Benefit Busters - Episode two pulled from channel 4?

[newshound]

It appears, although we dont know why, that channel 4 has removed the second episode of benefits busters from its website.

Its was previously available to watch online, yet now it has gone.

Many people are leaving comments on the channel 4 website asking what has happened.

That page, also used to show the fact the programme was due to be repeated on normal tv, and that fact is also missing now.

No statement has been released by channel 4 to our knowledge.

We will update this thread with more information when it becomes available, in the meantime, we may be doing a review of the missing episode at some point in the future, with some clips and discussion of the more interesting parts (fair usage only, as a review/commentary on the show that has been aired.)

The show featured the Hull office of a4e, and focused on their efforts with the unemployed.

One of the 'rooms' which were colour coded is illustrated below (screenshot from the channel 4 programme in question)

amber-room.png

We dont think it showed a4e in a good light to be honest.

Not even the amazingly useful drawing round hand doodles (see pic below) that one claimaint was doing impressed us much.

hand.png

(note the part missing finger - that reminds me of the part where one advisor talked about someone who even chopped off their own fingers in order to get a disability benefit - was that in order to escape the course, and did it happen on the course I wonder?)

One claimaint on the course, the very attractive 'Sherelle' (pictured below) who also seemed quite intelligent, stated about the course

sherrelle.png

"it is brain numbing, I have never felt so thick in my life"

and

"it gets to the point where I would rather slit my own wrists"

Stay tuned for more updates.

[admin]

We have emailed channel 4 to ask if they can provide an explanation (via their contact us form on their website) - and also have left a comment on the a4e blog asking if a4e are responsible for having the episode removed.

The comment on the a4e blog is awaiting moderation (only to be expected, as they are bound to need to moderate the comments, as many sites need to).

moderation.jpg

(blog page available here so you can check later if the comment was allowed, and if allowed, was it answered...)

We will report back if and when we hear any news. (unless you spot some news first, in which case please let us know!)

[JET]

Could Channel Four alter Episode three of Benefit Busters about disabled people,Welfare Reform is a political hot potato at the moment? your thoughts. Could episode two of benefit Busters be damaging to Brown?

[JET]

Someone on the Channel 4 website left a comment that Hayley from episode 1 had been sacked!!

[JET]

Hayley rumour untrue, sorry my mistake.

[newshound]

Good questions.

The previously shown episodes certainly dont seem to show the schemes in a good light, so in theory should be damaging, but you never can tell with politicians, they seem on another planet sometimes. The public seems to be learning more about what goes on though, so thats good.

Im really hoping channel 4 will run the third episode un-edited, and wont resort to pulling it completely,or taking out any 'contraversial' bits.

Channel 4 still have not issued any statement that we are aware of as to what is going on with the second episode, neither have a4e yet...

[newshound]

We have recieved a reply from channel 4, but it seems to be a standard style reply, with no real explanation - so they still are not saying what the situation is

Dear Viewer,

Thank you for your email regarding 4oD.

Unfortunately, BENEFIT BUSTERS Series 1 Episode 2 is no longer available on
4oD.

4oD must acquire very specific rights for online viewing and in this case we
no longer hold the rights to show it online.

There are no scheduled planned repeats for episode 2, although, I can
confirm that episode 3 is scheduled to be shown on Channel 4 on 3rd Sept at
9pm. Please check your TV listings closer to the time.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

If you require further information, feel free to email me back or visit
http://help.channel4.com/catch-up

[admin]

The most recent comment (at the time of writing this post) on the channel 4 benefit busters episode 2 page is

I have tried twice to add a comment about episode 2 why are you not allowing them, its obvious its because it is about A4e and they must now control channel 4, why does channel 4 continue to block this episode and refrain from telling anybody its reason. I think its time a copy of this web site was sent to sky news.

That is a pretty good idea, so good - I just did send sky news an email pointing them to the page, and explaining the background, and asking if they could cover the story and see if they could investigate to see what is going on.

If anyone else would like to do the same here is the email address to use

How To Send Us Your News Stories

If you want to send us a press release, or tell us about a new story:

For the same day:
Email:
news@sky.com

[newshound]

Just noticed via NewDealScandal that channel 4 have now pulled both the clips for episode two that they had online until recently. So not only has the repeat gone, and the whole episode been pulled offline, even the CLIPS they kept online after the show was pulled offline have now been removed.

Original post here.

What on earth is going on over at channel 4 I wonder.

[newshound]

Although this sites original comment on the a4e site re benefit busters and its removal has now been displayed, it had not yet been answered at the time of writing, however, else where on the same site, others had asked the same question, and a answer was shown (by someone called H, short for Henry perhaps? Its unknown if its a comment by a official employee, but as comments seem to require pre-approval/moderation the fact the comment is shown is a strong indicator it is a statement from a4e.

H Friday August 21, 2009

We understand that the second episode of Benefit Busters has been temporarily removed from some websites where it could be watched on demand. Its removal was nothing to do with A4e. In fact, A4e actively encourages members of the public to watch the programme and hopes that it will improve understanding of the work that companies like A4e do with jobseekers during this recession. All those people keen to see the documentary should keep an eye on the Channel 4 website for further updates.

Bear in mind though, its not a named employee, nor is the 'H' linked to any site (unlike previous instances of the Henry username) - so we dont know for sure that is not just a comment from a reader that has been approved.