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Breakers (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Breakers is an Australian television
series made by the Network Ten
between 1998 and 1999. It was shown in Ireland
on TV3
and City Channel
. It was also screened on BBC1 in the United Kingdom and TV4 in New Zealand
.
and teenage suicide
. Unusually, the program aired outside of prime-time; each episode was aired mid afternoon each weekday and then repeated late that night.
The show was purchased by the BBC amid a flurry of media coverage and outrage, with some describing the show an Australian version of EastEnders
. The Sun newspaper did a special feature of the show, covering some of the risque and controversial storylines. However when the show finally debuted viewers were disappointed with the bland and familiar storylines, and ratings very quickly fell. The show was then shunted around the schedule to try and find an audience. It eventually moved to BBC2 but with ratings continuing to fall the show finished it run on BBC Choice. After its run on the BBC it was shown on small digital channel NBS in the UK.
Australian Senator
Karen Synon
considered the depiction of Lucy Hill, in a lesbian relationship to be "inappropriate" given the program's afternoon timeslot, and requested the Australian Broadcasting Authority
investigate if the show had breached broadcasting guidelines. The ABA told The Daily Telegraph
that the storyline was "normal" and the show's PG rating appropriate for the timeslot.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series made by the Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
between 1998 and 1999. It was shown in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on TV3
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
and City Channel
City Channel
City Channel was an Irish television network that began broadcasting in October 2005, which focused primarily on local and regional television. It operated three stations: City Channel Dublin, City Channel Galway, and Channel South.-Launch:...
. It was also screened on BBC1 in the United Kingdom and TV4 in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Premise
The series revolves around The Breakers building situated near Bondi Beach, and the lives of the people who work and live there. The building houses three businesses all run by the same family. Breaker's Modelling School is run by Paul Simmons, The Breaker, a local newspaper is run by Eve, Paul's ex-wife, and Kate's Cafe, run by Kate Markham, Eve's sister. During its short run the series dealt with some controversial story lines and was not afraid to confront contentious issues, such as homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and teenage suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Unusually, the program aired outside of prime-time; each episode was aired mid afternoon each weekday and then repeated late that night.
Reaction
It was Breakers somewhat edgy reputation coupled with low ratings that eventually led to the series being cancelled.The show was purchased by the BBC amid a flurry of media coverage and outrage, with some describing the show an Australian version of EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. The Sun newspaper did a special feature of the show, covering some of the risque and controversial storylines. However when the show finally debuted viewers were disappointed with the bland and familiar storylines, and ratings very quickly fell. The show was then shunted around the schedule to try and find an audience. It eventually moved to BBC2 but with ratings continuing to fall the show finished it run on BBC Choice. After its run on the BBC it was shown on small digital channel NBS in the UK.
Australian Senator
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
Karen Synon
Karen Synon
Karen Margaret Synon was an Australian Senator for the state of Victoria. Synon was appointed to the Senate on 13 May 1997 as a result of Jim Short's resignation, however she was defeated at the 1998 election and her term ended on 30 June 1999.-References:*...
considered the depiction of Lucy Hill, in a lesbian relationship to be "inappropriate" given the program's afternoon timeslot, and requested the Australian Broadcasting Authority
Australian Broadcasting Authority
The Australian Broadcasting Authority was an Australian government agency whose main roles were to regulate broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications....
investigate if the show had breached broadcasting guidelines. The ABA told The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
that the storyline was "normal" and the show's PG rating appropriate for the timeslot.