Joe Hildebrand slams Channel 10’s Melbourne Cup coverage

Joe Hildebrand has panned his former employer Channel 10 for its coverage of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. 

In a scathing essay published to The Daily Telegraph, the ex-Studio 10 panelist lambasted the network for failing to provide engaging coverage and expert commentary. 

‘Ten managed to screw the pooch while flogging a dead horse, an achievement unparalleled in zoology,’ he sensationally wrote. 

‘Ten managed to screw the pooch while flogging a dead horse’: Joe Hildebrand (pictured) has panned his former employer Channel 10 for its coverage of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 

‘Punters were apoplectic about the lack of expert commentary while casual viewers who came for the colour and movement had no colour and movement,’ he added. 

Joe, who recently joined Seven’s The Morning Show, went on to accuse Channel 10 of ‘cobbling together’ it’s race day coverage, rather than considering what audiences wanted to see.   

Indeed on Tuesday, many frustrated viewers complained about Channel 10’s coverage of the Melbourne Cup on Twitter, with some calling the broadcast ‘painful’.

Criticism: In a scathing essay published to The Daily Telegraph , the ex-Studio 10 panelist lambasted the network for failing to provide engaging coverage and expert commentary

Criticism: In a scathing essay published to The Daily Telegraph , the ex-Studio 10 panelist lambasted the network for failing to provide engaging coverage and expert commentary

Pulling no punches: Joe, who recently joined Seven's The Morning Show, accused Channel 10 of 'cobbling together' it's race day coverage, rather than considering what audiences wanted to see

Pulling no punches: Joe, who recently joined Seven’s The Morning Show, accused Channel 10 of ‘cobbling together’ it’s race day coverage, rather than considering what audiences wanted to see

Viewers were also unimpressed by comedian Dave Hughes, who co-hosting the event with Gorgi Coghlan and Stephen Quartermain, asking why organisers had chosen him given he’s a vegan who should be opposed to horse racing.  

Hughes publicly declared himself a vegan in February this year, telling the ABC he had cleared his diet of all animal products – including milk, eggs, and honey. 

‘Did he forget he was a vegan?’ one person wrote on Twitter. 

'Did he forget he was a vegan?' Viewers were also unimpressed by comedian Dave Hughes (pictured), asking why organisers had chosen him given he's a vegan who should be opposed to horse racing

‘Did he forget he was a vegan?’ Viewers were also unimpressed by comedian Dave Hughes (pictured), asking why organisers had chosen him given he’s a vegan who should be opposed to horse racing 

'I thought Dave Hughes was against the exploitation of animals': Viewers have been unimpressed by comedian Dave Hughes (pictured right) co-hosting the event with Gorgi Coghlan (pictured centre) and Stephen Quartermain (pictured left)

‘I thought Dave Hughes was against the exploitation of animals’: Viewers have been unimpressed by comedian Dave Hughes (pictured right) co-hosting the event with Gorgi Coghlan (pictured centre) and Stephen Quartermain (pictured left) 

‘I thought Dave Hughes was against the exploitation of animals,’ another said.  

Others complained that Channel 10’s broadcast was not up the standard of previous Melbourne Cups covered by The Seven Network. 

‘That just 100% confirms Channel 10 is not in the same stratosphere as Channel 7’s racing coverage,’ one person said.   

  

  

'Vegan, just not when there is Horse Racing money involved': A number of viewers expressed their confusion over the comedian's stance on animal rights

‘Vegan, just not when there is Horse Racing money involved’: A number of viewers expressed their confusion over the comedian’s stance on animal rights

‘Hasn’t 2020 been traumatic enough without having Channel 10’s racing coverage imposed on the nation,’ one person wrote on Twitter. 

Another viewer questioned the strange choice of showing sheep racing from Queensland on Melbourne Cup day. 

The Melbourne Cup meanwhile failed to deliver blockbuster ratings for Channel 10.  

'Not in the same stratosphere': Others complained that Channel 10's broadcast was not up the standard of previous Melbourne Cups covered by The Seven Network

‘Not in the same stratosphere’: Others complained that Channel 10’s broadcast was not up the standard of previous Melbourne Cups covered by The Seven Network

Confused: Another viewer questioned the strange choice of showing sheep racing from Queensland on Melbourne Cup day

Confused: Another viewer questioned the strange choice of showing sheep racing from Queensland on Melbourne Cup day

Ratings: The networks coverage of the event drew in 1.86 million viewers - a three per cent drop from last year

Ratings: The networks coverage of the event drew in 1.86 million viewers – a three per cent drop from last year

According to The Daily Telegraph, the network’s coverage drew in 1.86 million viewers – a three per cent drop from last year.

However, there was a 47 per cent increase of livestream viewers on digital platform 10 play. 

In Sydney, 320,527 viewers tuned in to watch the race, which was won by Twilight Payment, while there was a two per cent drop in viewership in Melbourne. 

Last year, Channel 10 reportedly paid $100million to secure the broadcast rights for the Melbourne Cup Carnival until 2023.

It marked the first time the network had screened the race in 18 years after the rights were lost to Seven.     

Complaints: On Tuesday, many frustrated viewers complained about Channel 10's coverage of the Melbourne Cup on Twitter, with some calling the broadcast 'painful'

Complaints: On Tuesday, many frustrated viewers complained about Channel 10’s coverage of the Melbourne Cup on Twitter, with some calling the broadcast ‘painful’