Struggle Street is an Australian documentary series that first aired on SBS One on 6 May 2015.[1] The second series began airing on 28 November 2017.[2] The third series began airing on 9 October 2019.[3]
| Struggle Street | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Directed by |
|
| Narrated by | David Field |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | David Galloway Leonie Lowe |
| Producers | Marc Radomsky Ash Davies |
| Production locations |
|
| Editors | Paul Watling Alexis Lodge |
| Running time | 52 minutes. |
| Production companies | Screen Australia KEO Films Australia |
| Original release | |
| Network | SBS One |
| Release | 6 May 2015 – 30 October 2019 |
Premise
editThe series sheds light on the struggles and aspirations of residents in public housing areas around Western Sydney; areas which have been commonly associated with high unemployment, drug use and problems with the law.
KEO Films, the production company behind the project stated on their website:[4]
In this proposed 3-part observational documentary series, to be filmed over a 6-month period, we'll feature the voices and stories of people living on the outskirts of Sydney, in some of our most socially-disadvantaged communities.
We'll highlight the enormous challenges they face being born into generational disadvantage, and then being blamed by the system for their lack of progress.
...And rather than being an exercise in voyeurism, or a fleeting judgmental report, this extended insight into the lives of our subjects will – we hope – provoke not just a change in public perception, but a debate about the direction of public policy as well
Series overview
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season Premiere | Season Final | ||
| 1 | 3[5] | 6 May 2015 | 13 May 2015 |
| 2 | 6[6] | 28 November 2017 | 7 December 2017 |
| 3 | 4 | 9 October 2019 | 30 October 2019 |
Reception
editThe series received strong criticism from local governments, with the Mayor of Blacktown, Stephen Bali labelling it as 'poverty porn'.[7] Locals attempted to boycott the series by establishing a blockade of garbage trucks outside the SBS headquarters in Artarmon.[8] The series aired as planned, winning its timeslot nationally and was the most watched program on television that night in Sydney, with the controversy claimed for the record ratings.[citation needed]
Western Sydney locals are contemplating legal action against the producers to seek damages for defamation.[9]
SBS chief content officer Helen Kellie defended the program, stating that "We are confident that Struggle Street is a fair and accurate portrayal of events that occurred during filming...further, we believe the series fairly reflects the program description contained in participant release forms".[10]
Several television critics and journalists viewed the show in a positive light, arguing that the outrage and controversy over the program was grossly overstated, and praised the show for bringing light to stories that otherwise wouldn't be told in the public domain.[11]
Second Season
editA second season of the show was filmed in Queensland and Victoria, and aired on 28 November 2017.[12]
Ratings
editSeason One (2015)
edit| Episode | Original airdate | Overnight Viewers | Consolidated Viewers | Total Viewers | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | |||||
| 1 | "Episode 1" | 6 May 2015 | 935,000 | 7 | 206,000 | 1 | 1,141,000 | [13][14] |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | 13 May 2015 | 828,000 | 8 | 190,000 | 5 | 1,018,000 | [15][16] |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | |||||||
Season Two (2017)
edit| Episode | Original airdate | Overnight Viewers | Consolidated Viewers | Total Viewers | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | |||||
| 1 | "Episode 1" | 28 November 2017 | 304,000 | — | 304,000 | [17] | ||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | 29 November 2017 | 285,000 | — | 285,000 | [18] | ||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | 30 November 2017 | 265,000 | — | 55,000 | 20 | 320,000 | [19][20] |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | 5 December 2017 | 220,000 | — | 220,000 | [21] | ||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | 6 December 2017 | 317,000 | 17 | 50,000 | 20 | 367,000 | [22][23] |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | 7 December 2017 | 264,000 | — | 264,000 | [24] | ||
References
edit- ^ "Airdate: Struggle Street". tvtonight.com.au. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Returning: Struggle Street". tvtonight.com.au. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Returning: Struggle Street S3". tvtonight.com.au. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Struggle Street". keofilms.com.au. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Struggle Street Series 1". screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Struggle Street Series 2". screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ Aubusson, Kate. "Mt Druitt community leaders hurt, angry and feeling sick after Struggle Street documentary". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Struggle Street: Garbage truck protest against SBS 'poverty porn' documentary". ABC. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ Auerbach, Taylor. "Struggle Street: Featured Western Sydney locals set to sue SBS over their portrayal". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ Koziol, Michael. "SBS investigates allegations over Struggle Street documentary". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ Galvin, Nick. "SBS show Struggle Street: Why you should watch tonight". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "SBS to air second season of 'Struggle Street' series".
- ^ Knox, David (7 May 2015). "Wednesday 6 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (14 May 2015). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 6 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (14 May 2015). "Wednesday 13 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (26 May 2015). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 13 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (29 November 2017). "The Good Doctor upstages ARIAs, Struggle Street". Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (30 November 2017). "Ratings quirks on a quiet Wednesday". Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (1 December 2017). "TV on Struggle Street". Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (13 December 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 30 November 2017". Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ Manning, James (6 December 2017). "TV Ratings Dec 5: Late night cricket again a winner for Nine". Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (7 December 2017). "Wednesday 6 December 2017". Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (15 December 2017). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 6 December 2017". Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ Manning, James (8 December 2017). "TV Ratings Dec 7: Summer Bay and Deadliest Weather keep Seven in top spot". Retrieved 17 December 2017.