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)	Mark 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 – 13 May 2015

Struggle Street is a three-part Australian reality television documentary 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 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]

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	[7][8]
2	"Episode 2"	13 May 2015	0.828	#8	1.018	#5	[9][10]
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. Knox, David (7 May 2015). "Wednesday 6 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
8. Knox, David (14 May 2015). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 6 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
9. Knox, David (14 May 2015). "Wednesday 13 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
10. Knox, David (26 May 2015). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 13 May 2015". Retrieved 18 April 2016.

External links

• SBS Struggle Street