Channel 9 slammed for "pathetic" Olympics move
Aussie viewers have vented their frustrations at Channel 9 after the broadcaster chose not to show Jess Hull's Paris debut on their main channel.
Viewers at home were eagerly waiting to see Hull's heat live, as she broke the 2000m world record in the lead up to the Olympics, but instead they were shown replays of the surfing heat from earlier.
While Hull's race was shown on other secondary streaming channels on Nine, it was not on the main broadcast.
Many were forced to watch Hull's race after it had already occurred.
"Where is the 1500m heat with Jess Hull?" a confused viewer tweeted.
"Agree, pathetic," replied another.
“Channel 9 cutting to a surfing replay over showing Jess Hull’s 1500m heat live might just be the stupidest sh*t I’ve ever seen in sports producing in my life. And yes. I watched it on 9Now. But seriously,” Sprinter and athletics coach Tim Rosen said.
“I wondered the same thing, why wouldn’t they show the third heat live with Jess Hull considering they spent the last half-hour talking her up?” Journalist Luke Dennehy tweeted.
“Disgraceful @Channel9, Jess hull is racing, top hope and you cut to go to equestrian and rock climbing. Ridiculous decision,” one fan wrote.
"Can’t wait to watch Jessica Hull’s heat on 9! Our fastest ever women’s 1500m runner and gold medal chance! Wait- what’s this? Surfing with no waves (at least an Aussie was in the final) equestrian, springboard diving … No Jess! Thanks @Channel9,” another wrote.
“What is wrong with Channel 9’s coverage … prelim diving and surfing replay on their 2 free to air channels!! No Jess Hull!! …. do they not cover track and field unless there’s a big name competing!! … Really disappointing! Second rate coverage," a third added.
“We missed the action because you completely forgot about it. Jess Hull is our only odds-on favourite for a track medal — she just ran her one and only Aus prime time race and you completely missed it," a fourth wrote.
Hull finished in the top six and landed a spot in the semis, and she wasn't the only Aussie qualifier, with Georgia Griffith finishing fourth.
Image: JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock Editorial