THE Nine Network has changed its explanation for criticisms that rugby league commentators Ray Warren and Phil Gould made on-air about the proposed poker machine reforms, saying the comments reflected the network's own position.
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When Warren and Gould spoke out against the mooted pre-commitment system for poker machines during the preliminary final last month between Manly and Brisbane, Nine's initial explanation was that the pair were expressing their own views.
But in the face of an inquiry by the Australian Communications and Media Authority into complaints that Nine did not adequately identify political material, the network now says the comments ''reflect the views of the Nine Network''.
During the broadcast of the game on September 23, Gould, who is also a Fairfax Media columnist, told viewers pre-commitment for poker machines was a ''rubbish policy'' that would not work and would do irreparable damage to the hospitality industry for no benefit.
On September 29, Nine's network compliance manager, Shelley Bates, wrote to one viewer who had complained. ''The comments relating to the federal government's proposed poker machine tax were purely the opinions of the commentators regarding matters directly affecting the NRL community,'' Ms Bates said, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the ABC's Media Watch.
The Communications and Media Authority then announced its inquiry, on October 4, into whether Nine had breached the conditions of its broadcasting licence.
The licence requires that if a television channel broadcasts political advertising at the request of another person, it must immediately announce in writing who made the request. This requirement is not there if the network made the broadcast without a third-party request.
But on October 10, Ms Bates made an about-turn, writing to another viewer who had complained about the comments.
''The comments relating to the federal government proposed poker machine tax reflect the views of the Nine Network regarding matters directly affecting the NRL community,'' she wrote, again misconstruing the pre-commitment policy as a tax.
''The comments were part of the program content and were in no way an advertisement; furthermore the Nine Network did not receive any payment or other benefits for the broadcast of the information.''
Asked to explain the about-face, a Nine spokesman said it would be inappropriate to add anything while the authority's inquiry was under way.
Before the authority said it was investigating, Warren revealed that while the comments reflected his own position he had made them on instruction.
''It was a directive from up top that it be read by at least somebody, so I read it,'' Warren told his co-host on the Triple M sports show, Dead Set Legends, Dan Ginnane.
Warren said he thought it was an ad done on behalf of the rugby league.
Spokesmen for the NRL and Clubs NSW have denied the comments were paid for.
