Key sponsors, CAT and BP, have withdrawn support for popular Australian TV show, Outback Truckers, which Perth based production company, Prospero Productions is hoping to bring to New Zealand TV screens.
The five-part series on Australia’s 7mate channel, features Kiwi driver Deb Drew, NZ Army trained, a former model and property developer who combines driving an 80-tonne rig across outback Australia with being mum to three children.
However, both BP and CAT Trucks have been disappointed with the way drivers were portrayed, claiming that the series showed dangerous driving behaviour.
A statement from Cat reads: “The program does not meet the intent we believed it would and is not consistent with the core values of Cat Trucks or the positive image of the Australian truck industry that we and our Australian truck customers work so hard to portray.”
BP’s statement says: “We withdraw endorsement of the Outback Truckers TV Series because there have been scenes which show high-risk and potentially unsafe practices. We believe that the show is not in line with BP’s core values and as a result we have withdrawn our endorsement of the program.”
Julia Redwood from Prospero Productions told DIESELtalk that she was disappointed at the pulling of industry support. “BP and Cat decided it was prudent to withdraw as partners in the wake of one incident in the first episode that caused a huge reaction and a lot of political heat.”
Redwood is working toward finding an Kiwi broadcaster. “We’d love to see the show broadcast in New Zealand and are actively looking for a channel; it has been hugely successful in Australia and is still airing here.”
The series is available on DVD. Watch the series trailer HERE
