Media veterans label ratings winner MAFS ‘the cesspit of TV’

Ray Martin says he is “saddened” by the direction television has taken with reality dating shows such as Married at First Sight

Married At First Sight couples are reunited in the finale program that went to air last night.

Nine Network veteran Ray Martin yesterday declared he was “saddened” by the direction television had taken after the hugely successful sixth season of controversial reality dating show Married at First Sight.

ABC TV’s News Breakfast co-host Michael Rowland labelled the show, which pairs up strangers looking for love in a so-called marriage, as “the absolute cesspit of TV”.

Despite the federal election being just around the corner, a large section of the public has been enthralled by the sixth season of MAFS, which came to an end last night after consistently being the No 1 show across the country since its launch on January 28.

MAFS, which has seen a big cheating scandal engulf the group, was the most popular TV show on the small screen on Sunday night, with the so-called “reunion dinner party” episode watched by 2.4 million people across the country on Nine, and 1.8 million across the five major cities.

It has thumped Seven’s long-running cooking competition show My Kitchen Rules, the first major TV ratings battle this year.

Martin, who appeared on a string of Nine programs, including Midday with Ray Martin, 60 Minutes and A Current Affair over 20 years, was surprised with the show’s success.

“I’m amazed at what it does, and I’m saddened that’s where television has gone but clearly if its getting 2 million people, it’s appealing to people,” he told The Australian.

In a surprise move, Rowland hit out at MAFS live on-air yesterday morning. “This is a show that destroys relationships, it doesn’t celebrate relationships. This is a show that encourages cheating and adultery,” Rowland said.

“What sort of message is this show setting to teenagers like mine, who I’m trying to teach about the nature of stable, loving relationships? It’s the absolute cesspit of TV.”

Dr Soseh Yekanians, a senior lecturer in theatre and media at Charles Sturt University, is a fan of MAFS, saying it “ticks all the boxes” when she wants to watch reality TV with lots of drama.

“I was obsessed with it as a medium, but I was also watching there flabbergasted at how this passes on prime-time TV. There’s so much wrong with it, when we look at the psychology and behaviour,” she said. Dr Yekanians believes MAFS producers and Nine need to take responsibility for the content they show.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has “recently received complaints about the program”, which has aired at 730pm in Sydney on Sunday and the early part of the working week, a spokesman said. They have been referred to Nine “for consideration”, in line with ACMA’s guidelines.

A Nine spokeswoman declined to comment.

Natasha Rae started a petition to get MAFS banned and taken off air following an “outrageous” episode that showed two stars, Jess and Dan, “hooking up”, and the therapists allowing them to continue in the marriage experiment.

“This show has highlighted and given the message that adultery, cheating, lying and partner swapping is OK and you’ll be rewarded if you partake in it. It’s wrong and immoral and should be banned from ever being broadcasted again. Shame on you Channel 9,” Ms Rae said on change.org’s website.