The Checkout

Premise

The Checkout featured segments that examined the practices and methods of manufacturers, retailers, service providers and advertisers. Using a humorous style, the show highlighted practices that are misleading, dishonest, unfair or occasionally even illegal or unethical. Often segments targeted types of services or products rather than individual brands or companies. Examples include a segment on overpriced Wi-Fi services offered in certain hotels, the lack of scientific proof for the health benefits claimed by manufacturers of complementary medicines, and the concept of peer-to-peer lending.

Some segments took aim at specific brands and companies. One example was directed at Cadbury and their Joyville campaign which promoted a 10% increase (from 200 gm to 220 gm) in the size of the family blocks of chocolate which The Checkout portrayed as ironic given that Cadbury had previously reduced the blocks by 20% from 250 gm to 200 gm. Another was on Anaconda Mountain Bikes which are sold as such but are actually built for road-use only.

The show also included the segment 'F. U. Tube' that allowed viewers to upload their own queries or complaints about goods or services they had purchased. The program was associated with Choice magazine.

Series overview

Lawsuits

The ABC was sued by Avni Sali for defamation over a segment on Swisse products. The ABC stood by the segment. Justice David Beach refused to strike out the case, finding that it was "not without real prospects of success". The matter eventually settled out of court.

The ABC also faced legal action over a segment on A2 milk with the a2 Milk Company claiming that the segment contains a number of "inaccuracies, misrepresentations and omissions". The A2 Milk company's case was based on the Competition and Consumer Act which does not typically apply to the ABC. However, the company argued that "advertising for the program constitutes 'engaging in commerce'."

Reception

Paul McIntyre at AdNews wrote in 2014 that the show had "blown up marketing's new world order".

Juliette Hughes at the Australian Catholic Office for broadcasting wrote (in 2013) "The Checkout retains some of the verve and righteous anger of The Chaser, indeed could almost be said to be knocking over a few of the moneychangers' tables in what passes for today's secular temples, the premises ....of revered corporations."

Gordon Farrer, for The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote, "Typical bloody lefty pinko commie ABC, launching yet another assault on Things That Good People Hold Dear.....Humph. If you accept The Checkout view of the world, marketing and advertising are industries out of control, full of charlatans, unfair restrictions on consumers, misrepresentation and outright lies about products of less-than-essential value to human existence."

Nominations

The Super Foods segment in an episode of the first series of The Checkout was a finalist in the 2013 Eureka Prize for Scientific Journalism. The segment investigated foods promoted as ultra-healthy.

The Checkout was nominated for Best Light Entertainment Television Series at the 4th AACTA Awards, and for Most Outstanding Entertainment Program at the 2015 Logie Awards.

DVD releases

The Complete Series 1 and 2 box set was released on 3 December 2014.

References

References

1. (18 March 2013). "The Checkout – new ABC series on consumer affairs". Consumers' Federation of Australia.
2. Knox, David. (25 January 2014). "Returning: The Checkout". [[TV Tonight]].
3. (17 March 2015). "The Checkout returns to ABC". Inside Film.
4. (15 March 2017). "Returning: The Checkout". TV Tonight.
5. "Episodes – The Checkout – ABC TV". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
6. "The Checkout Season 6 Episode 1".
7. (6 July 2018). "Axed: The Checkout". TV Tonight.
8. (1 May 2013). "ABC show searches for "the most expensive Wi-Fi"". Bit.
9. Pascoe, Michael. (3 May 2013). "The Checkout is a bitter pill for some". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
10. (28 March 2013). "How much do you know about complementary medicines? The new ABC program, sparks some thought on the topic.". OurHealth.
11. May, Tammy. (25 June 2013). "What is peer-to-peer lending?". MyBudget.
12. Boothroyd, Aoife. (27 May 2013). "Cadbury defends joyville after The Checkout slams campaign". Food magazine.
13. McIntyre, Paul. (21 February 2014). "OPINION: The Checkout just blew up marketing's new world order". AdNews.
14. (21 March 2013). "A message from our CEO". [[Choice (Australian magazine).
15. "Episodes: 2013". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
16. "Episodes: 2014". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
17. "Episodes: 2015". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
18. "Episodes: 2016". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
19. "Episodes: 2017". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
20. Butler, Ben. (2 May 2013). "ABC show defamed me, Swisse patriarch claims". [[The Age]].
21. Ross, Annabel. (3 May 2013). "ABC keeps Swisse segment online despite legal action". The Age.
22. (2 August 2013). "Judge refuses to strike out Swisse defamation suit against ABC show". The Sydney Morning Herald.
23. (23 August 2016). ""A disgrace." Gruen, Checkout producer slams ABC deal with Swisse.". TV Tonight.
24. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1XGmr26Mo A2 Milk – The Checkout]
25. (11 June 2015). "a2 Milk Company sues the ABC over The Checkout segment". News.com.au.
26. [https://www.catholic.org.au/film-reviews-2013/tv-review-the-checkout-game-of-thrones Film Reviews 2013 TV Review The Checkout, Game of Thrones]
27. (17 February 2014). "Thursday, February 20". The Sydney Morning Herald.
28. (11 September 2013). "2013 Australian Government Eureka Prize for Science Journalism". [[Australian Museum]].
29. (3 December 2014). "4th AACTA Awards: full list of nominees". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
30. (22 March 2015). "Logie Awards 2015: nominations". TV Tonight.
31. "The Checkout Series 1 and 2 boxset". [[Roadshow Entertainment]].