‘Stop giving us false hope!’ Channel Nine is slammed for using a stock backdrop of a clear blue sky during a bushfire interview
- A backdrop used on Weekend Today showed a lovely, fine day in Canberra
- One viewer saw the same view from their balcony shrouded in thick smoke
- The haze isn’t due to clear up in time for New Year’s Eve with more forecast
- Total fire ban in Canberra has caused their fireworks display to be cancelled
Channel Nine has been slammed for using a studio backdrop which showed fine conditions prevailing in Canberra even though the real-world vista was shrouded in smoke from bushfires.
In a video shared on Reddit, Weekend Today presenters Jayne Azzopardi and Tim Davies were interviewing a guest about compensation for volunteer firefighters, and he sat in front of a screen which showed a clear view of Telstra Tower in Canberra.
‘With the compensation that is coming… Firefighters…. sounds like there is still a long way to go,’ regular newsreader Jayne can be heard saying as the Reddit video panned from the presenters to show the view from the poster’s balcony.
The view from the balcony showed the same tower and Black Mountains which appeared so sunny in the studio backdrop to be covered in thick smoke haze.
Channel Nine has been slammed for using a studio backdrop which showed fine conditions prevailing in Canberra (left) – even though the real-world vista was covered in smoke (right)
Social media users were quick to mock Channel 9 for the backdrop, with one user posting ‘Stop giving us false hope!’.
‘This is honestly really disturbing how fine they’re pretending this is,’ wrote another.
‘Surprising as the real time image would have given more visual impact to the story,’ another pointed out.
However, another poster pointed out it was common practice to use photo backdrops when crossing to remote studios rather then real time footage.
‘Most news backgrounds are printed sheets of plastic that has lights behind it,’ the poster said.
‘Did people think these were live backgrounds and not stock footage?’ another asked.
Weekend Today Presenter Jayne Azzopardi (pictured) interviewed a guest during a segment on compensation for volunteer firefighters
Bad smoke and poor air quality around Canberra had persisted with fires to the east of the city.
A Big Bash cricket game was abandoned last week due to smoke hanging over the ground.
To the disappointment of local residents, the smoke haze around Canberra was not due to clear up in time for New Year’s Eve.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecast the temperature in Canberra would reach 34C on Tuesday and the city will have areas of smoke haze with dust storms in the afternoon.
Planned fireworks displays in Civic Square were cancelled due to the total fire ban in the region.
The Today Show was contacted for comment.
Busted! An eagle-eyed viewer took to Reddit to compare the fake backdrop (pictured) with the real scene