Latest news with #viewercomplaints
News.com.au
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Criminal': Fans' one big problem with The Voice this season
The Voice Australia returned for a new season with a new line-up of coaches on Sunday night – but the show, now in its 14th season, copped some viewer complaints about the new-look panel. Irish singer Ronan Keating, British former Spice Girl Melanie C and 80s American hitmaker Richard Marx join sole Aussie Kate Miller-Heidke in the four red chairs this season. The line-up was announced months ago, but it seems it rankled some fans who tuned in during last night's season premiere. The complaint: Too many imports and not enough Aussie talent among the coaches. 'Only 1 in 4 judges is Aussie, that sucks,' one viewer complained on X. Another said having only one Australian judge on a show dedicated to unearthing new Australian talent was 'criminal.' 'A bit disappointing the #TheVoiceAU only has one Australian judge,' tweeted another viewer. The complaint was echoed over on Instagram and Facebook, in the comment sections under a post showing the opening group performance by this season's four coaches. 'Apparently we don't have enough aussie artists as judges to give us better ratings?' one viewer asked. 'Love them all but only one Aussie … not sure that is a good choice …' said another. The Voice has always had a coaching panel comprised of a mix of local and overseas artist, and in fact, this isn't the first time there's been only one coach repping for Australia. That started back in season two when Delta Goodrem was the sole Aussie on a coaching panel that also comprised Ricky Martin, Seal and Joel Madden. But in recent years, Aussie artists like Guy Sebastian, Jess Mauboy and Keith Urban have helped weight the coaching line-up more towards homegrown talent. The last time there was a sole Aussie coach on the show was back in 2018, when Goodrem was the only Aussie among Boy George, Kelly Rowland and Joe Jonas for the show's seventh season. To be fair, all this year's imports do have a strong Aussie connection: Ronan Keating is married to an Australian, Storm Keating, while Melanie C has made frequent visits to our shores since starting a relationship with Sydneysider Chris Dingwall at least 18 months ago. And Richard Marx is practically an honorary Aussie at this point, a prolific touring artist here ever since the early days of his career in the late 1980s. The coaches might've been met with a mixed response, but the first crop of contestants have already earned praise from the show's fanbase on social media – among the highlights from last night's premiere were a singing aerialist who scored two chair-turns for her 'joyful' performance of Dee-Lite's pop classic Groove is in the Heart and a young primary school teacher who earned four chair-turns for his 'flawless' rendition of the oft-covered Four Seasons song Beggin'.
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
BBC to use AI to handle viewer complaints
The BBC will use AI to handle viewers' complaints, it has been revealed. The company has signed a £40 million contract with a firm that uses artificial intelligence to deal with issues. The broadcaster has dealt with high-profile legal issues in recent years, including former newsreader Huw Edwards who admitted to having indecent images of children in July 2024. Serco has been awarded a contract for a minimum of five years, with £40 million reflecting the maximum amount spent by the publicly funded broadcaster. The British multinational said it would be answering questions from the public on programmes and services, as well as capturing audience feedback to 'inform decision making'. The contract will begin on April 16 2026. As well as handling viewer complaints by sending 'bulk responses', Serco will also 'draft responses for agents to review' and handle editorial and non-editorial complaints. It is understood that AI will not answer complaints directly but will be used by the staff. Handle enquiries promptly Serco primarily serves governments worldwide in areas such as defence, health, space, justice and migration. In 2021, the company won £700 million in Covid-related contracts worldwide, taking its total pandemic-related income to £1.1 billion. A BBC spokesman said: 'We want audience enquiries to be handled promptly and to a high standard. We will use AI to support the work of our team but humans will still respond directly to audience complaints, as they always have done. Antony King, managing director of citizen services at Serco, said: 'We are delighted to have been selected to support the millions of people who enjoy the BBC every day. 'We will introduce new ways for audiences to interact with the broadcaster, to ensure everyone can access the right support when they need it.' The BBC has faced a series of viewer complaints in the past year. In February 2025, critics said the corporation had allowed itself to be used as a propaganda platform for Hamas by focusing a documentary about ordinary Palestinians on the son of a Hamas government minister without disclosing the connection. Last week, it admitted to a lapse in 'our usual high editorial standards' over an interview discussing the Duke of Sussex after Richard Aitch, a former close protection officer, told Radio 4's Today programme the decision to downgrade the Duke's security arrangements was 'retributive justice for Megxit' and an act of 'spite' from the Royal Household.
