Channel 10 is being slammed for “the worst and most depressing” New Year’s Eve celebration in television history. And if you watch the clip for yourself below, it may be clear why.
The countdown was hosted on Ten’s second station, Eleven, by radio and TV presenter Scott Tweedie and singer Olivia Phyland. The pair feature on the channel’s music program, The Loop.
Viewers have suggested it could have been a stunt by The Loop hosts, however Ten was unable to be reached for comment.
In the minute long clip first posted on Reddit, titled ‘The most awkward New Year’s countdown ever’, viewers see the pair attempt to rile up the audience as the countdown kicks off.
As they welcome a group of audience members on the stage and begin the 10-second countdown to New Year, Tweedie and Phyland dance about despite their very unenthusiastic company. It gets even more awkward when Phyland attempts to give a stranger a hug before he twirls off stage.
One woman looks so fed up she simply throws her streamer on the floor before walking off set.
It didn’t take long for the clip to be posted out on Facebook, with more than 12,000 comments calling out the awkward moment.
One person wrote: “The guests look like hostages. What did you do to them?”
Another said: “This is the cringiest thing I’ve ever seen!
On a Reddit forum one user said: “I feel like Australian free to air TV has just given up. It is like they are not even trying anymore because nobody watches it.”
The ABC also left viewers unimpressed after audio issues impacted the broadcast and hosts Ella Hooper and Jeremy Fernadez almost missed the midnight countdown.
The ABC was broadcasting live from the Sydney Opera House, but as it drew closer to midnight the Hoodoo Gurus performance also cut into the 12am fireworks when hosts started chatting to the band.
Viewers noticed and took to social media to let the broadcaster know.
https://twitter.com/DarrenMaxwell74/status/815305717120778240This was painful to watch! Drummer had to take over timekeeping! #nye #abcnye #abctv #nyefail #abcfail @ABCTV pic.twitter.com/KpWbMiCzYk
— Capitan (@izofOz_) December 31, 2016
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