ABC receives hundreds of complaints from viewers after its breaking news coverage of Prince Philip’s death interrupted a repeat of Vera
The ABC has addressed complaints made regarding its coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh‘s death last week.
In a statement, the broadcaster revealed it had received 435 complaints over Friday night’s breaking news that Prince Philip had died at the age of 99.
The majority of the complaints were about a news bulletin interrupting a repeat of British crime drama Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn.
Priorities: The ABC received hundreds of complaints from viewers after its breaking news coverage of Prince Philip’s death interrupted a repeat of British crime drama Vera. Pictured: Vera actors Kenny Doughty (left) and Brenda Blethyn (right)
A network’s spokesperson said: ‘The ABC’s special Friday night coverage of the death of Prince Philip meant interrupting the scheduled ABC TV broadcast of a repeat of Vera, which is now available to watch on ABC iview and will be rebroadcast on ABC TV this Thursday at 1.30pm.
‘The ABC has received a relatively low 435 complaints about its overall coverage, more than three-quarters of which relate to the interruption of Vera.
‘Other complaints were about other matters, such as the duration of our coverage.’
Rest in peace: Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband for more than 70 years, died on Friday at Windsor Castle, aged 99, two months before his 100th birthday. Pictured in July 2015
Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband for more than 70 years, died on Friday at Windsor Castle, aged 99, two months before his 100th birthday.
The popular Royal was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.
In Vera, two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn plays DCI Vera Stanhope, who solves murders in England’s Northumberland region.
Repeats of the popular series regularly garner over 300,000 viewers for the ABC.
Not happy: The majority of the complaints were about a news bulletin interrupting a repeat of British crime drama Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn