough room for the entire press pack.
Adding to the farce, many of this year’s nominees are journalists themselves – with two of the Gold Logie contenders and 24 Silver Logie nominees coming from journalism or current affairs programs.
And it’s not just the media missing out.
Most of the cast of The Real Housewives of Sydney have been left off the guest list, despite the show being up for an award.
Sources claim only Sally Obermeder has been invited to walk the red carpet.
Meanwhile, the stars of Married At First Sight have also been snubbed, with Channel Nine only extending an invite for experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla.
When Destination NSW reportedly invited a handful of top-tier journalists to join them at their table, organisers allegedly swooped in and revoked the invitations
Speaking to Daily Mail this week, expert John Aiken admitted that despite dominating the ratings every year, the reality series has never been recognised with a win on Australian TV’s night of nights.
‘We have never won anything at the Logies,’ Aiken admitted.
‘But we’re pretty happy with the ratings that we have. At the end of the day it all comes down to who’s prepared to vote.
‘The shows that win usually have people who get online and vote. With MAFS, while we have a lot of committed viewers, they don’t seem to vote.’
Aiken said the team does not measure success by trophies.
‘We don’t do it to get a Logie, we do it because it’s fun, it’s exciting and a lot of people watch it. The real prize is the huge audience engagement we get every year,’ he said.
This year, like in the past, many MAFS cast members have been left off the official Logies guest list, something Aiken says is out of everyone’s hands.
‘It’s a privilege to be invited, but it’s completely out of my hands and out of the hands of the talent. Every year people are going to miss out, but you have no control over it,’ he explained.
The stars of Married At First Sight have also been snubbed, with Channel Nine only extending an invite for experts John Aiken (pictured), Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla
And even if the show did win a Logie, Aiken joked it would be risky to let some of the brides or grooms accept the award.
‘You’d have no idea what they’re going to say,’ he said with a laugh.
‘They’re very brave people who put themselves out there and I’m grateful to them for doing the show, but you never know what they’ll do once filming wraps.’
Aiken says that while the Logies may elude them, the show’s reach is undeniable.
‘It’s now in its 13th season and it just keeps growing. It’s sold into over 120 countries and it’s consistently high in the ratings here. We keep putting out a high-quality product that people respond to,’ John said.
