Advertisers pull out of The Bolt Report

Seems that the money is running away from Channel 10’s newest show, The Bolt Report … wonder why?

11 May 2011

By Wenlei Ma

A group of advertisers have pulled spots from Network Ten’s The Bolt Report as a Facebook campaign urging advertisers to boycott the show attracts growing support.

TeleChoice, Mr. Rentals and iPrimus have reportedly asked Ten to stop airing their TVCs during the program, hosted by controversial Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt. 

A spokesperson for Mr. Rentals told AdNews that the brand never intended to advertise during The Bolt Report. She said: “The spot was given to us as a bonus and unfortunately we had a spot aired during the timeslot. We’ve told Channel 10 that under no circumstances do we want to advertise during that show.

“We don’t share or support his [Andrew Bolt] views and we don’t want to be associated with that show.”

It’s understood that TeleChoice had booked advertising for the timeslot when it was broadcasting the youth-oriented Video Hits program. The ISP has pulled its spots from the timeslot because it doesn’t match the demographics it thought it was targeting.

A Network Ten statement said: “Since launching The Bolt Report, a number of clients who previously advertised within the Sunday morning edition of Video Hits have relocated their campaigns to some of our more youth-focused programming on Ten. The Bolt Report has been selling well and continues to attract interest from a range of advertisers.

“Network Ten works closely with all of its clients to ensure that we find the right programs to help showcase their brands. We regularly recommend programs and timeslot that we believe will deliver very defined audiences for our clients.”

A Facebook campaign called Operation Bolt-Cutter was set up by comedian and writer Christian Price this week urging advertisers to boycott the program. It has attracted more than 900 supporters.

Price told AdNews: “I created this Facebook event almost out of curiosity and just invited friends and family, thinking I might get a dozen or so replies at best. Now, there are over 900 members, so it’s quite clear a lot of people out there agree with the idea.”

Responding to criticism of his campaign, Price said: “The main criticism they seem to be making is that they feel the members of the group are against freedom of speech. Nothing could be further from the truth. We wouldn’t dream of ever stopping Bolt from speaking his mind, all we’re doing here is simply speaking ours.”

 

7 thoughts on “Advertisers pull out of The Bolt Report

  1. Were I an advertiser aiming at the youth market of video hits I too would pull my ads – there are other advertisers who would be happy to aim at the more mature market Bolt draws.

    • Do you mean dementia patients in aged care homes who, like him, wouldn’t have a clue what he’s talking about, but are parked in front of a TV whilst their beds are made?

  2. The Bolt Report has been selling well and continues to attract interest from a range of advertisers.

    Sounds a lot like the Australian newspaper. A right wing propaganda tool that is heavily subsidized just to keep it afloat. So few advertisers want their ads there & so few people read it that Murdoch has to throw mountains of money at it, just to continue getting the right wing viewpoint out there.

    Yet despite the evidence newscorp spokespeople always say the Australian is doing well.

    I imagine that Gina Rhinehart will do the same to prop up Blot.

    • Janama – let’s see what transpires. Remember, the Australian public maybe curious but they’re not stupid. They will get tired of the inane and incompetent rantings of Bolt. Don’t worry, I’m sure Gina will come to the rescue in keeping the show going despite the lack of credible content or ratings.

  3. Bolt’s smug, self-serving, far right ramblings on the ABC’s Insiders was a factor in my no longer bothering to watch that program. I just saw the last 5-10 minutes of todays broadcast – pathetic as it was, Ten should bolt from any contract it has with this pea-brain parading himself as some sort of intellectual powerhouse. What’s between his ears seems to be nought but aeroplane jelly. The show, for that’s what it is, is as totally laughable a current affairs program as would be Hitler trying to justify the Holocaust. But then, Bolt has probably tried to do that in the past too.

  4. The “Bolt Report” is almost unique in Australian TV Land. A Program which tells “the truth” from a conservative viewpoint. Most of the rest, lie, like the proverbial “pigs in mud”, spreading the propaganda of Juliar Dullard and her evil “Greenie/Commie” entourage/supporters/bosses. I would like to say that “I always watch it.”, but the fact is I watch whenever I can. Long may it continue to be a beacon in a turbulent sea of left-wing falsehood.

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