As the winner was announced for the Australian reality series, Big Brother, some are questioning whether the controversial television program can continue after a slump in rating.
Aleisha Cowcher was declared the winner after beating the other housemates; but even in its finale, the voting system was being questioned by bloggers online who complained that it was a 'lie,' given that the winner only won by a slim-margin of 2 percent (51 percent to 49 percent), reported the Daily Telegraph.
"I have never seen anything so clearly contrived as last night's progressive vote tallies - it was so obvious that it was a lie and I doubt any of the figures last night were correct, much less the time it took to supposedly count them," wrote blogger Andole.
"Did anyone actually believe what they were on about? Just another money grabbing idea," said Harlee65.
What is more concerning for producers and executives of the show is not the voting system, but the viewer number which had experienced a significant drop this year.
The show had an average television audience of 1 million viewers this year compared to its average of 2.3 million in prior years; while it experienced a 15 percent decline within its key demographic market of the 18-49 year age group in the same period, reported the Age.
Adding to its woes of a declining audience number, the show also faced attacks from a Christian and psychologist for failing to inform one of the housemate of her estrange father's death that occurred earlier this year.
The CEO of World Vision Australia, Reverend Tim Costello told SBS the decision was 'patent(ly) (and) ethical(ly) irresponsible,' and also added, "She's only got one father and she'll suffer guilt and possibly resentment for the rest off her life."
Christopher Hall, a psychologist and the director of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, told a Fairfax publication that he never heard complaints from his patients that they were told too much, rather it stemmed from being lied to.
"I've worked with lots of bereaved people, and I've never had somebody complain that they've been told too much," Mr. Hall said. "But I have had people complain to me that they've been lied to, or that they've been deceived."
The reality series defended its handling of the sensitive situation, saying that the decision not to inform her was due to the father's request.
