'Tough to watch': Channel 10 savaged over Melbourne Cup coverage

Bored television viewers of the Melbourne Cup have savaged Channel 10 over their coverage of the biggest race in Australia, dismissing their efforts as ‘tough to watch’.

With lockdown restrictions preventing the usuals thousands of punters from descending on the Flemington Racecourse, the network has been forced to get creative to fill in the hours of time on air that might have otherwise been spent focusing on the fashion and celebrity angles of the Cup carnival.

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Instead, with most, if not all of the usual stars forced to remain at home for the event, Channel 10 has thrown to various celebrities to discuss the Cup from their couches.

It’s hardly the spectacle the network would have envisaged after securing the rights to broadcast the race from 2019 to 2024 in a $100m deal with the Victorian Racing Club.

Viewers have accused the broadcaster of using the time between races as cross-promotion for their other shows, with stars from Googlebox Australia and Masterchef appearing in different segments across the morning.

“Well congrats. Worst coverage of cup week to date,” one critic wrote on Twitter.

“Hope your coverage gets better than that rubbish!” another replied.

Ongoing restrictions on large gatherings in Victoria, combined with the state government’s reversal of a decision to allow connections to attend the Cup carnival, has contributed to a noticeably muted build-up to the iconic race.

The Aiden O’Brien trained Tiger Moth is the $7 favourite for the Cup with TAB, followed by Surprise Baby ($9) and Prince of Arran ($9.50).

Channel 10 chastised over Melbourne Cup host controversy

Channel 10 have come under fire from a former employee over their choice of host for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup coverage.

With Channel 10 snaring the broadcasting rights from Channel 7 last year, The Project’s Gorgi Coghlan will host the coverage with Stephen Quartermain.

But former Channel 10 commentator Tim Gossage took to social media on Monday in disbelief that the network had seemingly snubbed Caty Price.

Price will have a reporting role for 10 on Tuesday, but Gossage said it was “beffuddling” that she won’t be hosting.

“How good is Caty Price,” Gossage tweeted.

“Knows her stuff and lets the expert talk … why she isn’t hosting the race day coverage is befuddling.

“(She’s) refreshing and knowledgeable.”

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