TV

Australian Masterchef cooks up ratings, controversy

Last night, a record four million viewers tuned in to Australia's Network Ten watch one of two amateur cooks win the title of 'Masterchef' on the Fremantle-produced show of the same name. But while the title went to one cook (Julie Goodwin), the online edition of Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported that it went to her rival, Poh Ling Yeow. The story came complete with quotes from the winner ('This is really a surreal feeling,' Yeow told the Telegraph writer) and a congratulatory quote from Goodwin, Masterchef's actual winner. In responding to posts on Australian media site Mumbrella.com.au, the paper's online editor Kathy Lipari said that in order to run a piece immediately after the show aired, two stories were written, for which each participant was asked to respond to questions as if they'd won. The errant post was up for ten minutes, according to Lipari. As for the show, Ten reportedly plans to have a celeb version ready to roll this year, with the original back for 2010.

July 20, 2009

Last night, a record four million viewers tuned in to Australia's Network Ten watch one of two amateur cooks win the title of 'Masterchef' on the Fremantle-produced show of the same name. But while the title went to one cook (Julie Goodwin), the online edition of Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported that it went to her rival, Poh Ling Yeow. The story came complete with quotes from the winner ('This is really a surreal feeling,' Yeow told the Telegraph writer) and a congratulatory quote from Goodwin, Masterchef's actual winner. In responding to posts on Australian media site Mumbrella.com.au, the paper's online editor Kathy Lipari said that in order to run a piece immediately after the show aired, two stories were written, for which each participant was asked to respond to questions as if they'd won. The errant post was up for ten minutes, according to Lipari. As for the show, Ten reportedly plans to have a celeb version ready to roll this year, with the original back for 2010.

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About The Author

Barry Walsh is editor-in-chief and content director for Realscreen, and has served as editor of the publication since 2009. With a career in entertainment media that spans two decades, prior to Realscreen, he held the associate editor post for now defunct sister publication Boards, which focused on the advertising and commercial production industries. Before Boards, he served as editor of Canadian Music Network, a weekly music industry trade, and as music editor for HMV.com. As content director, he also oversees the development of content for the brand's market-leading events, the Realscreen Summit and Realscreen West, as well as new content initiatives.

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