A Nine Brisbane promo, reportedly made in Sydney with AI, has been withdrawn from screening after media reports it contained errors.
The Courier Mail reports it included an aerial night view of Brisbane depicting what appears to be two Story Bridges, positioned at either end of the CBD.
The video also features high-rise buildings that do not exist and portrays the Brisbane River as widening dramatically into what resembles a bay on the city’s western edge.
But a Nine spokesperson denied any error went to air.
“Any incorrect imagery is picked up during usual production checks and processes,” they said.
NB: Image in post is not from the erroneous promo.
There is a legal requirement for Broadcasters to keep specific records of certain content for a period of 18 months for compliance purposes with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). However “certain content” gives them a lot of wriggle room. Talk radio stations keep a 24/7 record of broadcasts for a couple of months in case of law suits. Media monitors also keep records for their clients. But it would take more than the suggestion of AI useage in a promo for ACMA to put in it’s false teeth, take off the blindfold and get out the wet lettuce. Media Watch has a better grip on closets and skeletons but the story will have blown over before they’re back at work.
As far as I know, all major TV networks have some kind of archive for their news and current affairs programs while clean (ie, without watermarks/on-screen supers) versions of reports are generally also kept for future use…although this doesn’t appear to stop time-poor producers from simply grabbing clips off YouTube every so often!
Major promos and Station IDs would likely be kept by the networks, but I’m not sure if more topical ones would be.
I’d be extremely surprised there’s anything in the ACMA Commercial TV Code of Practice which prevents networks from using poorly generate AI imagery, while I think we all know the first edition of Media Watch for 2026 is more likely than not going to be dominated by analysis of how the media covered a particular event on December 14!
This is the same network that used AI to modify Georgie Purcell’s image. Nothing really surprises me any more. Is the promo available to be viewed anywhere?
I couldn’t find it, which is why no image.
And what’s with the ridiculous 7 Christmas IDs/Promos, set in snow-scenes. Hello…it doesn’t snow in Australia in December. And AI is throwing snowballs.What?!
Yes I had commented on this in the lounge, it was so cringe and just embarrassing really.
Well it just goes to show you, you can’t really trust AI
Could they also scrap the awful Today Show ice skating ad ? This one is reason enough to ditch AI
That was AI, I thought they used body doubles for when Sarah lifted Karl… they should have, that was what the SAG actors strike was about (using AI when actors… or body doubles… could have been used)
Not 100% that it’s AI. But it’s terrible
At least that one is funny
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