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Scenic basically pay for the show, it's the reason why it's still running. It wouldn't be economically viable without it. Same for a lot of their cooking shows, basically an advertorial.
Nine had to publicly state that it is completely external from Scenic as part of the $23m class action lawsuit.
https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/nine/102641598
I watched a few episodes of Getaway recently, for the same reason as OP. It used to be good.
Advertising obviously works on me because I've found myself thinking how good a European river cruise would be. If I ever do one, I'll remember to avoid Scenic.
I do a bit of work with cruise passengers when they come to Sydney. I've heard a lot of good reports from them about Viking river cruises, but they do seem to cater mostly to the older/retired American crowd.
It's plain that river cruise operators sell to differing national markets.
In our case everybody was Oz or NZ, plus a few poms and one pair of obnoxious seppo newlyweds. Apart from the latter everbody looked comfortably over 50.
Point is when wharves are double/triple/quadruple parked passengers reach dockside by traipsing through other boat's foyers and boy, they are different by language and decor and I can only guess, cuisine.
A lot of the cruise vloggers are getting freebies too, although the big ones like Gary Bembridge are pretty clear that they won't accept them.
But the real point is that travel journalism is now open to anyone. I wonder if that's the real reason for the decline of shows like Getaway. They have to pay for a professional production crew and presenter when there are YouTubers who can do an equally good job on their own dime. And the advertisers know this as well. So if they're going to host a TV crew, they'll want 30 minutes of gushing coverage.
Always has been. It's just more apparent now than it was in the past.
Free to Air TV has always been to one extent or another one big ad.
The actual ads, the in-show ads, the reality tv ads, the news ads.
It is all ads. The world runs on ads. It's fucking miserable to see & impossible to escape from.
Agree, even way back in the day it was promoting every segment with specific travel agents, touring companies, airlines, cruise companies etc. They were trying to sell a particular package with those providers.
Both Getaway and the Great Outdoors were just televised versions of travel agent comp trips. Those shows would have been stupid cheap to produce. I’m not sure those sorts of promo trips even exist anymore with the way the industry has changed, so without that depth of advertisers /freebies available, they have to put more focus on any advertiser that’s still willing to give any cash or freebies. Hence, all Scenic all the time.
Yep they are to travel agents, touring companies, airlines, cruises, what house building reality shows like The Block are to Bunnings, Miter 10, construction companies, rental agencies, construction companies and all the other building specialists, interior design, decorating and furniture companies, landscaping companies, etc etc etc
Same with cooking shows for grocery chains, etc.
Once you see it you can never unsee it
Enjoy what little you can while it lasts because you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s only going to get worse.
Every type of media will have ads regardless of if it has a subscription.
Ads will become more invasive and will start using eye-contact tracking ai to only let you past the ads if it can see your eyes on the ad.
Ads will be painted across the sky, in space, fuck they’ll beam the ads into your subconscious so you see them in your dreams. They will send them into your thoughts and restrict your access to basic necessities until you observe.
You think AR vision isn’t going to be used exclusively for ads?
The only 3 things that push humanity to advance our technology; war, porn, and fucking ads.
I never watch it and I hate the idea of cruises so not my market but just seeing "that weird David Reyne guy" makes me feel very old. David Reyne, star of The Flying Doctors, brother of rock legend James Reyne, of Australian Crawl... Yeah it's all a long time ago now.
One day the wind blows hot and cold
Life can be sweet and sour, but I am in control
It can chill me to the bone
Give me wings to fly on my own
I am in control
Yes, I remember when it also had segments primarily for the purpose of showing Catriona Rowntree in a bikini prancing around on a beach or beside a hotel pool in slow motion.
>I don’t really watch free-to-air TV anymore, is it all just aimed at Boomers?
As a Boomer, I have no idea.
I haven't watched free-to-air TV for, umm, since, err, what was the name of that site where I could download stuff?
Sometimes I'm in a doctor's waiting room, and there's a screen with some free-to-air playing. I can't even. It's horrifying.
I use to like Sydney Weekender more, not sure if that show is still running as haven’t watched TV of any kind for about 10 years. Sydney Weekender seemed more real then just infomercials of Getaway.
I didn’t even watch it when my niece was part of the production crew. I supported her, but, sure. Ok.
Watch ABC and SBS if you want something not so saturated with ads.
gardening Australia is god tier, don’t at me.
No. Its always been one big advert. Since it started, that is how it could afford to go to all those places. DO you serious think they did all those adventures because they were places the producers liked, nah, they were chosen because they were paid for.
It just you are now older and are far more sensitive at recognising ads.
dunno, never watched it. But I was forced to sit in a dental lobby and watch it.... I literally said, "wtf is this, one big advert for cruises post covid?"
yes... I think they know an increasing percentage of the free to air content is indeed ageing and less into tech. Not anywhere as bad as the usa though. From reports it's just solid med and adult diaper ads etc for the few that haven't even made the shift to Netflix
Yeah - it's crap now...
We went to Cambodia last year, and binge watched every show we could that we thought might give us some recent insight into travel there, including the Getaway episode, which was basically, as you said, an ad for Scenic... haven't bothered watching an episode since...
Yes, a lot IS aimed at boomers, because that's the demographic that watches it the most.
Younger generations are more on TikTok and Youtube. This isn't rocket science.
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"Commercial" TV is just one big ad. Even the 'news' on commercial TV have stories that are just thinly disguised ads.
Are you kidding me. Watch an episode of ‘Bunnings Home and Gardens’ and there was hardly any product placements.
See also: Foxtel, Youtube, et al.
> YouTube Thank fuck for SponsorBlock, I can’t watch YouTube videos without it.
Can you get this for Android and/or smart TVs?
Check out Revanced for Android. Smart TV's not so much, and certainly not for free-to-air.
> thinly disguised I saw a literal Coles ad run on the news. 'Coles has these aggressive new prices!' or something then the ad runs.
When programs on free to air are just straight up cross promotion for their networks other shows.
Scenic basically pay for the show, it's the reason why it's still running. It wouldn't be economically viable without it. Same for a lot of their cooking shows, basically an advertorial. Nine had to publicly state that it is completely external from Scenic as part of the $23m class action lawsuit. https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/nine/102641598
I watched a few episodes of Getaway recently, for the same reason as OP. It used to be good. Advertising obviously works on me because I've found myself thinking how good a European river cruise would be. If I ever do one, I'll remember to avoid Scenic.
I do a bit of work with cruise passengers when they come to Sydney. I've heard a lot of good reports from them about Viking river cruises, but they do seem to cater mostly to the older/retired American crowd.
It's plain that river cruise operators sell to differing national markets. In our case everybody was Oz or NZ, plus a few poms and one pair of obnoxious seppo newlyweds. Apart from the latter everbody looked comfortably over 50. Point is when wharves are double/triple/quadruple parked passengers reach dockside by traipsing through other boat's foyers and boy, they are different by language and decor and I can only guess, cuisine.
honestly in this day and age its better to watch a vlogger on youtube. Its not going to be proudly brought to you buy $touringcompany
A lot of the cruise vloggers are getting freebies too, although the big ones like Gary Bembridge are pretty clear that they won't accept them. But the real point is that travel journalism is now open to anyone. I wonder if that's the real reason for the decline of shows like Getaway. They have to pay for a professional production crew and presenter when there are YouTubers who can do an equally good job on their own dime. And the advertisers know this as well. So if they're going to host a TV crew, they'll want 30 minutes of gushing coverage.
Always has been. It's just more apparent now than it was in the past. Free to Air TV has always been to one extent or another one big ad. The actual ads, the in-show ads, the reality tv ads, the news ads. It is all ads. The world runs on ads. It's fucking miserable to see & impossible to escape from.
Agree, even way back in the day it was promoting every segment with specific travel agents, touring companies, airlines, cruise companies etc. They were trying to sell a particular package with those providers. Both Getaway and the Great Outdoors were just televised versions of travel agent comp trips. Those shows would have been stupid cheap to produce. I’m not sure those sorts of promo trips even exist anymore with the way the industry has changed, so without that depth of advertisers /freebies available, they have to put more focus on any advertiser that’s still willing to give any cash or freebies. Hence, all Scenic all the time.
Yep they are to travel agents, touring companies, airlines, cruises, what house building reality shows like The Block are to Bunnings, Miter 10, construction companies, rental agencies, construction companies and all the other building specialists, interior design, decorating and furniture companies, landscaping companies, etc etc etc Same with cooking shows for grocery chains, etc. Once you see it you can never unsee it
That's why I haven't watched FTA TV for 10 years. Or have a streaming subscription as they are moving the same way.
Enjoy what little you can while it lasts because you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s only going to get worse. Every type of media will have ads regardless of if it has a subscription. Ads will become more invasive and will start using eye-contact tracking ai to only let you past the ads if it can see your eyes on the ad. Ads will be painted across the sky, in space, fuck they’ll beam the ads into your subconscious so you see them in your dreams. They will send them into your thoughts and restrict your access to basic necessities until you observe. You think AR vision isn’t going to be used exclusively for ads? The only 3 things that push humanity to advance our technology; war, porn, and fucking ads.
> The world runs on ads. It's fucking miserable to see & impossible to escape from Just don't look.
I never watch it and I hate the idea of cruises so not my market but just seeing "that weird David Reyne guy" makes me feel very old. David Reyne, star of The Flying Doctors, brother of rock legend James Reyne, of Australian Crawl... Yeah it's all a long time ago now.
And The Chantoozies, can't forget them.
>And The Chantoozies, can't forget them. Teenage me will never forget Tottie Goldsmith.
Ally Fowler from Sons and Daughters?
If you say so, never watched much S&D :) David was the Chantoozies drummer.
They're still playing! I saw an add for them in Eltham I think.
This is Sweet & Sour erasure and I won't stand for it...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet\_and\_Sour\_(1984\_TV\_series)
Is that the show with the theme song that went SWEET! (synth flourish) SWEET! (synth flourish) SWE-EE-EE-EEEEEET AND SOUAH
One day the wind blows hot and cold Life can be sweet and sour, but I am in control It can chill me to the bone Give me wings to fly on my own I am in control
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_and_Sour_(1984_TV_series)
Well life can be Sweet & Sour.
But I am in control
It's a game, it's a game!
Really enjoyed that when it came out..
Oh I recall that show all too well. It was huge at the time.
Woah......... I thought they were the same person.
David and his wife run a wine bar on the Mornington Peninsula ( Flinders). https://www.plonkandstink.com.au/ He’s a busy bloke.
Yes, I remember when it also had segments primarily for the purpose of showing Catriona Rowntree in a bikini prancing around on a beach or beside a hotel pool in slow motion.
Catriona Rowntree? I remember Sophie Falkiner and [this](https://youtu.be/LWscVv3XE1U?si=zqfaWYkz3Qrjhz8L&t=1m55s)
Ooh. Very nice………………scenery. I’m talking about the scenery.
I never really knew where she was, but I was all for it
It was always advertising
The show never paid a cent to go to any of the destinations.
Exactly. I'd never encourage my clients to spend the $5k+ to be featured. They can get much better ROI advertising in other ways.
shows like Getaway and Sydney/Melbourne Weekender have always been ads but they never used to be so on the nose about it
Good retro Micallef sketch about this: https://youtu.be/Dw1tvOI5hhM?si=DsyiuanI3chW8C1m
8 banana daiquiris thanks
Is Getaway still on?
You can't get away from it.
Take your fucking upvote and fuck off.
I miss Catriona Rowntree. She won multiple gold Logies for “TV Presenter most Likely Mistaken for a Capybara”.
>I don’t really watch free-to-air TV anymore, is it all just aimed at Boomers? As a Boomer, I have no idea. I haven't watched free-to-air TV for, umm, since, err, what was the name of that site where I could download stuff? Sometimes I'm in a doctor's waiting room, and there's a screen with some free-to-air playing. I can't even. It's horrifying.
Said the exact same thing last night. It's just one long advertisement for Scenic Cruises.
Yes. It was also many a young boy or girl’s Catriona Rowntree induced sexual awakening. It was certainly mine.
Boomers are the majority of the audience for free to air, so yes it is mostly aimed at them
Yes, I remember back in the old days when it was adverts for regional B&Bs (well before AirB&B).
I use to like Sydney Weekender more, not sure if that show is still running as haven’t watched TV of any kind for about 10 years. Sydney Weekender seemed more real then just infomercials of Getaway.
I’ve been watching getaway since I was a kid and it always seemed like one big giant commercial to me.
SBS has ads for river cruises. Must be nice to have that kind of money spare. (I watch the cooking shows on sbs food)
I didn’t even watch it when my niece was part of the production crew. I supported her, but, sure. Ok. Watch ABC and SBS if you want something not so saturated with ads. gardening Australia is god tier, don’t at me.
great railway journeys
You mean it's no long a display of Katrina R's assets?.......
Scenic is the principle sponsor of the program, so not really surprising I guess.
No. Its always been one big advert. Since it started, that is how it could afford to go to all those places. DO you serious think they did all those adventures because they were places the producers liked, nah, they were chosen because they were paid for. It just you are now older and are far more sensitive at recognising ads.
No. I've never been in my 50's.
That's a wise choice. There's is nothing good there.
I can’t even read the word not how they did it on the show
"Getaway getaway"
dunno, never watched it. But I was forced to sit in a dental lobby and watch it.... I literally said, "wtf is this, one big advert for cruises post covid?" yes... I think they know an increasing percentage of the free to air content is indeed ageing and less into tech. Not anywhere as bad as the usa though. From reports it's just solid med and adult diaper ads etc for the few that haven't even made the shift to Netflix
Yeah - it's crap now... We went to Cambodia last year, and binge watched every show we could that we thought might give us some recent insight into travel there, including the Getaway episode, which was basically, as you said, an ad for Scenic... haven't bothered watching an episode since...
No. It’s always been that way.
Yes I wish there was a better travel show alternative in aus.
Yes, a lot IS aimed at boomers, because that's the demographic that watches it the most. Younger generations are more on TikTok and Youtube. This isn't rocket science.
I remember Rebecca Harris
remember when it was Holiday on abc. but yeah product placement, i'd rather watch a doco
It's almost always just been a big ad, cruise lines are just the new customer of the getaway promotional model