A series of blunders has resulted in 7 News failing to have a reporter on the ground at the Qatar World Cup.
While Australia’s World Cup run ended this morning 2-1 to Argentina, the overall success of the Socceroos caught the team at 7 News off guard.
After initially deciding not to send a reporter to Qatar to cover the event from an Australian perspective, that decision was reversed after Australia beat Demark and advanced to the top 16 for only the second time in history.
That historic moment led to panic at Seven.
As the tale of the Socceroos dominated headlines, network bosses knew they needed a reporter on the ground in Qatar for local colour and potential crosses into Sunrise and news programs.
But it was not to be.
Sources tell TV Blackbox gun reporter Robert Ovadia was dispatched to Sydney airport and told to catch a flight ASAP.
When Ovadia arrived at check-in he was denied access to the flight as he had the wrong visa. Despite protests from the senior reporter, who can usually talk his way into anything, Ovadia was firmly told he would not be allowed to board the flight.
It turns out the accreditation process for the Qatar World Cup is complicated and takes time.
Rival networks went through the process some time ago to secure the Hayya card required by journalists and news crews.
It was also a condition that those with accreditation had to fly Qatar Air to get there.
Strangely, Seven had already gone through the accreditation process with Adelaide reporter Robbie Cornthwaite, but chose not to send him.
Sources within Seven are surprised by the initial decision not to send anyone to cover the World Cup considering the network recently secured the rights to the Women’s World Cup.
Over the past week, Nine’s Clint Stanaway has been seen on TODAY and 9 News live from Qatar and 10 had chief football reporter Bence Hamerli filing out of Doha.
Seven’s coverage has mainly focused on local reactions in each state.
TV Blackbox noted that on the eve of the Socceroos match against Argentina each state contained a live cross with a local reporter in each city talking about the screening of the event and relied on pool footage for minimal coverage from Qatar.
Other networks included coverage from Qatar with their reporters on the ground.
Seven has been contacted for comment.
As if channel 7 would have sent a junior from Adelaide to cover the World Cup story. Story feels like a sour grapes story.
I’m not sure how reporting fact is sour grapes?
So has an interest in pushing the “I told you so”???? Wow. I wonder???? TV is full of bitter people. Perhaps it’s why they got overlooked.
Sour grapes with who? It came down to a bad decision and maybe saving a few $$$$!
Maybe Seven was a little too fixated on novelty sports like AFL and League