The Checkout
| The Checkout | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Consumer affairs, comedy |
| Written by |
Julian Morrow Craig Reucassel Kirsten Drysdale Kate Browne Zoe Norton Lodge Ben Jenkins Scott Abbot Richard Cooke Alex Lee |
| Directed by | Nathan Earl Aaron Smith |
| Presented by | Julian Morrow Craig Reucassel Kirsten Drysdale Kate Browne Zoe Norton Lodge Ben Jenkins Scott Abbot Richard Cooke Alex Lee |
| Starring | Julian Morrow Craig Reucassel Kirsten Drysdale Kate Browne Zoe Norton Lodge Ben Jenkins Scott Abbot Richard Cooke |
| Composer(s) | Drew Crawford |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 50 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Julian Morrow Nick Murray |
| Producer(s) | Chas Licciardello |
| Location(s) | Australian Broadcasting Corporation Ultimo, New South Wales |
| Editor(s) | Andrew Glover Dylan Behan Kate Deegan |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Giant Dwarf Pty. Ltd. |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 21 March 2013 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
The Chaser's War on Everything The Hamster Wheel Hungry Beast |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Checkout is an Australian consumer affairs television series. The show's first series of 10 episodes premiered on 21 March 2013 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television station ABC TV. A second series consisting of 16 episodes commenced airing on 20 February 2014. On 9 April 2015, a third series consisting of 12 episodes began airing. The series was renewed for a fourth series, which began airing on 7 April 2016.
The Checkout features segments that examine the practices and methods of manufacturers, retailers, service providers and advertisers. Using a humorous style, the show highlights practices that are misleading, dishonest, unfair or occasionally even illegal or unethical. Often segments will target 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 take aim at specific brands and companies. One example was directed at Cadbury and their Joyville campaign which promoted a 10% increase (from 200gm to 220gm) 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 250gm to 200gm. Another was on Anaconda Mountain Bikes which are sold as such but are actually built for road-use only.
The show also includes the segment 'F U Tube' that allow viewers to upload their own queries or complaints about goods or services they have purchased. The program is associated with Choice magazine.
The ABC is being sued by Avni Sali for defamation over a segment on Swisse products. The ABC is standing by the segment.
The ABC is also facing 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 is based around the Competition and Consumer Act which does not typically apply to the ABC. However, the company "will argue that advertising for the program constitutes 'engaging in commerce'."
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