I've sent the details to ABC Media Watch.

Will be interested to see if they run the story.

do people still watch commercial news channels?

Not me, I usually watch the news on SBS or ABC these days.

As suggested, the Commercial channels are interested in pulling in viewers for the programs that follow (and plug those programs during breaks the news too, and in some cases report something in the later program as news), so they manipulate the stories to suit. Fires that have lots of flames/smoke and Crash/Disaster stuff get a good airing.

I raise you another pathetic attempt at media tonight on Ch7 News Adelaide.

It was even just file footage, slapped with one interview!

http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch...-hit-adelaide/

This always reminds me of this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QIxl3pnpc