Struggle Street

Struggle Street
Genre Reality television
Documentary
Drama
Narrated by David Field
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 3
Production
Executive producer(s) Marc Radomsky
Producer(s) Danielle Voss
Amy Freeman
Editor(s) Paul Watling
Alexis Lodge
Running time 50 minutes.
Production company(s) Screen Australia
KEO Films Australia
Distributor SBS
Release
Original network SBS One
Audio format Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Original release 6 May (2015-05-06) – 13 May 2015 (2015-05-13)

Struggle Street is a three-part 2015 Australian reality television documentary drama series that aired on SBS One.

Premise

The 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:[1]

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 judgemental 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

Reception

The series received strong criticism from local governments, with the Mayor of Blacktown, Stephen Bali labelling it as 'poverty porn'.[2] Locals attempted to boycott the series by establishing a blockade of garbage trucks outside the SBS headquarters in Artarmon.[3] 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.

Western Sydney locals are contemplating legal action against the producers to seek damages for defamation.[4]

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".[5]

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.[6]

Second Season

A second season of the show will be filmed in Queensland and Victoria, and is scheduled to be aired in late 2017.[7]

Ratings

Episode Original airdate Overnight Viewers Nightly Rank Consolidated Viewers Adjusted Rank Ref
1 "Episode 1" 6 May 2015 0.935 #7 1.141 #1 [8][9]
2 "Episode 2" 13 May 2015 0.828 #8 1.018 #5 [10][11]
3 "Episode 3"

References

  1. ↑ "Struggle Street". keofilms.com.au. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Aubusson, Kate. "Mt Druitt community leaders hurt, angry and feeling sick after Struggle Street documentary". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Struggle Street: Garbage truck protest against SBS 'poverty porn' documentary". ABC. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Auerbach, Taylor. "Struggle Street: Featured Western Sydney locals set to sue SBS over their portrayal". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Koziol, Michael. "SBS investigates allegations over Struggle Street documentary". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Galvin, Nick. "SBS show Struggle Street: Why you should watch tonight". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "SBS to air second season of 'Struggle Street' series".
  8. ↑ Knox, David (7 May 2015). "Wednesday 6 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Knox, David (14 May 2015). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 6 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Knox, David (14 May 2015). "Wednesday 13 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (26 May 2015). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 13 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
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