The ABC’s flagship current affairs show Q+A received a staggering 2100 complaints from viewers last year.
Ombudsman Fiona Cameron said most of the issues raised by fans centred on the panel show’s coverage of the war in Gaza.
Industry blog TV Tonight reports that the complaints appear to have been a targeted campaign which accused Q+A of being ‘pro-Israel’ and alleged Islamophobia and racism.
Of the complaints made against Q+A, 1,974 arose from a single episode.
Complaints accused the show of lacking impartiality and creating ‘harm and offence’ over the way a discussion of the Gaza conflict was handled.
The ABC’s flagship current affairs show Q+A received a staggering 2100 complaints from viewers last year. Ombudsman Fiona Cameron said most of the issues raised by fans centred on the panel show’s coverage of the war in Gaza. Pictured: Current host Patricia Karvalas
According to the report many of the complaints were ‘identically worded’. Meanwhile TV Tonight reports that people were urged to contact the ABC and advised on how to ‘outline a complaint’.
Cameron later commented that overall, the ABC’s coverage of the war in Gaza was ‘professional, wide-ranging and reflective of newsworthy events’, reported the publication.
It comes after Q+A managed to escape the axe last year, despite falling ratings.
Industry blog TV Tonight reports that the complaints appear to have been a targeted campaign which accused Q+A of being ‘pro-Israel’ and alleged Islamophobia and racism arising from remarks made by a panelist on the show
The once hit panel show returned this year with a reduced season of just 24 episodes – cut down from 40.
A staff email leaked to the Financial Review in December revealed the national broadcaster’s pan to run the controversial talk program in four six-week slots.
Radio National presenter Patricia Karvalas was announced as the host for the new season which kicked off on Monday, February 19.
The show will break after March 25, before returning for three more six-week slots – April 29 to June 3, then August 12 to September 16, and finally October 21 to November 25.
According to the report many of the complaints were ‘identically worded’. Meanwhile TV Tonight reports that people were urged to contact the ABC and advised on how to ‘outline a complaint’. Pictured: Former Q+A Stan Grant
Karvelas is taking the top job following a tumultuous year for the program, which included Stan Grant resigning and a dip in viewership.
Once seen as setting the news agenda with its hard-hitting discussions of current affairs, the last two years has seen the show struggling to stay afloat amidst a revolving door of hosts and changing timeslots.
One episode in 2023 scored 194,000 viewers in the five major cities, according to OzTam overnight ratings.